If Think You Can Fool Google You’re Only Fooling Yourself!
Almost every week I read about how a company or individual is trying to fool Google through some new and “guaranteed” SEO method. Will they ever learn that you just can’t fool Google? Why would you even try it with the risk of being banned from search results in what is clearly the biggest search engine in the world? Many people seem to try just because they wonder if it can be done. Perhaps these individuals may get away with something for a little while, but in the end it will almost always nip them in the bud and the crying begins.
There are some instances which individuals think they have tricked Google. They believe that something that they have done has rocketed their site to the top of Google’s search results listings and they truly believe that they have managed to “stick it to them.” However, 99% of the time when his happens they either performed an SEO procedure that Google allows or even endorses or they just happened to fill Google’s criteria better than other sites in their category without even realizing it. That’s the funny thing – they probably will net be able to duplicate their actions. Nevertheless, once in a while someone will actually come up with a way to fool Google or simply thread a loophole that hasn’t been plugged yet. They will enjoy a high spot on Google’s listings for what may turn out to be maybe several weeks or months. Eventually a Google moderator will make a “visual” visit to the site and they will recognize that some how the ranking has been cheated. In most cases these sites are removed from the index for no less than six months; and sometimes permanently!
The fact is that these people don’t understand the power that Google has. Anyone with a real interest in having an effective presence on the web must consider that getting banned from the search engines effectively negates any small gain you may get from duping the search engine giant. They don’t have to let you back in, and they don’t have to give you any right to respond – and unfortunately you’re entirely at their mercy.
Aside from the fact that Google will remove you from its index, there is another incentive against trying to fool Google. If you fool Google, you are fooling your clients, and yourself. There is no reason to try to lure visitors onto your page with the expectation of getting something. This is a terrible way to conduct business and more often than not it will cost you a valued customer.
If you want your website to be found in categories that don’t apply to it, try purchasing ads on pages that are listed towards the top of the Google listings in these categories. You can actually increase your sites reputation in Google’s eyes rather than hurting it by adding another link to your site. This is an excellent form of marketing because it allows you to reach out beyond your market simply by dishing out a few dollars a month.
Recently it has been discovered that Google is sending out ‘cloak bots’, disobeying robots.txt files in order to find out whether sites are ‘cloaking’ – serving a different page to search engines than what visitors see. These ‘cloak bots’ are controversial but seem to have some positive effects in Google’s eyes.
Unethical methods make it difficult for people who are trying to do SEO the proper way, which is one of the reasons why it needs to be monitored so carefully.
If people stopped trying to find ways to manipulate the system, it would be much easier to keep up with what’s going on and the web would be a place with a level playing field.
Has The Recent Google Algorithm Update Backfired?
As a relatively seasoned internet marketer, keeping on top of search engine algorithm changes — especially Google — is tantamount to implementing effective and meaningful SEO for both my clients and myself. It would be a bad investment of resources and time to neglect the most recent and up-to-date internet marketing technology, and even more foolish to think a business can operate in such a manner.
For the average person these algorithm updates mean very little because they have little, if no affect on their day-to-day living, especially if they have no website or business. In contrast, however, for internet marketers and many businesses changes of this nature can either be rewarding or catastrophic! For the most part these updates will have no negative consequences for internet marketers who are playing by the rules, and the same principle applies to businesses. There is a catch, however. Some times mistakes happen and these mistakes can affect legitimate people and places. Is it possible that the recent Google algorithm update backfired?
In its most recent algorithm update Google is weeding out websites that simply publish and republish content and effectively have poor value to the average internet surfer. Internet marketers refer to these sites as “link farms”. Essentially link farms serve no valuable purpose other than helping to promote a product, service, or website, and the internet is peppered with these manure lagoons. While not all of these publishing resources can be referred to as manure lagoons, others are merely plagued with website content that is copied from another site and used for several reasons that include manipulating certain words or phrases in the search engines, and earning passive income from advertisers. I wish to focus on the former.
As I stated Google is attempting to make search results better, and their latest algorithm update is primarily focused on eliminating link farms which help manipulate less legitimate website to appear higher in the search engine rankings where people are more likely to visit. If you market websites primarily to earn revenue on ads or affiliate products, having your website on the first page of search results is essential. But for the average user these sites are not as beneficial as the genuine business that sell the service or product being sought from the merchant. Nevertheless, the 3rd party proxy sites seem to dominate a majority of the time, and apparently Google thought they might fix that? Eviscerate the link farms that help rank the 3rd party proxy sites, and the search results would be more beneficial, or so Google thought.
What appears to have happened is that Google implemented some tweak in their algorithm to identify and demote sites that have duplicate and/or copied content — such content that typically appears in these link farms. Unfortunately this latest change is actually having negative consequences for legitimate websites that have unknowingly had their content plagiarized and published elsewhere. And what makes it even worse is that the owners of these sites are alleging that despite their sites being demoted, the sites that actually plagiarized the original content from their [the owners'] sites are ranking better than the sites where the content originated. This really is tragic and unfortunate for many legitimate and trusted businesses and internet marketers alike.
My prediction is that the recent Google algorithm update backfired and they will soon be re-tweaking it to straighten things out. Will this undo the harm already done? Probably not. Will the “wrongly convicted” websites eventually make their way back to the place they belong? Perhaps. But what really begs the question is, what affirmative and preventative steps can be made to ensure that your website is not wrongly sent out into cyberspace oblivion? The answer is Copyscape! With this awesome resource you can quickly see if any of your website content has been plagiarized, and thereby making YOU a potential candidate for catastrophe! I would promptly check all of your websites!
As one can quickly deduce, anyone can go and copy content from a reputable and trusted source and simply publish it on their own website in the hopes of earning some advertising revenue. Fortunately recourse is available under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act by filing a DMCA complaint with Google.
Why Your Business Should Have A Website.
I’ve lost count of the number of times that I am driving, and I see a sign or some other form of advertising which interests me. Whether its a billboard, information on a car or truck, or the common 18″ x 24″ yard signs that I see so many businesses using lately, I attain most of my business or product interests while driving. And although I am able to see and memorize the name of the business, more times than not I am unable to safely get the phone number because I am driving. As such, I go home and begin my search for the business name on the Internet. I am confident that I am not the only person who has these experiences.
Is your business on the Internet?
Like the 74% of Americans who utilize the Internet to perform searches, I find it very discouraging to search for a business name and find no website for the lead I attained while driving. In these scenarios I either give up and search elsewhere for the business or product I desire, or I am forced to recall where I saw the sign so I can get the phone number next time — hopefully? However, if the business information I observed was on a car or truck, obviously the lead is gone and that business just lost a customer because it doesn’t have a business website!
I find it pretty sad actually, because so many businesses — especially in the economic recession — rely so heavily on the affordable marketing that focuses on drivers, yet they fail to realize that in most cases a driver is NOT going to simply get the phone number. People remember names first.
Business Website
Liberty Web Marketing offers website packages that are very affordable starting at $500. This small investment should not make or break your company, but I guarantee that it is going to generate leads for your business!
Now perhaps you saw a website design company who offers cheaper package deals, and your wondering why you should chose Liberty Web Marketing over them? My answer is this:
- Cheaper does not always mean better. Remember, you get what you pay for.
- Will this other website design company get your business ranked on the first page of the search engines for “keywords” associated to your business niche? Liberty Web Marketing will.
- Will this other website design company ensure secure, dynamic, user-friendly, and interactive website development with your customers in mind? Liberty Web Marketing will.
- Will this other website design company passionately design and monitor your business website? Liberty Web Marketing will.
Please keep in mind the most important role that your business website plays. When a potential customer visits your website, all of the necessary information about your business, products, and how to contact you is contained there. There aren’t anymore lost customer leads who observed your business name but couldn’t get the phone number and subsequently NOT find your business on the Internet!
Liberty Web Marketing is one of manyWaukesha, WI Design Firms.