Re: Google dance

From: Josh Carlson <jcarlson_at_insurancejournal.com>
Date: Fri 05 Dec 2003 09:18:16 -0600

Robert Day <rpday_at_btinternet.com> wrote:

>I wish that it were as simple as that, but with my cynic's hat on,
>I see Florida simply as Google's sledgehammer way of forcing people
>to switch over to Adwords.

I disagree, read up on google's culture and you'll see why. This
will probably deteriorate in the future (and maybe its already
starting).

>Adwords boxes have never been well placed on the Google page and
>I never particularly notice them when I surf. I always look at the
>normal rankings which is full of free listings. Adwords advertisers
>might well have complained about why they are paying for poorly
>located boxes, when their rivals are better located, for free.

I disagree, this is based on your experience. Sometimes adwords
are more relevant than the search results. Google demands
relevancy (adwords have to maintain a minimum CTR) and is smart to
do so with a PPC model. Searchers get what they want/advertisers
get what they want/Google gets what they want.

>Google's response could simply be to say - OK, we'll get rid of
>the free commercial sites and our advertisers will have the top
>page commercial locations to themselves.
[snip]

Google plays a huge role in the *real* world. IMHO they're too
smart to think they can play games like this and get away with it.

>Google has kept quiet about their motives. They say that adjustments
>on rankings are normal fluctuations. They don't have the courage to
>admit their strategy.

Search engines (and hopefully every company) are constantly
tweaking their strategies to improve. If all is out in the open,
then the system is open for abuse and essentially becomes
worthless. Long story short - When people don't get for free today
what they got free yesterday or their overpriced SEO campaign just
got hammered, they cry. I recommend reading today's newsletter
from www.highrankings.com - Jill Whalen said something like -
compared to the 1 million matching sites, does your site
*honestly* belong in the top 10? ... and some other good
recommendations which she has always stuck by.

>Will people notice?
>Will Google's new reputation see them damaged?
>Do Google care?
>The problem will soon be one for their new shareholders to worry
about
>after the present owners gleefully point out to prospective investors
>how Adwords has suddenly taken off, and they cash in.
>I for one have lost sites from high Google rankings, many of my
clients'
>sites have disappeared, and business has been badly hit. I for
one will
>not be rewarding Google by buying into Adwords.

Good. Then there's better pricing for the rest of us. :)
Again, ask yourself the question above.

Josh




Received on Fri Dec 05 2003 - 09:18:16 CST