I notice there are two opinions about the latest Google dance. I hear
people for the most part complaining, but there are those who thinks
Google is on the right track. The differences in opinion seem to based
on interpretation of the term authority. I always felt that an authority
is an expert. In the past Google rewarded sites for being authorities
and possibly it still does but it just uses the word differently. In the
past sites with excellent content (I mean information) on a subject
would generally rank well for that subject. Now after the recent Florida
dance Google defines an authority as a sites which has the best
collection of links to sites with the real information. Further Google
penalizes sites which are the actual authorities. Google is like the
yellow pages. If you look under real estate in the yellow pages you
would expect to find companies listed which are real estate agents or
brokers, not companies who might know an agent, but actually sell
newspapers. This example is what Google has done. The serps are
dominated by directories and affiliate sites. Junk really! When I search
using whatever search engine, I want to find what I'm looking for in one
step and I do not want to find a bunch of sites who may link to the site
I'm trying to get to.
Google has lost its sense of how people search and why they at one time
used Google. I imagine those who run so called "authority sites", as
Google defines it, are pleased and defend Google's actions. These sites
steal their authority by linking to sites that are the actual
authorities on subject.
When explaining search patterns, I speak from personal experience and
from speaking to hundreds of people who do searches. The goal has always
been to find what you are looking for in the fewest steps. This is why
people click the first results and generally don't go to page three of
the serps. The goal is to get to the goal as quickly as possible. By
forcing searchers to go through additional steps this is demonstrates a
loss of understanding. If people preferred directories more searches
would happen on DMOZ or Looksmart. People prefer to search and find the
relevant site in one step. Google's past success only gives credit to my
past statements. Google rose above other search engines because others
focused on building directories and adding unnecessary steps to the
search process.
I would to hear people thoughts on how to avoid the Google filter.
Sincerely,
Allan Pollett
http://www.UCanBuyArt.com
~~Where the world shops for art!~~~
Received on Fri Dec 12 2003 - 09:09:35 CST
