Google Hell or Google Hello?
- May 1st, 2007 /
“The equivalent of putting the Earth’s population in order from tallest to shortest every few minutes.” That’s Google’s task. I pulled this from a Forbes article I found via Web Pro News. Web Pro News is commenting on the fact that Forbes ran a story about someone warning people about Google Hell. Apparently, someone who sold $3 million a year worth of diamonds and jewelry online saw their sales plummet when they got penalized by Google.
This is warning put out by this guy, but in the end I end up on Google’s side. This goes back to the quote I opened with. Yes, Google is a god. Yes, Google is making buckets of money, but consider the job they do everyday. Moreover, consider what they’re doing every second of the day. They are the biggest, best, fastest, most relevant (debatable) way we get information, and to stay that way means that Google has to be discerning when it comes to content and practices.
I have always said that the search engines make sense. The most helpful and useful information should always be returned first, and if it’s not, just give them time to clean it up, kick out the bad, and bring the good back to the top. Bottom line is that if you’re doing something that doesn’t feel right, feels like you’re gaming the system, or if you find yourself saying “Everyone else is doing it,” don’t be shocked when Google knocks you down. It’s like instead of being sent to Google Hell, it’s more like Google saying “Hello, you’re crappy site is hurting the rest of us.”
I honestly feel that good, relevant, unique, regularly-updated content is always going to be preferred by Google. Also, consider what’s happening in the social networking and online collaboration space right now. The search engines will undoubtedly start preferring (rewarding) content generated via these channels. Makes sense, right?
- categories: All /
May 07, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Actually, it doesn’t make sense and frankly, neither does this post. I visit Voodoo every week for good insight, but this one, in addition to burping up other people’s content, misses the boat. Yes Google is king, but the point of the article is that if you want to play Google’s game, you have to consider the risk and adapt. And, to be honest, I think the guys at Google are a little too high brow to say something like “Hello, you’re crappy site is hurting the rest of us,” even metaphorically. I’ll keep coming back though! Blogging Not Burping! Thanks Voodoo
May 08, 2007 at 8:35 am
I hear you, Frank, but the point I was trying to make is that it shouldn’t be a game. I think Google, in its most perfect state, should be a perfect ecosystem. Perfect in that they rank the most relevant and appropriate information first to last. We shouldn’t have to risk and adapt.
Every Google panel I’ve ever been to has asked people not to worry about optimization and playing the game. We should concern ourselves instead with generating interesting, unique content that will be of some value to our users.
That said, I’ll watch the burping. Even though, you have to admit that even this conversation is valuable and unique. You got a chance to critique us, and we get a chance to respond. Conversations. Isn’t that what blogging is all about? bk
May 08, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Well crafted Blake. I agree. Blogging is about talking to people and sharing ideas with people that we dont get a chance to meet at our local coffee shop. In reference to your article, Google, in its most perfect state would be a perfect ecosystem. However, as much as we dont want the internet to be a commodity, it is, and Google is first and foremost, a business – no different than Voodoo Ventures. So, I think if you asked them, that would not be the most perfect state. But keep up the great blogging!!!!