Google bite back at "review for backlink" gamers
Sounds like Google are biting the butts of a certain genre of blogger , the ones who run backlink for review features that resemble Googlebombs. This term, according to Google
In a new angle on reviews, reviewers had to include links to a site using specific meaningful phrases (proscribed anchor text). Overnight, these terms, like make Money Online became new world googlebombs. The gamers would have got away with it, if they hadn't milked the idea to death to get top of the SERP.
This new algorithm isn't so harsh that it treats every review for links feature as undesirable. Good reviews with content and keywords of value to readers / searchers are what Google encourage. However, the gamers took a decent idea and turned it into a shady content-poor idea - and ultimately wasted the reviewers' time. With no desire to add any content of their own to the conversation, except make a link and ask for more submissions, the gamers banged away at the feature for months, building link networks and adding not a lot else to the value of the internet.
Google has taken a look at their contribution to content and decided enough is enough. The gamers have been knocked down a peg or two and to get back to the top of the search results they are now going to have to add valuable content again. How harsh is that!?
Surely experts know that Google search algorithms are nebulous and constantly in flux. The secrecy surrounding the content of algorithms is tantalizing, but one thing that is no secret is that Google are striving to make sure that when you search for a term, you damn well get a relevant and authoritative set of results. How hard can it be to follow that ethos?
As long as you blog fairly and expansively and don't try to manipulate scenarios (that are only ever going to be temporary flaws due to the ongoing development work of the Googloids), how wrong can most people go on their path to higher SERP and PR?
I suppose it is human nature to game, to cut corners? Certain people have that arrogance that somehow they are cleverer than a multi billion dollar gang of search engine geniuses who have forgotten more than most people ever know about search.
No doubt these gaming characters now languishing on lower pages will be back, but who is going to follow them up another garden path. Not me, at least not till I see evidence that content is king in their plan, and the best content rises to the top.
As my grandfather said, Some people are so clever they are stupid! I don't aim to be stupid, I don't want to shoot myself in the foot. I am going to keep Google happy and keep posting original content and link to relevant sites regularly but in moderation. And choose who I review for carefully. Ades was a good choice, he actually has something real to offer, and doesn't take the piss.
Do you think the new algorithm solves a problem, or opens different doors of abuse?
Googlebombs projected a certain politician to the top of searches for miserable failure, but it looks like they have evolved into causing failure for smart ass bloggers.refers to a prank where people attempt to cause someone else's site to rank for an obscure or meaningless query
In a new angle on reviews, reviewers had to include links to a site using specific meaningful phrases (proscribed anchor text). Overnight, these terms, like make Money Online became new world googlebombs. The gamers would have got away with it, if they hadn't milked the idea to death to get top of the SERP.
This new algorithm isn't so harsh that it treats every review for links feature as undesirable. Good reviews with content and keywords of value to readers / searchers are what Google encourage. However, the gamers took a decent idea and turned it into a shady content-poor idea - and ultimately wasted the reviewers' time. With no desire to add any content of their own to the conversation, except make a link and ask for more submissions, the gamers banged away at the feature for months, building link networks and adding not a lot else to the value of the internet.
Google has taken a look at their contribution to content and decided enough is enough. The gamers have been knocked down a peg or two and to get back to the top of the search results they are now going to have to add valuable content again. How harsh is that!?
Surely experts know that Google search algorithms are nebulous and constantly in flux. The secrecy surrounding the content of algorithms is tantalizing, but one thing that is no secret is that Google are striving to make sure that when you search for a term, you damn well get a relevant and authoritative set of results. How hard can it be to follow that ethos?
As long as you blog fairly and expansively and don't try to manipulate scenarios (that are only ever going to be temporary flaws due to the ongoing development work of the Googloids), how wrong can most people go on their path to higher SERP and PR?
I suppose it is human nature to game, to cut corners? Certain people have that arrogance that somehow they are cleverer than a multi billion dollar gang of search engine geniuses who have forgotten more than most people ever know about search.
No doubt these gaming characters now languishing on lower pages will be back, but who is going to follow them up another garden path. Not me, at least not till I see evidence that content is king in their plan, and the best content rises to the top.
As my grandfather said, Some people are so clever they are stupid! I don't aim to be stupid, I don't want to shoot myself in the foot. I am going to keep Google happy and keep posting original content and link to relevant sites regularly but in moderation. And choose who I review for carefully. Ades was a good choice, he actually has something real to offer, and doesn't take the piss.
Do you think the new algorithm solves a problem, or opens different doors of abuse?
.
... 
.
.
...
.
. 
