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Asked Google to remove #1 position - it blow'ed up real good!

Discussion in 'Google' started by hulkster, Apr 8, 2004.

  1. #1
    As suggested by my signature, I like BBQ Grills! ;-)

    If you do a Google Search for 'BBQ Grills' the #1 entry is a web site that was "removed/cleaned out" over a year ago - this is the infamous George Goble "lighting a BBQ using liquid oxygen" web page - you can click here to see an historical page - unfortunately without pictures and movies.

    I'm sure it is #1 because so many sites link to it - heck, I used to link to it from my BBQ Grill FAQ because it was awesome! But George was told by the "authorities" to remove it over a year ago, so despite being basically a ONE sentance page, it still commands the #1 spot based on links/anchor text alone - currently shows 273 back links and PR7. It's #1 for a number of other keywords such as liquid oxygen

    It is not George's "fault" his page is still #1 (he should sell some advertising on it! ;-), so at the risk of being a party-pooper, I clicked on the "dissatisified link" at the bottom of the Google Search page and mentioned that this page probably should be removed because it isn't really about BBQ Grillls anymore - this was a few days ago - so far no changes.

    I thought some folks might be interested in an example that clearly shows the power of back links/anchor text with ZERO help from on-page SEO ... and it might also be interesting to see what Google does with this.

    alek
     
    hulkster, Apr 8, 2004 IP
  2. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #2
    Uhm, let's keep the keyword spamming to signatures...

    - Shawn
     
    digitalpoint, Apr 8, 2004 IP
  3. hulkster

    hulkster Peon

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    #3
    FYI: I think the three personal URL references added some humour to the first post, but I've pulled 'em and only left in those directly germane to the subject topic.

    Thanx for the feedback,
    alek
     
    hulkster, Apr 8, 2004 IP
  4. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #4
    I don't mind "self-promotion" for the good of the forum, but it was a little ridiculous... :)

    - Shawn
     
    digitalpoint, Apr 8, 2004 IP
  5. Owlcroft

    Owlcroft Peon

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    #5
    Meanwhile, back at the ranch, he does have a point: it is not uncommon to see high search placements for sites that consist of a brief (and extravagantly clear) announcement that the site is defunct. Google's reported headline for one such was "Gone".

    And that is quite aside from abandoned sites that no one has bothered to clean off a server somewhere . . . .
     
    Owlcroft, Apr 8, 2004 IP
  6. Old Welsh Guy

    Old Welsh Guy Notable Member

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    #6
    C
     
    Old Welsh Guy, Apr 9, 2004 IP
  7. compar

    compar Peon

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    #7
    But I don't think that was Alex's only point. He said that the example was interesting as another example of the power of backlinks even for a page without all the on page elements considered so important by some SEO people.

    So of course the page would be useless to anyone, other than possibly to sell advertising on as he suggested, but the real point is that if you do desire good placement in the SERPs -- Google's at least -- backlinks are the surest way to achieve it.

    On the reverse of this argument show me a page without a single backlink that ranks #1 for any mediumly popular keyword search.

    That is of course a trick challenge, because Google won't even list a page without at least one backlink. So show me a page that ranks #1 for any mediumly popular keyword search and only has the single mandatory backlink.
     
    compar, Apr 9, 2004 IP
  8. hulkster

    hulkster Peon

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    #8
    Bob,

    Yep - that's what I was trying to say - I'm not "bothered" by it being #1 in a keyword that interests me (remember this is a hobby for me), but it is a real good example of a couple of things - this one is easy because most "dead" sites leave their content up, whereas this one actually did put the "gone/removed" sentance on it.

    It's also a slightly competitive keyword, so it's not like it's "winning" for some esoteric phrase.

    It will also be interesting to see how Google handles my request/suggestion to remove it (if they do) since while it's not offensive or spam, it's clearly an example of an incorrect result ... so they could remove it without the potential backlash they might have if they dealt with the keyword "jew" returning anti-semantic sites.

    All part of analyzing/understand the Google Black Box! ;-)

    alek
     
    hulkster, Apr 9, 2004 IP
  9. Owlcroft

    Owlcroft Peon

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    #9
    While "mediumly popular" is open to subjective interpretation, I would reckon that the name of the author Eric Eddison, usually given as "E. R. Eddison", might qualify, as he is not famous but not obscure either.

    Search term: e. r. eddison

    Total hits reported by Google: 9,490

    Page: http://greatsfandf.com/AUTHORS/EREddison.shtml

    Page Rank: 0

    Backlinks: 0

    Pages in Site: 2

    SERP: #1

    --which disconcerts even me.
     
    Owlcroft, Apr 9, 2004 IP
  10. compar

    compar Peon

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    #10
    No, No, OwlCroft you've got it all wrong. That is just part of the fantasy. :D
     
    compar, Apr 9, 2004 IP