I have noticed one of the co op members has show up in G's bl's to me (approx 10 bl's showing). While checking this site today I notice that they are running 5 ads. I also noticed that thay are using some kind of additional rotating ad script. When I initially checked the pages they seemed fine. Upon closer inspection I noticed that they had ads directly above the co op ads that rotate. When I entered the site and scrolled to the bottom 'click here mydomainname.com for encyclopedias' and second ad similar using my exact domain name (spelled out in full) promoting other items. This is cool, right? NOT. None of these ads actually pointed to my site. I have noticed while checking bl's other times the same sort of thing. Other websites are using my domain name to attract attention, it seems. But no actual 'href' link. What is up with this? I do not like any misrepresentation of this domain name as it rocks. How can I prevent this? Anyone else observed similar?
Here is a screen capture so you can see it. http://www.weprintcolors.com/screens/screen_bogus_ads.htm
Since my original post I have noticed several other webpages doing exactly the same thing . Am I missing something? Is this just a case of others trying to capitalize on 'mydomainname.com's' traffic. G shows it as a bl but the actual links never link to me. Is this good or bad? If G counts it as a bl what is it really worth . If a consumer actually made a purchase they would think it was purchased from mydomainname.com I am not sure how to approach this and would appreciate any insite/ feedback. Cheers,
Are you sure this isn't just a script that displays anything you had typed in as a search phrase? ie: you searched for "link:domain" so it shows "link:domain" on thier page, but if you had seached for "jungle boogie" it would show "jungle boogie" on the page. They use whatever the referring url says you seached for.
Christopher that is the common thread. As I mentioned I am finding many of these pages when I am checking bl's. link:www.domainname.com. So with your analasys this makes sense...I only find these pages when entering the search phrase. The likelihood of others searching for this is almost nil. However, these pages I have found actually advertise and sell product under what could be perceived as my domain. Someone could actually buy an enclopedia set and think they purchased it from www.mydomain.com. Now I understand how these pages are being generated...thanks Christopher
It is common for webmasters to be protective of the name however in my opinion there should be more important things you could be spending your time on. In the case of "starware" and your "misrepresentation of this domain name as it rocks" I offer that you will see the name on pages such as those with starware and they are being generated by search engine and/or directory scripts that make use of PPC advertising such as searchfeed. If someone clicks on the starware link that company pays and whoever had the link on it's page gets a %. There isn't much you can do to stop it and even if you did I don't see the benefit as it isn't hurting your name and it doesn't affect your web site. If anything it may have a positive benefit if the link goes to a page that does have your URL on it as it will boost popularity provided the URL isn't hidden in some "no follow" type code. So I'd say embrace it as a sign of becoming more well known and find something else to work on that will bring you postive energy. Good luck.
K...this is my full time job, I am payed handsomely to manage bl campaigns, but thanks for the advice. That's what I am try to figure out from a SEO perspective...the Anchor txt is www.mydomainname.com (so G sees it as a bl, that's how I am finding them) the link is always pointing to some type of cheezy looking deal that has nothing relevant to my site. So I don't think it is harming me unless someone bought something and came after me when they never rec'd it. It's all good...just trying to stay on my game
Homer, so how does one get such a full time job? Nothing specific, just wondering if it was an advertised position or if you talked yourself into something (or are you self-employed)? Might be helpfull to look at google's cache of the page, instead of the actual page. If these are just automated scripts - that are using the search terms from the referring url - then google would not be seeing the same thing you are. I suspect that when you look at the caches, you'll find your co-op link is the 'backlink', and who knows what the automated script will display. Look at this through google's eyes.
This may sound dumb, but how does one view Google's cache of a specific webpage? Yes I am self employed Correct I believe these pages are being generated by automated scripts. Christopher, you have helped shed some light on this...I appreciate it.
Install a Google Toolbar. Browse to the page and click the blue ( I ). Then llok at the cache. Or find the page in the SERPs somehow and click on cached.
It would seem a Professional SEO who gets paid handsomely would know something as basic as how to view a cache....but I digress
Is there such a thing. What crudencials must I have to be . My guess is results...proof in the pudding, correct? Or am I missing something here? Can I get a university degree for this?
Easy for someone who knows PHP I DON'T!! Do you know of a script I could get that is a already done? Thanks
No but I'll guide you in the right direction... $referer = $_SERVER["HTTP_REFERER"]; PHP: All SERP referals have q=keyword_phrase in it. Use strpos to find the position of q= within $referer. Then find the position of the next &, if any. If not, strip everything from the q= position+2 onwards. If an & is found, strip everything until the position of the &. This stripped string is the search phrase. Now you can echo it or store it or whatever. Now go to php.net and learn PHP. Join the nerd club.
Correct me if I'm wrong the title of this thread is 'Interesting observation' I am really just trying to figure out how this is generated?? How would you react if you saw your domain name being used to sell encyclopedias and such? Would you be a little curious? Maybe you get a phone call one day from an irate customer wondering where the encyclopia set is that was purchased from www.yourdomain.com My question is long since answered...and some, thanks top30. I think I may actually have use for this script. Thanks All