If Google is such a crappy search engine and delivers such poor results, then why are they still the most used SE and why are we all so concerned with good rankings on Google?
Ofcourse we're trying to manipulate the SE's - I think most webmasters do to one level or another. Google SERPs sometimes simply don't make an sense. I'll use one of my sites as an example. If you run a search for 'plymouth cricket club' 5 of the first page are links to my site, yet the actual site returns about #13. Now I'm not complaining cos I'm still learning what's what with this SEO stuff, but having links return higher than the site it don't make sense. Also it seems that the results are different dependant on how may results you return per search - return 100 and my site's #18.
The cat and mouse will always play. Webmasters will always try to be as competitive (Manipulate, if that's what you want to call it) as can be. While Google will always be trying to make it fair (manipulate serps, if that's what you call it). At the end of the day who controls your online success? Make no mistake, they do. We just need to remain in touch with latest algo changes to give us an edge over our competitors. All's fair in love and war
Yes. And Google's goal is to circumvent that if possible... of course. It does if there are more backlinks to ("votes" for) individual pages than the home page, or if there are more backlinks with anchor text for that specific search term to the subpages. That's a known feature... it's not really a change in ranking -- just how the "indented" pages are listed.
Damn straight! Differences in results are expected, drastic, almost completely different results are way out in left field.
Google could always claim that those sites that are excluded have broken linking rules (purchased links from link farms) or that they are not in DMOZ or whatever
And the answer is because the other SEs are a LOT more susceptible to techniques like keyword stuffing...
Well I know for a fact that my site was removed from Google's index because of a major dispute with them (everyone that has been around knows about it) so in my case I have seen them remove me because of that. Before my dispute with Google I was in the SERP's fine and was an ADWORDS customer also. After I complained about SERP's spam over and over that was being run for a ADSENSE publisher Google removed my site for complaining, something wrong with that situation in my opinion. But I still rank for that site in all the other engines. But in Mopacfan's case it seems similar to what happened to me (like I said mine was over a fight with Google) but for unknown reasons. It is still odd that this happens where sites rank well in all the other engines but do not rank "AT ALL" in Google. There is something very wrong with that picture Minstrel.
I remember the dispute well, but are you sure it was as a direct result of that? Seems a little harsh (And out of character).
The bottom line is that they have the power, if you don't like the game they can put you out of business, so you have to bite your lip and play the game to survive. The bottom line is that this is business, not goodness, no one ever said business was fair and just, it is all about making money, the sooner folks realize that it is all business the better off they will be. Sometimes in business you must keep your mouth shut and go along with the power brokers or be put out of business. Fighters just will grow in another direction if they are shut out and that is what I have tried to do, but it is not easy.
NO, YOU are wrong. I've NEVER tried to "manipulate" the Google SERPS. I wouldn't even know HOW to! What I have done is to follow the GOOGLE GUIDELINES to the tee. 100% and tried to make my websites be the very best they can be. Sorry if this sounds like an Army commercial; but I'm sure I and others used that phrase before the Army glomed on to it. I make my sites be search engine friendly, seek links from related sites too boost traffic and make my site be content rich so that site visitors will buy what I am selling. It's called operating a business. But I have never tried to maniuplate the Google SERPS or any search engines SERPS. That gets into blackhat SEO that I have heard and read much about; but I don't use those practices..... So maybe Google in trying to stop the "maniuplators" gets carried away with their CONSTANT algorithim changes (again - a blatant admission on their part that their ranking system is a failure) and punishes good, quality websites like mine and many others when our only "sin" was to follow Google's very own guidelines. Chomp on that for a while Minstrel .
Some one is awfully bitter. Continue to optimize for Google and all other engines will yield fantastic results.
Hope you were not referring to me about being bitter, I have a site that is on page 1 of Google and it is making alot of money. What I do sometimes get upset about is when someone accuses me of something that I haven't done meaning "trying to manipulate" the SERPS. Again, I wouldn't know how to do that and if I did I could probably bottle it and make a fortune!
OK SportsGuru, you have now left an open door for Minstrel to attack your position Guess what his first question will be? What the hell are you bitching about if you are on page one of the SERP's man
I'll let others decide whether you are bitter but you certainly are (1) hypersensitive and (2) hostile. Where did I accuse you of being manipulative? You said Google changing the algorithm was evidence that their ranking sustem is a failure -- I said no it isn't -- it's evidence that Google needs to keep one step ahead of webmasters trying to manipulate the system. Did I say you were one of those? No. Maybe you are, maybe not. I have no idea and I don't really care one way or the other. That wasn't my point at all. Sometimes the innocent suffer along with the guilty. But if Google didn't take the measures it takes to counter the manipulation, it would soon be completely worthless as a search engine. And before you respond, do please try to remember that Google's goal is to deliver reasonable search results to non-webmasters, not to make sure your site ranks well.
No. My first question is "When did you discontinue your medication, sportsguru?" and my second is "Why?".