Comments on: Google Controls the Fate of Small Publishers http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html Exploring the trends driving small business Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:39:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Michael Klusek http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-328172 Michael Klusek Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:36:37 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-328172 Even though Google webmaster tools are helpful there is still a lot of insight that has to be cleaned from elsewhere to understand it. For instance one of my sites all of a sudden had majority of pages show up in supplimental index (read dead zone). I did some seraching on the internet and found duplicate content could be the cause. It seems like google had tighten it enforcement because site did not have issue before. That solution was to add a robots.txt document to exclude indexing of feeds and archives. After less than a week pages where back in main index. Not always obvious what is the cause but this solution worked for me so I assume duplicate content was the reason for supplimental hell. But that really shock the nervous system. I warning first would be a welcome change in approach. Even though Google webmaster tools are helpful there is still a lot of insight that has to be cleaned from elsewhere to understand it.

For instance one of my sites all of a sudden had majority of pages show up in supplimental index (read dead zone). I did some seraching on the internet and found duplicate content could be the cause. It seems like google had tighten it enforcement because site did not have issue before. That solution was to add a robots.txt document to exclude indexing of feeds and archives. After less than a week pages where back in main index.

Not always obvious what is the cause but this solution worked for me so I assume duplicate content was the reason for supplimental hell.

But that really shock the nervous system. I warning first would be a welcome change in approach.

]]> By: EJMalyn http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-325029 EJMalyn Fri, 17 Aug 2007 02:15:10 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-325029 Agree with Chris, A warning prior to remove is not only the right thing to do but the professional way of doing business. Agree with Chris, A warning prior to remove is not only the right thing to do but the professional way of doing business.

]]> By: Chris http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324763 Chris Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:31:58 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324763 "But what about smaller publishers who don't know if they are doing something wrong? It should be easier to figure out what is right and what is wrong. I'd like to see an appeal process if it turns out something was wrong and you didn't realize it. . . ." I agree with you, Anita. Even though something may have been done that ran contrary to Google's guidelines here, the option for appeal after correction should exist. Or possibly a warning prior to removal to correct that which is incorrect and keep everyone in compliance? “But what about smaller publishers who don’t know if they are doing something wrong? It should be easier to figure out what is right and what is wrong. I’d like to see an appeal process if it turns out something was wrong and you didn’t realize it. . . .”

I agree with you, Anita. Even though something may have been done that ran contrary to Google’s guidelines here, the option for appeal after correction should exist. Or possibly a warning prior to removal to correct that which is incorrect and keep everyone in compliance?

]]> By: Robert Mann http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324737 Robert Mann Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:26:17 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324737 I think the more frequent issue is being on page 54 of the search results, rather than being dropped from the index entirely. Google also keeps a secondary index of sites that are still in the minors or have been sent back to the minors, but still tracks them and will promote them when the situation merits. Though Google has no equal, small businesses reliant on the Internet must diversify. A page 1 ranking on MSN will bring a lot more traffic than a page 54 ranking on Google. Also, strategically authored and placed search ads are still a great ROI. I think the more frequent issue is being on page 54 of the search results, rather than being dropped from the index entirely. Google also keeps a secondary index of sites that are still in the minors or have been sent back to the minors, but still tracks them and will promote them when the situation merits. Though Google has no equal, small businesses reliant on the Internet must diversify. A page 1 ranking on MSN will bring a lot more traffic than a page 54 ranking on Google. Also, strategically authored and placed search ads are still a great ROI.

]]> By: Anita Campbell http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324729 Anita Campbell Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:17:56 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324729 Hi Steve, I used NAICS code 51611 for the stats. I believe for 2007 there is a different NAICs code but I used the one relative to the 2004 and 2005 data, which is the only data I had to go on. The 51611 code is for "Internet-only" publishers. Publishers with both a print and online publication would fall under a different code. Also, there is a separate code for e-commerce sites that make their money not so much from advertising but from online sales. I suspect the numbers will be much greater in the future, since the blogging explosion really took off in the 2005 time range. That exploded online micropublications. So it will be interesting to see the numbers once data collected in later years starts being available. Best, Anita Hi Steve,

I used NAICS code 51611 for the stats. I believe for 2007 there is a different NAICs code but I used the one relative to the 2004 and 2005 data, which is the only data I had to go on.

The 51611 code is for “Internet-only” publishers.

Publishers with both a print and online publication would fall under a different code. Also, there is a separate code for e-commerce sites that make their money not so much from advertising but from online sales.

I suspect the numbers will be much greater in the future, since the blogging explosion really took off in the 2005 time range. That exploded online micropublications. So it will be interesting to see the numbers once data collected in later years starts being available.

Best,
Anita

]]> By: Steve King http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324717 Steve King Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:49:08 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324717 I recently heard a similar story related to eBay. The seller was dropped with no warning and didn't know why. They were able to track someone down at eBay and get reinstated, but they were down for a couple of weeks. The data on small publishers is quite interesting - and bigger than I would have guessed. I wonder how many are blogs versus non-blogs? I wonder if this distinction (blogs verusus non-blogs) matters anymore, or even exists? I recently heard a similar story related to eBay. The seller was dropped with no warning and didn’t know why. They were able to track someone down at eBay and get reinstated, but they were down for a couple of weeks.

The data on small publishers is quite interesting – and bigger than I would have guessed. I wonder how many are blogs versus non-blogs? I wonder if this distinction (blogs verusus non-blogs) matters anymore, or even exists?

]]> By: Anita Campbell http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324710 Anita Campbell Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:25:15 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324710 Hi John, You make a great point about shady practices. No way am I condoning practices designed to trick or draw traffic in underhanded ways. I absolutely do not want to give that impression. But what about smaller publishers who don't know if they are doing something wrong? It should be easier to figure out what is right and what is wrong. I'd like to see an appeal process if it turns out something was wrong and you didn't realize it. That's all I'm saying. As for Matt Cutts blog, I am a fan and read it and value it. But -- and this is a big but -- his blog has a disclaimer stating that it's his personal publication and that he's expressing his personal opinions, not speaking officially for Google. Best, Anita Hi John, You make a great point about shady practices. No way am I condoning practices designed to trick or draw traffic in underhanded ways. I absolutely do not want to give that impression.

But what about smaller publishers who don’t know if they are doing something wrong? It should be easier to figure out what is right and what is wrong. I’d like to see an appeal process if it turns out something was wrong and you didn’t realize it. That’s all I’m saying.

As for Matt Cutts blog, I am a fan and read it and value it. But — and this is a big but — his blog has a disclaimer stating that it’s his personal publication and that he’s expressing his personal opinions, not speaking officially for Google.

Best,
Anita

]]> By: Ecommerce Lounge - Todays top blog posts on Internet Marketing - Powered by SocialRank http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324702 Ecommerce Lounge - Todays top blog posts on Internet Marketing - Powered by SocialRank Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:00:31 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324702 [...] Google Controls the Fate of Small Publishers [...] [...] Google Controls the Fate of Small Publishers [...]

]]> By: John Ross http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324693 John Ross Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:44:27 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/google-controls-the-fate-of-small-publishers.html#comment-324693 Google Does communicate with webmasters about potential problems via the Google Webmaster Tools. In addition, their Webmaster Guidelines are fairly clear. Robin Good even mentions in the full article that they were doing something contrary to those guidelines. The fact that Google just took notice of those problems isn't really something they should be complaining about. They should be happy they were able to get away with the shady practices for so long. Not knowing isn't an excuse either. If a search engine (or anything) is that important to your business, then it deserves to be looked at and understood. I think Google does a decent job communicating - you just need to look. Check out Matt Cutts blog - He's part of Google's anti-spam team, and has many great posts about how Google works. Google Does communicate with webmasters about potential problems via the Google Webmaster Tools. In addition, their Webmaster Guidelines are fairly clear. Robin Good even mentions in the full article that they were doing something contrary to those guidelines. The fact that Google just took notice of those problems isn’t really something they should be complaining about. They should be happy they were able to get away with the shady practices for so long. Not knowing isn’t an excuse either. If a search engine (or anything) is that important to your business, then it deserves to be looked at and understood. I think Google does a decent job communicating – you just need to look.

Check out Matt Cutts blog – He’s part of Google’s anti-spam team, and has many great posts about how Google works.

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