WOW! That is absolutely incredible it is still happening. Does this mean we can buy links now?
LA office space
· 6 months ago
Isn't that exactly what Google does not want us to do? I'm shocked.
Pete Evans
· 6 months ago
Great article; thank you.
There is absolutely no way Google will ever be able to differentiate between paid links and those which occur 'naturally' (but then, are paid links actually natural links in the grand scheme of things? Should market pressures like this be able to influence search engines? Why not?).
This amuses and disappoints me in equal measure: Google seems to be able to set the parameters of the (digital) market in which we live, work and play as it sees fit. It could turn the rankings on their head right now and put a lot of very big companies out of business. They are a business owned by their shareholders, and this is their perogative.
Any calls to the effect that Google is 'playing foul' (not including you in this, Andy, since yours is a reasoned look at the situation) are pointless. Google makes the rules and the result of that is makes them for itself, too.
"Can we buy links now". Yes, do whatever you want. Google will do whatever it wants in return. You just have to decide whether you're going to dance exactly when Google tells you to.
Khaled
· 6 months ago
I guess they are a business just like any other and if they feel the pinch the rules that apply for everyone else change for them.
Search Bot
· 6 months ago
?ommercial interests of Google came into conflict with the relationships of trust - and won
Gala Invitations
· 6 months ago
I've noticed a big jump in people asking to buy links on different sites that I take care of, very interesting. There is no way for a spider to tell if links are paid for or not, it was a losing battle from the beginning.
Katie
· 6 months ago
Great article.
At the end of the day Google sets the digital agenda. We know that and so do they. Ultimately they are a business that has to answer to shareholders and therefore like everyone else maximising profitability is their fundamental objective.
Thanks
AndyBeard
· 6 months ago
Whilst I am glad that Matt has said something, and I don't want to discourage it, there is conflicting messaging out there now - it is bad enough with SEOs, worse when Google make contradictory statements within a week of each other.
Adam Alfia
· 6 months ago
Interesting and equally ominous.
There's no other way to get around it - the control of information on the internet is one of the most fundamentally important aspects of the internet age. Search engines are universally accessible portals to the compendium of human knowledge, and no one entity should be entitled to directly influence the flow of it. There are conflicts of interest at every single juncture, and your post points out a clear-cut one.
Of course, Google is a very enlightened company in a lot of ways. With great power comes great responsibility, and I'd like to think I can trust Google. Such is the nature of large, powerful entities, but it is our duty to keep them in check.
ASP Scripts
· 6 months ago
It is shocking that you can still buy links. Anyone know where to get them, haha?
Barry Wheeler
· 5 months ago
Is Google really trying to protect its search index using such practices or trying to gain more of a monopoly? It's hypocritical if you ask me!
freereminder
· 5 months ago
You would think that if Google wants to set new proprietary standards they would follow them as well. And what better spot to start following them than with a trade organization promoting search engine marketing?
All Comments
There is absolutely no way Google will ever be able to differentiate between paid links and those which occur 'naturally' (but then, are paid links actually natural links in the grand scheme of things? Should market pressures like this be able to influence search engines? Why not?).
This amuses and disappoints me in equal measure: Google seems to be able to set the parameters of the (digital) market in which we live, work and play as it sees fit. It could turn the rankings on their head right now and put a lot of very big companies out of business. They are a business owned by their shareholders, and this is their perogative.
Any calls to the effect that Google is 'playing foul' (not including you in this, Andy, since yours is a reasoned look at the situation) are pointless. Google makes the rules and the result of that is makes them for itself, too.
"Can we buy links now". Yes, do whatever you want. Google will do whatever it wants in return. You just have to decide whether you're going to dance exactly when Google tells you to.
At the end of the day Google sets the digital agenda. We know that and so do they. Ultimately they are a business that has to answer to shareholders and therefore like everyone else maximising profitability is their fundamental objective.
Thanks
There's no other way to get around it - the control of information on the internet is one of the most fundamentally important aspects of the internet age. Search engines are universally accessible portals to the compendium of human knowledge, and no one entity should be entitled to directly influence the flow of it. There are conflicts of interest at every single juncture, and your post points out a clear-cut one.
Of course, Google is a very enlightened company in a lot of ways. With great power comes great responsibility, and I'd like to think I can trust Google. Such is the nature of large, powerful entities, but it is our duty to keep them in check.