Comments on: Wrong Reaction From Techcrunch On Paid Links?

By: Advertorials Gut, Paid Reviews Nicht So Gut | CenterNetworks

Advertorials Gut, Paid Reviews Nicht So Gut | CenterNetworks — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:37:07 +0000

[...] the size and power Google is at, can they still operate as a "normal going concern? Mathew and Andy have some additional differing [...]

By: daryl

daryl — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:29:28 +0000

Think there maybe 2 sets rules on paid links depending upon who the website is … many large press outfits sell links and seem to have little effect on PR whereas Mr average with blog trying to earn a $ is punished. Maybe just me but I think the double standard relates to fact that certain media maybe able to be more damaging to Googles Reputation … the monopoly power of google is becoming scary in my eyes. Just my thoughts

By: Bountiful Buffet of Bookmarks :: JMorris Online

Bountiful Buffet of Bookmarks :: JMorris Online — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:42:11 +0000

[...] Wrong Reaction From Techcrunch On Paid Links? | Andy Beard – Niche Marketing [...]

By: Are Izea “Allies” doing more harm than good? » the Spun Puppy

Are Izea “Allies” doing more harm than good? » the Spun Puppy — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:18:10 +0000

[...] to be doing more harm than good. Izea has strong support in the blogosphere from such notables as Andy Beard and Dustin Brewer, who not only support the company in a positive way, but do so with the kind of [...]

By: The Suzette » Blog Archive » What is PPP (not PayPerPost)?

The Suzette » Blog Archive » What is PPP (not PayPerPost)? — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 04:25:04 +0000

[...] following a lead in Andy’s blog, I found out Ted Murphy from PayPerPost wrote in their blog that Google now looking for PPP and [...]

By: Donkey Odie

Donkey Odie — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:16:38 +0000

Snoskre wrote:

“If Google doesn’t want people to be able to earn money via page rank, they could simply hide the page ranks OF EVERYONE. They could come out and say Ok, we’ve had enough of people using Page Rank for earning money, and we’re removing it from all sites effective immediately.”

This thing has monopoly and anti-trust written all over it. Of course they’d prefer not to remove PR altogether, cause they want people having any tools possible to sell more google ads, and they are trying to eliminate competition through their monopoly position as the rater, stat collector, ad market, etc.

I’m actually surprised that when I search on Yahoo for “anti-trust practices”, that despite there being 5 million search returns, there isn’t a sponsored link pointing to Google, Yahoo-bombing them with the most appropriate terms.

I’ve heard stories like Lizzie’s above, and others who had sites that had never used paid ads or paid links, but still got PR whacked just for talking about an advertising competitor to Google. That’s creepy stuff.

The other thing that bugs the hell out of me, is that some bloggers worked hard to build up a good blog, and received a good PR rank, THEN they attracted sponsors, then they got whacked. So, the earned the PR ‘legitimately’ under google’s rules, but then they are penalized for what they had already earned. The paid links didn’t give them more PR, they already had that. It makes no sense, other than Google wanting to chase other advertisers from our blogs.

Any word if this has gotten to the feds investigating the DoubleClick purchase?

The phrase “Google does Evil” resonates more every day.

By: mblair

mblair — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:21:18 +0000

@Michael – Just wanted to clarify and say that PPP does have an option for a “neutral” review that can be positive or negative. I don’t know what percentages choose that of course. Plus, some handle it more like Andy does and only take reviews that are on their terms. I didn’t mean to imply I think advertorials are something Google should punish. Google shouldn’t even be in this business of making lists of who’s naughty and nice. Just stick to giving us relevant results when we search. In fact, if they could just classify the information and let the searchers decide what filters to use even better.

What I think is funny about the whole thing is that they make PageRank and then they give themselves a 10. The epitome of quality. Is this a joke?

One thing I want to bring up though in response to what you said — all of these attacks against visible PageRank may be only the first shot across the bow. Actual rankings may be next, a la John Chow. But unlike John Chow’s site, many sites are unfortunately dead in the water without qualified leads coming in from their Google traffic.

I know you suggest that those sites quit whining and play by Google’s rules if they can’t take the heat, but I still think it is worth whining about.

By: Michael Lodispoto

Michael Lodispoto — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:14:59 +0000

So why point them out? Maybe they want to worship at the alter of Google as many here and elsewhere do. Why bring notice to them. Are they a competitor of your’s? Lets stop cutting each others throats and opt out of the throat slicing of fellow sites. Google just hasn’t had that Dept. get to them yet.

By: Michael Lodispoto

Michael Lodispoto — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:12:38 +0000

I’ve been a customer of TLA as well as PPP. I guess that is why Google dropped my main site from a PR6 to a PR4. But so what? I think it’s funny that the only real ads on my main site are Google Adwords. Yet site was still dropped. Luckily pagerank means nothing for me and I’m finding that social media traffic far outweighs that from all of the search engines combined.
I have a question for all of the SEO guys reading this.
Why are you even using pagerank to make rates and sell rates in advertising? I’ve been diving into the topic big time for I admit a short time period compared to the rest of you. As a business owner I only advertised offline for a long time. But now I see it is ridiculous to advertise on a high pagerank site. All I care about is qualified traffic and people that are interested in my services. I won’t even mention my sites that I do business with here. It is not the one in the no-follow link in this post. That one is just for fun. I make nothing from it – even from the adwords. Everything is put back into the site.
How about we all cut it already and just turn away? I understand what you said Andy about there not being another alternative to judge the quality of a blog or site as Google’s pagerank. I think they need to change the way they market pagerank to be a little more accurate, in light of their dropping sites for the hell of it or for daring to sell links as they do. As if how dare any company make money from links. I find that hilarious as do many of you.
I though look at it as they do – they own pagerank and their search engine. If you don’t like it, leave. Check out ask.com, I do now almost daily and found it to be superior ( Oh my God, I said it!) to Google’s search engine.
Let me ask you guys something.
If an alternative existed but it was a bog company like Microsoft that had it, would you embrace it? Or is this all simply a gang up on Google exercise?
How about if Wikipedia comes out with a better community driven search engine. Would you guys embrace it if you can’t profit off of manipulating the search engine rankings?
I buy links now for traffic that can convert to sales. I’m finding people like Andy, whom I intend on hiring shortly with quite a few other social media people, do far better for sites than search engines.
Just keep making friends, expanding your networks. Before you know it there will be another dominant system to attack and complain about. As long as you don’t rely on any one site, you will all be fine. If you do rely on only one site, then that site is your online God. Play by their rules and stop whining about it.
One last thing, most people outside of SEO don’t even know about pagerank. I know that is hard to believe for so many of you. Businesses only learn about it from you guys. What if you guys stopped already with pagerank talk? Imagine focusing instead on what advertisers really want – ROI! That’s it. If i can get 20% more profit from a PR1 than a PR 8, what good is pagerank?
How about this oath, stupid I know, but I’m one of those stupid business people who couldn’t care any less about PR.
“I Swear that from this day on that i will not ever mention pagerank to a client or customer unless they bring it up first.” I’m willing to bet that with the rush of new advertisers such as myself and my companies, in no time flat pagerank will be a thing of the past or dropped by Google as no one would even know about it as most people that I know that do advertise on the net. They don’t know about it. It is as important to business as the Alexa rank is, no one (except you guys) have that toolbar so no one cares except you guys. My own web designer put that Alexa rank tool on my earthfrisk site. I keep forgetting to tell her to take it down. I’ll make a point to tell her tomorrow.
Duncan – and mblair – let’s be real shall we. I have a PPP account and bloggers write what you ask them to write, in their words of course. So they are advertorials. No matter what anyone says. I’m not attacking that – I think it’s fine! I will continue to hire PPP and Smorty people and others. Just call a spade a spade and don’t be afraid. There is nothing wrong with buying and selling links. Your sites are your sites, stop kissing the rear-ends of anyone company.

By: Is Google The New Terrorist? | Snoskred - Life in the Country

Is Google The New Terrorist? | Snoskred - Life in the Country — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:14:41 +0000

[...] Is Google Treating All Bloggers Equallyâ€¦ Oh, really? Forget PageRank, show off your Link Wealth Wrong Reaction From Techcrunch On Paid Links? PageRank Becomes Worthless Google Shooting Itself in The Foot Another Round of â€˜Google [...]