Google Playing Nice
Wed, 21 September, 2005 – 1:24 pm
I came across a blog the other day by a bloke named Matt Cutts who works for Google Inc. Doesn't seem to have been around for long, can't believe I've not heard about it before this! A very nice piece of reading that's for sure. He's got some personal stuff on there (who hasn't) but a lot of his stuff is particular to Google, what's happening, new stuff that's going on, other information and advice. A good resource of reading for anyone interested in Search Engine Optimisation.
The newest post to appear is concerning Google's new (currently in a testing phase) method of combatting spam on sites. They're reviewing sites (presumably with some sort of automated software to flag up a possible problem, else it's a big big job!) and emailing the owners, pointing out the spam problems they've found and asking them to correct these. Unfortunately a lot of SEO companies out there use naughty methods of getting sites into the Search Engines, my busiest client site being a perfect example. Other people may have used software that they considered on the right side of the search engine law, only to not even realise that this software did little extras to live up to it's reputation of "Getting you at the top".
I once met a guy who'd paid a company £300 to get him to the top of Google. After a quick review of his site I found lots of hidden links to this company's own site and other money making sites, hidden in javascript <noscript> tags. He didn't even know they were there - why should he? He didn't understand web sites let alone HTML. He'd trusted another company to do a job for him. I don't even think they got him to the top of Google for anything general, just some extra long phrase like "fishing holidays in north wales" or something along those lines.
So what does Google now do exactly? By the sounds of it (read the blog for a more precise answer), they are checking your sites for anything that doesn't meet their guidelines. Hidden "doorway" pages, javascript redirects, hidden text, mass over use of key phrases etc etc. They then email any contact email address, along with the obvious webmaster@, sales@, info@domain, informing you of the problems and asking you to fix them, then apply for a reinclusion request to get the spider to re-read the improved site.
A good idea I say. I know of plenty of sites that could benefit from this, and a few people who need pointing out from the powers that be so to speak, because they just won't believe me!! And yes, I even email the quality guidelines page from Google to them. They still ignore it. What else can I do?
It's a good blog, read it 
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