Please, Can We Stop The Google Whining Now?!
I’m feeling pain migrating through my stomach this morning. No, it isn’t indigestion — at least of the food kind — rather, it is all of the articles I have been taking in these past few days which are discussing Google and their massive PageRank penalty pogrom.
Some of the articles are informative and I can sympathize with those bloggers/webmasters who have been hit for no apparent reason. I am not defending Google, obviously some sort of explanation by Matt Cutts would be helpful when the smoke clears (i.e., when a full export to the Google toolbar of PageRank takes place).
PageRank Doesn’t Matter — Or Does It?
What bothers me is that there is a segment of the SEO world who is crying foul when they clearly have no reason for them to do so. After all, these are the same people who have told us over and over again that PageRank doesn’t matter. Really?! Then why are you objecting so strongly now? Have you had a change of heart?
My thinking is that we would all be better served if we were to take a step back and look at certain facts and respond intelligently to what has taken place:
Fact: Google is a public company and they can do what they want. Google answers to shareholders and they are in business to make money. As a customer, you are free to go elsewhere.
Fact: We have known for months that this day was coming. Google warned us and we talked about the upcoming changes. Sure, no one saw things unfolding the way that they have, but here we are. Now what will you do?
Fact: Google doesn’t own the internet. Yes, their influence easily outstrips the influence of any other company, but they do not own the world wide web. If Google offends you that much, then find other products to use (just like when you rejected Microsoft). Maybe it was a big mistake for you to build your business model on Google’s back in the first place.
Fact: The rise and fall of so many companies over time proves that Google’s popularity can easily be eclipsed by an unknown, future start up. Bill Gates thought that he was king way back when and a few years back Facebook was just a fun project for a Harvard student. The internet is in constant flux.
Fact: Google’s actions will make you a better business person. You knew that putting all of your eggs in one basket was dangerous, but you took the risk and are now paying for it. Let this be a lesson to you: businesses are built on the foundation of mistakes made and the lessons learned from those mistakes. If you are unable to learn from this experience, then perhaps being in business isn’t right for you.
Okay, this rant is officially over. Can we get on with what we were doing and find a way to do what we were doing better?
Tags: Google, PageRank, paid links, text links
SEO Tools, Technology | Matthew C. Keegan, 26 Oct 07
By Maki, October 26, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
Amen, Matt.
I wrote something similar about this whole hoo-ha too:
Google PageRank Doesnt Matter. Can We Stop Talking about it Now?
By Matt Keegan, October 26, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Maki, it is out of control. I enjoyed your article (Readers, please click on Maki’s link to read it).
PageRank is the most over-hyped non-event on the internet. Will we learn or wallow in our mistakes?
By Elixir Blogger, October 26, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
I agree. Can we stop the whining and get on with some actual insight? or at least funny YouTube links (it is Friday afternoon, after all).
By perros, October 26, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
Very solid point. It is tough to succeed on the ‘net without search engines… but it is possible and no business should base their business model around it.
By Matt, October 27, 2007 @ 6:28 am
EB: Speaking of insight, a full update of PageRank is taking place right now. I expect that by Monday, October 29th the numbers will be exported to Google’s toolbar.
Perros: PageRank only impacts a site’s grade — it doesn’t have anything to do with traffic to the site. Therefore, someone could see a PageRank drop but still get tons of traffic from the search engines including Google.
By Lillie Ammann, October 27, 2007 @ 10:41 am
Well said, Matt. I’ve been clicking off a bunch of posts in my feed reader because they’re all saying some variation of the same thing.
By Cricket Videos, October 28, 2007 @ 4:06 am
I totally agree. There is to much negative winging going on about google. Nice article.
Rami
By Deborah, October 28, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Well said Matt.
I also sympathize with those who’ve been hit for no apprent reason.
But crying in one’s beer won’t change things. It’s their party, and decision is theirs to do as they please. Time to move forward.
By Austin Texas Real Estate, October 28, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
I thought we got a full fledged update yesterday. A friends site went from 0 to 3 which I assume can not be the result of a penalty.
By Bellingham Realtor, October 29, 2007 @ 1:17 am
My site went from a 2 to 4. I hope it sticks.
By Matt, October 29, 2007 @ 7:31 am
Lillie: I am concluding my PageRank for the time being with an updated post which I wrote for today. There are some issues which are well spent; PageRank is one of them.
Rami: Thank you for your comment. We can’t control PageRank, but we can control how we react.
Deborah: Congratulations on maintaining your PageRank! For those who have been hit without apparent reason it is tough, but not the end of the world.
Austin: It looks as if PageRank was exported on Friday. Initially, I thought that there was some changes still going on, but I would say that it is done.
Bellingham: Congratulations. Keep up what you’re doing and you’ll do well. Of course, figuring out what Google does is nearly impossible.
By Todd, October 31, 2007 @ 3:05 am
I site has Page Rank 4. Hope it will keep om increasing