Is Google losing it?

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matthijs
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Is Google losing it?

Post by matthijs »

So I'm not sure if it has always been this way, but lately I've noticed that searching for anything remotely commercial returns no useful results. For me that is.

Say I heard something about an Acer Veriton computer. I would expect to find the Acer website on top when searching for that product. And maybe some serious consumer websites discussing that computer model in the top results. But no, I have to wade through many pages of results with general computer e-commerce websites before even finding a link to the Acer website itself.

Would Google do this on purpose? Or is it just that the general e-commerce websites know the "game" of SEO better and that way make sure they get all the top rankings?

I mean, this is just one example. But anytime I'm doing a search for terms which are even remotely commercial I only get the un-useful listing sites on top. Or the link-farms linking to other shops.
malcolmboston
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Re: Is Google losing it?

Post by malcolmboston »

eCommerce sites are usually masters of SEO, simple as that really, there whole business model rely on it and they spend a fortune on marketing and link building, something google likes very much.
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Chalks
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Re: Is Google losing it?

Post by Chalks »

I like seeing the ecommerce sites first. If I want reviews or benchmarking or what have you, I usually search for "acer reviews".

So, no. Google is not "losing it" in my opinion.
alex.barylski
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Re: Is Google losing it?

Post by alex.barylski »

I agree with the above and your own assesment...

I think google realize people use the internet for three primary reasons:

1. Information/reseach
2. Commerce
3. Contact details, location, etc

That being said...commerce sites will probably have the highest ranking because while they are selling a product they also have the associated information. In combination that is probably undefeat-able(sp).
e4solo
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Re: Is Google losing it?

Post by e4solo »

matthijs wrote:...lately I've noticed that searching for anything remotely commercial returns no useful results....
Thanks for the confirmation. Like you, I thought my recent searches were lucky...all commercial, not "factual".

I have always chosen Google because it was like an encyclopedia. Unlike Yahoo, Google search got mostly non-commercial hits. If I wanted to buy something, I put 'buy' or 'purchase' in the search field. Within the past 30 days, commercial results (same as Yahoo) now seem to fill the first page (at least).

While I understrand Google's need to make as much money as possible, it is sad.

I agree, the change was pretty sudden, and I disagree that "sellers suddenly discovered how to get their listing on the top."
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Sindarin
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Re: Is Google losing it?

Post by Sindarin »

What I do hate is when I am searching for something free (e.g. free hi-res pictures) and get commercial sites on the first pages offering 'free' pictures until you go to the site to learn that there is no free content at all. Misleading results are annoying.
matthijs
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Re: Is Google losing it?

Post by matthijs »

I've been thinking some more and the main problem is:

1. Google makes money with advertisements
2. Low quality sites with no real content but full of ads make Google money
3. Quality websites with real content and little or no ads don't make Google money

Google decides who's in the top of the ranking. Guess who gets the first places?
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