Comments on: Dear Matt Cutts, What We Have is a Failure to Communicate

By: James Mann

James Mann — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:56:45 +0000

If Google, was to let the cat out of the bag so to speak, where would be the challenge? at the moment everyone is striving to compete with other web developers, and see who can rank highest with research and perseverance, and the reward at the end is the person who gets the highest ranking. I suppose just treat it like a game, a hobby as such, have fun with it and try to strive to beat the competition.

By: Nick Stamoulis

Nick Stamoulis — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:14:10 +0000

I think what Google is trying to do is produce search results with companies that are using every component of the internet to brand themselves rather than just finding something that has worked well and emphasizing on that one approach.

By: Tony Kau

Tony Kau — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:43:14 +0000

I like your analogy. I agree that Google should not have to directly tell us how to rank high in their search results, and that’s what separates a good SEOer from the rest.

By: igor

igor — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:56:22 +0000

@ David L.
If you already are in Google’s store they don’t care to bring you to the store anymore. That’s actually a part of their game – by this ’search engine’ term their PR department can nicely ‘oppose’ their monopolistic accusations ‘by example.’

Besides, Google was a search engine a few years ago, now it’s political, WallStreet and advertising machine.

By: SEOWebHelp

SEOWebHelp — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:50:00 +0000

@igor lol
I can name some webmasters that deserve to be in that #1 spot.

By: David Lewallen

David Lewallen — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:15:31 +0000

Catfish over at the BOL blog has pointed out that Google ranks # 6 for the query "search engine" seems to me that Google is the biggest brand for that term! So SEO still plays a part in brand rankings and maybe Google needs SEO itself....lol

By: SEO'er

SEO'er — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:26:13 +0000

Didn’t Geo. Bush Jr. do the same thing when he ran against Kerry? He repeated “Kerry flip-flops” so many times that it became obvious to “everyone” that Kerry changed his mind on important issues in mid-stream. However, when pollsters asked voters exactly what Kerry flip-flopped about, no one could name a specific example.

Repetition works. It’s hypnotic. It gets to the subconscious.

Personally, I really don’t care if Matt Cutts calls it an update or not. Whatever it was, we saw the effect. Of course, rankings change every day, so whether it’s a major update or a minor tweak to Google’s algorithm, the response for SEO’ers should be the same: Analyze and adjust. If you sincerely believe that brands are given some sort of preferential treatment, then add “brand building” to your toolbox.

By: igor

igor — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:26:20 +0000

Who in their right minds still reads Matt Cutts’ blog in the first place? It’s just one of many Google PR tools to fool newbies and Kool-aid drinkers. Reading his blog or reading “Google Webmaster Central” is like reading and believing ‘testimonials’ written by freelance writers, not the actual clients.

BTW. I’m surprised nobody hasn’t noticed that in the US when you type in “webmaster” the Google Webmaster page for newbies and suckers appear as the FIRST result! Google now targets the newbies webmasters and tries to teach them their false ’side of the story.’

By: SEO Philadelphia

SEO Philadelphia — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:48:05 +0000

Sounds like the Bill Clinton argument to me, “I did not have sex…” Later when asked, “What’s your definition of sex…” The reality – he did have sex with that women.

Call it a change. Call it an update. Whatever it was, it affected results.

I do agree better definition would help.

By: Hyder Ali

Hyder Ali — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:30:29 +0000

Great Michael gray, thanks for reminding us what is the difference between update and not update.