Google Starts Its Own SEO Firm?

[eiilers]

This is a load of crap. And would mean suicide for Google... Because honestly, people would not use Google anymore if they did this and would switch back to Bing or Yahoo. Die hard google users are people who use them for the relevant results. If all the results were sponsored, they would not be relevant anymore.

This article completely contradicts other articles I have seen written by Cutt's. It's a bunch of hog-wash.

[Matt Maiden]

Originally Posted by Nick Brighton

but Google only shows you corporate, capitalist listings designed to extract money from your wallet.

Look beyond IM. Look at the future of using the web. It would be the digital equivalent of going to the library and having to pay to enter.

You don't see it now? Knowing what you know about who gets listed on the front page, if you needed reliable information that you could trust, would you use the information you find on the front page of Google or would you do a little more research?

I go to the library on the web. I know how to research for answers that I need. I don't pay for it now. I didn't have to pay to get a library card offline either.

This is the same thing they said when Yahoo started charging for listings "oh my God, it's the end of the World as we know it".

Anyone that relies on Google for important information deserves what they find.

Just like going to EzineArticles to look up medical information. I can't believe that they accept articles from Joe Nobody on "how to do anything".

Google, and the other search engines for that matter, are only good for quick, unimportant, and infotainment type results.

How long have you been a member here? Haven't you read all of the SEO stuff telling you how to get on the front page?

Nobody has to know a damn thing about the subject when it comes to getting on the front page of Google.

All you need to know about Google is keywords and backlinks.

I personally think that Google is probably the most overrated thing that has happened in our culture in the past 10 years.

It wouldn't change my business income if they start listing all of their "corporate" buddies or not.

[Zach Booker]

Using common sense FTL.

Think about it a little.

Too bad it isn't true. Wouldn't mind plopping down 25k to be #1 for acai berry.

[JohnMcCabe]

Even though it's likely to be a sham...

Originally Posted by ccmusicman

It would be like me owning a fishing pond, holding a fishing tournament, and then turning around and offering the highest bidder, on the day of the tournament, showing them all the best fishing spots with the biggest fish!

They are practically guaranteed to win.

Not good Google.

Rob

Rob, it would be more like that actual cheating that sometimes happens in fishing tournaments. The cheater pays their money and gets the location of a sunken cage containing large fish. They go to the location, pull up the cage, and "catch" the fish.

That's why many of the big tournaments require an observer from the tournament to be present to verify the catch. It doesn't stop all the shenanigans, but it takes care of most...

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

I may be thinking of the words "conflict of interest" with a different meaning from others here, but in what sense is this a conflict of interest? What are the interests that conflict? It sounds more like diversification of income, to me.



I'm not sure that's not true now anyway, to some extent? People who can identify and can afford to use consistently the best professional SEO services get the highest organic rankings anyway, don't they?

Is the problem just that Google will supposedly be better at doing it than anyone else?

I've been surprised they haven't done this before.



Again, what would be the interests that conflict, if you did that? It sounds like a profit maximization plan, to me. Google are surely running their business for the benefit of their stockholders, just as you would run your fishing pond for your own benefit?

Alexa, the conflict comes from the premise that in conducting a tournament, all of the entrants have a chance to win the prize and they pay an entry fee to participate.

Maybe "conflict of interest" is the wrong term. "Fraud" would be more accurate from the tourney holder's end (and Google's)...

[kindsvater]

Amazing how many gullible people there are.

And the 'headline' notes ... Facebook to follow. How is Facebook going to start an SEO firm? Nothing in the article about it.

The 'author's' profile is that she is " Workign on a research report addressing the issue of teh impact of divorce on children. "

Just look at her great portfolio of articles ... complete crap on an amazing variety of topics she knows nothing about.

.

[madison_avenue]

For searchers this will destroy the aura of credibility and trust which Google has built up. The adwords listings on the right are to an extent "invisible", if you want them to be(you can ignore them).Whereas there is a perceived integrity to the organic results, which becomes contaminated if there was a price tag of $25,000 to be listed. Searchers would be aware of the payment made to Google, the listings would then not be deemed as "results" but "adverts".

What you have then is not Google but an "online Yellow pages". Does Google really want that want? I don't think so,it jars with, and subverts their business model. Competitors could step in and offer genuine "free" organic listings. It's not going to happen which company want's to undermine it's business model? And $25,000 is way to cheap for top postion in a lot of industries anyway, some companies would pay $5 million dollars for it!

[gsuccess]

If this is true, It may affect IM in a big way, but let us keep our fingers crossed and wait for more information on this.

[bydomino]

Originally Posted by Matt M

Why wouldn't they? Wouldn't you if it were your search engine?

Always funny when marketers get bent out of shape when somebody else does something to make more money.

Well everyone has to choose where they make their money. Google makes way more in their current position. If they entered this market then it could get them in to a lawsuit and cause them the great reputation they have.

I am also in the camp of is this really real or not. If this was a "real story" and I hope it is not. It would seem many more news worthy folks would have the drop on it.

Common sense tells me that Google would hurt the little folks (us) that help make them the giant that they are. Google has always been a supporter of the little guys.

Kevin

[SimonHarrison]

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story....

This nobody probably has more views to this article than anything she's ever written x 10.

There's a lesson there in being controversial , especially on topics of rampant interest.

[GeorgR.]

In addition, early estimates place the cost of this service in the neighborhood of $25,000 per month.

/whistle....

[adamv]

Originally Posted by Nick Brighton

Look beyond IM. Look at the future of using the web. It would be the digital equivalent of going to the library and having to pay to enter.

It would be more like going to the library and only being able to read catalogs, flyers, and classified ads.

[adamv]

(According to Wikipedia) - A conflict of interest (COI) occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other.

In this case being able to pay for top listings in the organic search results would corrupt the motivation of providing the most relevant sites.

[Michael Nguyen]

Seems like it's all hype:

SEO Industry Cries Foul Over Google SEO ‘Services’

[Steve Holmes]

Well....

This is what happens when anything has TOO MUCH power. They don't need us anymore?

If true, it may be a way for engines like Bing to actually claw some market share if they annoy the IMers, should a boycott take place. Why optimise for Google if you had no chance for traffic?

Content online only stays relevant for an ever decreasing period of time, due to technology expanding exponentially.

They should not bite the hand that feeds them..

[NiyazK]

If this is true then google will become like a monopoly and ofcourse it would surely rank it clients.

[Thomas Belknap]

Originally Posted by healymedia

The idea that it isn't a conflict because Google offering SEO services is no different than any company offering SEO services is severely flawed.

The only flaw I see is the assumptions that Google would place the highest bid at the top.

Google (this is hypothetical since the story seems bogus at best) helping others with SEO doesn't necessarily mean those clients would get top spots.

It would be just like Google allowing the highest bids on PPC. We all know it doesn't work like that.

Since this is a bogus story, I am not really interested in continuing a debate over something that isn't even true.

So please continue...

[Gladiator]

If this was true Google would have called me! :-)

Andre

[Thomas Belknap]

Originally Posted by healymedia

Isn't it a bit naive to think that top spots isn't exactly what Google would offer? If that wasn't the case why on Earth would anyone ever use their services?

You are correct. What was I thinking?

I gotta go and big $100 on acai to send visitors to a dating offer. I should be the highest bidder on that term so it would be naive to think Google would not accept my offer.

Oh, and since Google isn't in SEO we are all making assumptions. Including you...

[Daniel Molano]

Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap

The only flaw I see is the assumptions that Google would place the highest bid at the top.

Google (this is hypothetical since the story seems bogus at best) helping others with SEO doesn't necessarily mean those clients would get top spots.

It would be just like Google allowing the highest bids on PPC. We all know it doesn't work like that.

Since this is a bogus story, I am not really interested in continuing a debate over something that isn't even true.

So please continue...

As stated by Matt here: SEO Industry Cries Foul Over Google SEO ‘Services’

Google has already been doing what you describe since 1999, for free.

Even if they start charging for the on site SEO only, it would be a questionable practice at best.

The bad PR generated by such an action would definitely make Google lose quite a lot of market share.

Just like sensationalist propaganda can make a politician lose an election (regardless of the truth behind the accusations).

In short, Google cannot get involved with SEO as a business practice, only provide free basic advice such as the site clinics.

Anyway, I highly doubt this will ever happen. The people from Google know what they're doing.

[Quentin]

I posted the question on the Google forum and this is what I got.

There's no way to officially confirm this but appears to be accurate. They have managed to keep the build up quiet by opening a new Google SEO building in a tucked away location. So out of the way there was no decent staff accommodation and corporations being what they are, they tied up with a hotel chain sponsor to supply that.

One of the building workers managed to grab an image of the hotel block with a Google staffer just on their way in:

http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs/c...the%20Moon.JPG

[Thomas Belknap]

Originally Posted by healymedia

Do you have anything other than smart ass responses? You can jump to scams and crap like Acai if you want, but it's short sighted.

Here's a hypothetical for you:

I am a site owner and my site SiteA.com is a completely legit site. My competitor SiteB.com also has a completely legit site. We both have great content and all the positives. Normally, we are on even ground as far as SEO and pushing for those top spots goes.
Until SiteB.com decides to shell out the money to use Google's in house SEO service.

Is the playing field still even? Could I, or you, as the owner of SiteA.com have any reason to actually trust that our site would get equal consideration for search results as a site that is being SEO'd by the SE itself?

That's what it's about. Not people selling Acai berries.

Oh, and if you read my first post you'll see I clearly acknowledged that he article wasn't real.

You are correct once again. I should be taking a debate about a fictitious service more seriously.

The service isn't real. How do you know what type of service they would supply if they were to get into the SEO game?

You don't.

You are making assumptions just like everyone else. You are just getting upset because I called you on it.

I doubt they would load up the link love like other SEO companies. How is spamming blogs for back links organic?

I have no idea what you are referring to when it comes to scams on acai. I think you totally missed my point when it came to out bidding other companies for the term Acai and directing them to a dating offer.

Google wouldn't allow it. In fact, they would allow a lower bidder top position if it was in their user's best interest.

So how do you know they wouldn't take the same approach if they offered SEO services?

You just assumed they would take the money and run when they really haven't done that yet.

Do you actually think they will write content for particular keywords? hehe

Besides, this isn't a real service if you haven't got that point yet.

[Lee Wilson]

Even if it were true, so what? If they employed 1,000 people and took advantage of their knowledge of the algorithm, it would probably take them years to cause a big problem with the millions of keywords that various marketers are ranking for.

Whatsmore, companies with the biggest budgets, the kind that would use such a service, are often the most clueless when it comes to advertising. They'd probably go straight for the shortest tail keywords with the smallest conversions. Look at the big companies using PPC, massive budgets, and all going after keywords that are of no threat to most of the marketers in this forum. You wouldn't even call it competition.

Personally, I couldn't care less, I stopped worrying about such pointless things years ago. Whether it's Google or anyone else, online or offline, all businesses have to be prepared to adapt.

Lee

[nlegacy]

Has anyone seen the google ad for "Free Google Listing"? I have a business website with adsense that targets topics like seo, marketing, and stuff like that. Today, I saw a banner at the top of my site advertising Google free listing service. This made me panic because I was looking forward to going fulltime offering listing service to local businesses. Since a lot of people are making good cash doing this, it makes me wonder if Google is going to kill this as an offline income stream. Here's a picture of it...

I don't spend a lot of time posting here (I mostly buy products and read threads) so I can't put an image up, but if you want to see the image I put it up on a free site. I put an address below and maybe another member will display the actual image...

somethingyoumightwanttoknow.webs.com/photos/imgad.jpg

[Ken_Caudill]

Why would Google start an SEO service when they won't let you buy the top spot on their listings? Seems to me they'd just sell positions outright instead of starting some sham SEO operation. They won't even guarantee the top position in Adwords no matter what you pay per click.

My guess is that they sit around munching on organic snacks as they snicker at the efforts of SEO firms.

[rakesh.iseo1]

Thanks for sharing this article. If this happened, then i think it will effect on the other SEO firms.

[woodymcgrath]

I doubt this is legit. Anyone can post false news and syndicate it through sites like Newswire. Unless it is from a legit source like a major publishing firm, I wouldn't think too much of it.

Besides as someone else has mention, it is a MAJOR conflict of interest

[W2L]

Ohhhh this is just like having Banks regulate themselves....

[sandyny]

Thanks for the link!

[williamrs]

Google, Google, Google and Google. Blogger, AdWords, AdSense, Analytics, News, GMail, FeedBurner... Monopoly. This is the word that best describes internet's current situation. Is it good? I don't think so. Is it possible to change this situation? Hardly.

Now, I have PPC campaigns with Google and Yahoo!, and have run a few campaigns with Bing in the past. The only thing I can say is that Google is by far the best of them. It's 100% possible to make money with other PPC platforms and search engines, but it's impossible to deny the fact that Google beats all its competitors.

Now a SEO company. I think it's terrible. They create the rules, (only) they know the rules. How can other SEO companies compete against Google? Maybe the small ones will survive, because Google's services will be expensive, but it's still terrible for everybody who owns a SEO company.


William

[Dennis Gaskill]

This story is true!!! I'm on the "team" that will provide the SEO services. Google is going to teach me all about their algorithm. Yeah, me and 1,000 people. Of course everyone will keep it a secret . . . except me, cause I love me some Warriors.

Watch for my next WSO:

Inside Google's Algorithm: Dominate the SERPS and Get MILLIONS of Visitors Each Day!!!

Yep, y'all better start buttering me up right fast.

[packjack]

If they provide SEO then its good for webmasters as there SEO secret will leak sooner or later
I believe new WSO on this will be available soon.

[fred67]

Has anyone with 'Real' Facebook knowledge checked out if that's a genuine account?

in the UK at least, we're always getting bombarded by 'Spam Phonecalls' from telesales staff 'saying' they are a GOOGLE business which can 'Guarantee' a TOP SPOT! in the Google search engine.

If you engage them, it transpires that for a great deal of money they will get you to number one by BUYING their way to the top by 'bidding' for you on Adsense as well as supposedly editing your SEO.

Is this just a coincidence maybe?

(They get short shrift from me these days :-)

Pete.

[kikolani]

Matt Cutts just responded to the rumors with this tweet...

More to debunk the "Google to enter SEO business" myth: http://goo.gl/d6Qy Someone at NewsWire thought April Fools = real

The link is to this article which explains how everything got started - April Fools Joke 27 Days Later.

Enjoy!

[badboy_Nick]

Originally Posted by Charles Harper

Interesting, yes?

NewsWire - Google to Enter SEO Business Facebook to Follow

CT

Conflict of interest, anyone?

I wonder how much they charge as they are the ones making up the rules for SEO in the first place.

Nick

[kkchoon]

Fool... I hate April Fools Joke!

[hotftuna]

If Google gets into the SEO biz, do you think that they will pay for links?

[Groovystar]

I was scanning down this thread to see if someone finally posted the link debunking this crazy little thing. Google would've been digging its own grave to try a stunt like this. They're dealing with being on the cusp of serious legal issues as it is pertaining to their virtual monopoly. This would be suicide.

[maggilane]

They are the big one in this field , and they are doing it but you know it can create some problem for the new one who want to work or want to open their seo firm. because only name sell in this world.

[somebody113]

seems like old news now

[Cloudzz]

Im guessing this was all just a rumour...

[faceblogger]

Originally Posted by gabibeowulf

I'm keeping my eyes open for Google to launch a WSO here ...

Gabriel

HA HA HA! Good one!

[Jay Moreno]

???? dont see the story anywhere??

[Jeremy Banks]

wasn't this an april fools joke gone bad?

use your head people

[thebitbotdotcom]

Absolutely NOT! This is definitely a conflict of interest! If Google jumps in the SEO arena, then they will dominate their own search results.

If they are so bold as to implement this, then their results will immediately be in question.

Organic results will not exist. Another search engine will rise to fill the void. Bottom Line.

[yukon]

LMAO!

People still posting in this thread getting their panties in a bunch over something fake.

It doesn't take much.

D@mn you Google [shakes fist at sky].

[abhibh]

LOL guys its just a hoax started in April. Nothing to worry about.

[dagaul101]

Well this would be odd, as Google would surely have an underhand advantage, since it makes up the rules for others to follow