Google Just Erased Small Guys From One Niche

[Fernando Veloso]

First:

A couple months ago had a meeting with some folks working for (insert major airline companies here) marketing teams. They told me how bad were Google rankings for them, cause, and I quote "there are dozens of small websites from small guys" ranking good at Top 10-20. They also told me how their "inside" connections were trying to push this agenda at Google, so "small guys" could be removed, and major airline websites could profit, instead of paying affiliate commissions.

Second:

Today was checking the keywords for one customer in that niche, and guess what? 90% plus of TOP 30 in Google for those major airline keywords are FILLED with 5-8 companies and repeated URL's from their sites. I mean: all the small sites ARE GONE. Even those sites I know are updated EVERYDAY and make a damn good job are GONE.

Conclusion:

Google decided to KILL all these small sites altogether. NOW just major companies rule these rankings.

Discuss.

[Maraun]

That's interesting. Care to share the search phrase for the SERPs?

[Fernando Veloso]

Originally Posted by Maraun

That's interesting. Care to share the search phrase for the SERPs?

I am interested in a discussion about it - not particular queries. Maybe other people are watching similar takedowns in another countries?

That's the relevant part of this issue. At least IMO.

[Fernando Veloso]

Originally Posted by cagliostro

This seem to be true, i'm sorry to say. All the first page of google search results are filled with big$ sites. I was #2 or #3 for 3+ years and now i'm nowhere. Not in all niches and not all my websites.

You working airline niche? Maybe this is a worldwide change.

[Fernando Veloso]

Anyone else saw these actions in another niches?

[retsek]

I think it's more coincidence, rather than a deliberate effort. With the last few algo changes, most big established brands have benefited. Smaller sites, with generally poorer on-site structure and lesser authoritative links have suffered.

I'm the health niche mainly btw. Only way I've been able to keep up with the likes of WebMD and the .govs is by spending thousands on quality, natural looking-links. And when I say WebMD, i include 6 - 7 high PR sites they also own. Imagine one company taking 6 of the top 10 spots with basically the same content on different interlinked domains.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso

so "small guys" could be removed, and major airline websites could profit, instead of paying affiliate commissions.

Wouldn't it be smarter to stop having an affiliate system If the airlines don't want to pay their affiliates?

No affiliate system equals no affiliate competition in the SERPs.

[FreeMeal]

Maybe they'd just rather the affiliates pick the crumbs from the masters table, rather than wipe them out all together.

[paulgl]

I thought the travel niche was already owned by affiliates,
albeit major ones.

Kayak, travelocity, travelzoo, hotels, priceline,
expedia, orbitz, and a zillion others I forgot...all affiliates,
all major players. It's a tough niche for a small
guy to crack in the first place. But nothing to
do with airlines.

If it's airlines, shoot, the number of major airlines
that exist now one could count on one hand...
and there's 10 or more results on a page....and
all airlines don't fly everywhere.

Paul

[packerfan]

At some point people have to realize that these little MFA sites are a waste of time. Google wants to give users the best possible search result.

Which is better when I search for delta flight from here to there?

The delta website, or some random MFA site?

[bitriot]

This doesn't really surprise me. A friend I know who worked at a large office supply store (Staples, Office Max, like these) said that his company was actively purchasing top ORGANIC search results.

[BigNorm]

I'm surprised people find this surprising. Google has been actively showing companies at the top of certain niches for a while now who are willing to pay to be there....hell even their own shopping network gets to the top of alot of buyer search queries now before you even get to check out the organic results.

It shows the need to rely on other SE to help generate traffic and the need to really bolt down on KW research. As much as people say it's unfair and that people will eventually tire of Googles favortism....they won't, we notice because it's the industry we work in, to the avergage Jack and Jill, they're none the wiser.

[outwest]

I wanted to make some discount code sites, and ALL the top spots for them are dominated not really by the main site for that discount, well they are but they are paid ads that display right on top. But in Market samurai it doesnt show that so I say oh goodie I can get number one on that but when I google it, it displays the main site for the mother store

example
Macys discount 2011
Macys doesnt optimize for that kw etc but they do pay for top ad MACYS.COM which is on top of everyone, which 99 percent of surfers will click on , (at least thats my theory) so that kind of puts a kibosh on little guys getting that traffic

Unless people skip right by the paid ads

on my computer the paid ad looks exactly the same background (white) font etc as the generic listings
people say on their computers the ads have a different color background

[gearmonkey]

I noticed Amazon is outranking review sites with more substantial content.

[outwest]

Originally Posted by gearmonkey

I noticed Amazon is outranking review sites with more substantial content.

Oh I think you can outrank the mother store like Amazon, IF THEY DONT PUT A PAID AMAZON.COM on top of the ads pointing to that kw

If its just a generic amazon.com? and I am putting
"amazon coupon codes 2012" I think I can outrank them on that
and I would go after it providing there is enough search traffic on the term

[RBenson]

It wouldn't surprise me if Google came up with an algorithm soon to delete every affiliate page from it's index. It's only a matter of time I think.

[Fernando Veloso]

Originally Posted by yukon

Wouldn't it be smarter to stop having an affiliate system If the airlines don't want to pay their affiliates?

No affiliate system equals no affiliate competition in the SERPs.

Not if they have affiliates from their competition.

EDIT: Been reading your replies, guess we just have to wait and see when this hits worldwide... then "maybe" we can discuss this issue.

[bnetwork]

Small sites? Affiliate sites have to contribute something more to the user experience than just a quick "review" and an affiliate link.

As Paul mentioned already, the travel niche is dominated by large affiliate sites. Those sites offer much more than just affiliate links though - price comparisons, discussion forums, member reviews, etc.

A lot of these results get rated by the "quality raters" who work for Lionbridge (Google) and adjusted (for a better user experience) accordingly. These are huge niches, you can bet that they get looked at first.

[solado]

One of my affiliate websites has dropped under amazon and various other leading UK price comparison websites on products. These websites just have an image and 5-6 links to where you can buy it, no real content. Mine is SEO / keyword rich and dropped. Not sure if I should accept position #5 - #10 or build backlinks to my inner pages ?

[Fernando Veloso]

Arrrggghhh. My eyes.

Some of you people can't even read.

...are updated EVERYDAY and make a damn good job are GONE.

These "big" affiliate sites have no content, have a "spammish" script providing them new URL's everyday for a given keywords list, using the same content over and over again.

Hint Hint!! I worked for them.

Unsubscribed. Why do I even bother to post in this ****hole of SEO forum?

[bnetwork]

Why so emotional... Care sharing the search terms, maybe then we could give you more accurate thoughts on the matter?

Care sharing some of the small sites that are updated daily? What are the updates about, what type of content? Do they have a community built around them?

[BigNorm]

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso

Arrrggghhh. My eyes.

Some of you people can't even read.



These "big" affiliate sites have no content, have a "spammish" script providing them new URL's everyday for a given keywords list, using the same content over and over again.

Hint Hint!! I worked for them.

Unsubscribed. Why do I even bother to post in this ****hole of SEO forum?

Coffee much?

[bnetwork]

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso

These "big" affiliate sites have no content, have a "spammish" script providing them new URL's everyday for a given keywords list, using the same content over and over again.

In the OP you talked about direct airline sites, not affiliate sites. I see absolutely nothing wrong with those being the top results returned for relevant terms:

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso;

A couple months ago had a meeting with some folks working for (insert major airline companies here) marketing teams.

[trytolearnmore]

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso

Unsubscribed. Why do I even bother to post in this ****hole of SEO forum?

Nobody knows, but yet you do... Just chill out and wait for someone knowledgeable to contribute. Jesus, some people are really touchy.

[KyleFury]

What terms were they? Would like to do some researching myself.

[bobmcalister]

those European guys are kinda emotiANAL ...huh? I have found that everyone and everything is for sale, so it doesnt surprise me that Google sells top spots to advertisers for big bux...with or without good content.
peace and joy !

[DPM70]

NOW just major companies rule these rankings.

And why shouldn't they?