Why we're wrong & Google is ALWAYS right...

(Quick note: the post below is partially from another thread I posted in. I created this post as I'd like to spark some discussion and debate given the current direction Google is heading. Perhaps I'll ruffle a few feathers as well - in good spirit of course)

The backbone of Googles business model depends on providing a quality user experience so that users keep coming back and using Google as their primary search engine. In order to do that they have to continually strive at providing the highest quality and most relevant search results for every user search query.

The reality of content farms, auto blogs and most affiliates sites is that they are filled with content that is utter garbage. What is happening now with ezine articles, eHow and other spammy sites is going to continue to happen as long as Google is in business.

Those sites will have to raise their quality standard or they will lose authority and rankings in Google. It's simply a matter of time.

All you need to do is put your self in Googles position...

What would you do if you where Google and sites like Ezine articles where dominating crucial search positions that could be held by sites that have higher quality and more relevant content...

We as marketers have a choice...

We can fight Google and exploit holes and loopholes in their algorithm and try to "game" them over time. Which honestly works and is a valid way of getting traffic. But if we choose this philosophy we have to understand that we will forever be trying to manipulate Google and find ways to out smart their algorithm. (which will always be doable to some degree as long as a bot is involved)

Or...

We can work with Google and build quality websites and use the Internet in the manner that Google envisions...The reality is Google owns and runs Google.com with its own vision and standards. It's their choice as it is for any business to run their business with their own set of principles, values and vision. Google cannot stop us from having a website but they can stop us from being part of their search index as it is their product.

From what Google says and does...

They want us legitimately participating in the conversation within our market and creating websites that have quality content that users value and perhaps also providing a continual stream of fresh content.

There hope and goal is that the top ranking websites are ran by people who are passionate about their subject matter and who actually give a damn. It's really common sense when you break it down...

The choice is ours...

Many SEO types like to argue that Google's product is based on "other" peoples work and that all they do is scrape "our" content. Its as if Google owes us in someway since we allow them to use "our" content to populate their index...

I'd like to propose another point of view...

What if we look at Google like a massive public "bookstore" or "library index". They allow any business or publisher to place their book or index their book inside this massive highly trafficked library for free!

They ask for no revenue or direct profits that come from us being part of their store/global distribution channel. They will gladly list any "publisher" as long as they truly provide value to their customers.

Instead of making money from us they make money by having a side business within their store/distribution channel (like a star-bucks in your local Barnes and Nobles)...

From this angle they are doing us a favor by giving us the ability to potentially be found by millions of customers or readers...

What's funny is that at the Internet's current stage people view a listing in Google almost as some kind of entitlement. If you took this scenario off-line you would see how ass backwards this philosophy is...

If Google was a physical "place" that got tons of foot traffic and allowed your business to set up shop for free...would you take more consideration to what type of store you'd set up inside the "Google"? Would you be willing to do as Google asked considering all they want you to do is treat your customers well and not peddle them crap?...

Much love, health, wealth & prosperity,
Daniel.