Drinking the Google Kool-Aid

13 years ago

Only Serg and Larry think Google is all that matters...

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2581181].message }}

ShaneRQR

13 years ago

Google are interesting because they're a big traffic source. That's pretty much it.

The thing is that diversifying is a good idea, but not early on. It's a good idea to specialize on one traffic source/one method. If that happens to be Google, then yeah, they're very important. If it happens to be something else, then who cares?

Thanks

Signature

Build Your Mailing List FASTER with Thrive Leads.

Beats OptinMonster, Popup Domination & Co. hands down.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2581183].message }}

sbucciarel

Banned 13 years ago

Google has never been the biggest traffic source for me. I get listed and then don't worry about Google.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2581507].message }}

Chloe Sloane

13 years ago

Search engines are important but they aren't everything. There are hundreds of traffic sources.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2581527].message }}

cashcow

13 years ago

I used to be a lot more dependent on Google than I am now. While I love SEO, it can be pretty frustrating when they keep changing the "rules"!

Lee

Thanks

Signature

Gone Fishing

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2581539].message }}

DogScout

13 years ago

Bing seems to be much better a traffic source for a lot of niches these days. The 1st 2-3 pages of Google seems to be mostly whoever is gaming the system or in the process of doing so.. that is not a quality way to determine result order, IMHO.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Otis's Blog (Own The Internet, Silly)Paint Shop Tubes - Free images - Free Graphics - Free Photos - 3D - Poser Tubes - Scrap Kits

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2581556].message }}

tpw

13 years ago

Originally Posted by DogScout

Bing seems to be much better a traffic source for a lot of niches these days. The 1st 2-3 pages of Google seems to be mostly whoever is gaming the system or in the process of doing so.. that is not a quality way to determine result order, IMHO.

I am in 100% agreement Mark... I have been getting better results from Bing as well...

But, I think it is hard to give up the Kool-Aid once addicted to it... LOL

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2581610].message }}

Andyhenry

13 years ago

The people who care about Google are the people who have built their businesses around it - no-one else really cares.

Anyone who focuses only on it is asking for trouble.

Thanks

Signature

nothing to see here.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2581833].message }}

Barry Unruh

13 years ago

To completely ignore Google would be leaving money on the table, but to make it the ONLY game you are playing is dangerous.

Sometimes it is better to catch the people before they ever search Google...Forums, Groups, YouTube, Your list, Blog Commenting, Guest posting, etc.

But of course now we can drink INSTANT Koolaid...

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Brain Drained...Signature Coming Soon!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2582031].message }}

Marty S

13 years ago

Interestingly, I have built my online business by doing much the opposite recommended in this thread.

Does that mean I live or die by being found in Google?

Well in reviewing my overall traffic statistics for several websites, most of my search traffic does come through Google, but it is not out of proportion with general search market share. I have NEVER tried to rank in any other search engine, but I am in all of them, and convert just the same.

If there are new marketers reading this, I actually believe it is sound advice to learn all you can about Google search and concentrate on professional tactics with a long term goal for your business and website to do well in Google. By osmosis, you will do well in the other search engines as well.

But that is just the search part of a business.

Now in order for you to protect yourself long term in case of slaps or what-have-you, you should also be using that current Google/Bing/Yahoo traffic to build your own contacts and email lists - which is rather much a standard thing to do. It best protects you from any calamity, whether it is with Google or not.

I think this thread is simply just another outlet to bash the G again and claim "I don't need it, cause I am so damned good". Well good for all of you, but In reality, Google is everywhere and can hurt ANYONE overnight.

All eggs in one basket, or being diversified, has nothing to do with Google particularly, but everything to do with basic business acumen, which currently - at least for me is what CDarlock was saying is focus on our customers.

Thanks
3 replies

Signature

How to make offline videos for clients
How to add a custom thumbnail image to your Youtube video
How to CUT THE FAT in your YOUTUBE videos

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583222].message }}

rs2228 13 years ago

Real estate, stocks, investing, income streams, it's all the same... diversify.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583255].message }}

sbucciarel

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Marty S

I think this thread is simply just another outlet to bash the G again and claim "I don't need it, cause I am so damned good". Well good for all of you, but In reality, Google is everywhere and can hurt ANYONE overnight.

All eggs in one basket, or being diversified, has nothing to do with Google particularly, but everything to do with basic business acumen, which currently - at least for me is what CDarlock was saying is focus on our customers.

I am diversified, but Google is not a source for customers for me. If Google disappeared to night, it would not affect my core business in the least bit. Quite simply, I do not need Google for people to find me.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583507].message }}

Marty S

13 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

I am diversified, but Google is not a source for customers for me. If Google disappeared to night, it would not affect my core business in the least bit. Quite simply, I do not need Google for people to find me.

Hi Suzanne!

That means you are also saying that the Warrior Forum will get the exact same traffic without Google as well - which is where you have posted MANY WSO's that find their way in Google search. I don't think so. Google is most certainly a source of income for you, because many people find this very forum via Google search.

Sure some may not be affected as much, but all I am saying is that everyone can be hurt by Google, even if you don't directly rely on their search results.

Might I also suggest that if you cannot be hurt by Google tomorrow, then you are also not achieving full exposure (sales) today.

Thanks

Signature

How to make offline videos for clients
How to add a custom thumbnail image to your Youtube video
How to CUT THE FAT in your YOUTUBE videos

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583541].message }}

tpw

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Marty S

I think this thread is simply just another outlet to bash the G again and claim "I don't need it, cause I am so damned good". Well good for all of you, but In reality, Google is everywhere and can hurt ANYONE overnight.

All eggs in one basket, or being diversified, has nothing to do with Google particularly, but everything to do with basic business acumen, which currently - at least for me is what CDarlock was saying is focus on our customers.

I did not start this thread to bash Google... Sorry...

I started this thread, because I hoped to open a few newbie eyes to the possibility that anytime Google makes a change to its product, the changes "can hurt ANYONE overnight."

I knew a guy, who was making $50k in sales a month, and he derived nearly 95% of his sales from the Big G... Then Google made an algorithm change... The following month, this fellows revenue fell to $2,000 per month!!

When the times were good, he threw his entire marketing budget into optimizing for Google... When Google changed its product, his revenue came tumbling down overnight... His response? Throw what he had in his savings account at Google...

He did not learn his lesson, and a few months later, he laid off his staff and eventually went under...

Was it Google's fault that his business died? Certainly not... It was his fault that his business died... Because he put all of his eggs in the Google basket...

Throughout the history of the Internet, this story has been repeated over and over again... Some have even tried to sue Google for loss of income, but Google easily wins those cases...

Every time Google makes a change, marketers start shaking in their boots, afraid that their end has come... They run to forums and blogs, proclaiming to the high heavens that Google's latest change was intended to destroy small businesses...

This thread was not started to bash Google, but rather in response to the latest chorus of voices that have declared that Google Instant is the most recent version of the Google Small Business Killer...

I own two fairly high-traffic websites... One serves 22,000 unique visitors per month... Only 40% of its traffic comes from Google... The other serves 25,000 unique visitors per month... Only 9% of its traffic comes from Google...

On the first site, "Google is important, but not the be-all, end-all of marketing online..." On the second site, "Google is not very important at all..."

I have always tried to please the Google Gods, but at the same time, I have deliberately chosen to diversify my advertising, to reach more people through more sources... It has always worked out good for me...

My view of Google is that I am not going to rely on them for anything, because a simple product change can end that traffic source for me... If Google were to quit sending me traffic tomorrow... I would survive without them... But, I am not going to turn down any of that free traffic they want to send to my websites either...

From the beginning, my view of ranking in Google and other search engines has been that if I build my website profiles in the way I would want them to look, if I owned the search engines, then I can only improve with time...

And generally, that is what an algorithm change at Google means to me... My websites will move up in the results, replacing those site owners who tried to trick the search engines to get their rankings...

In conclusion, Google Instant is not an Instant Business Killer, unless someone is looking at Google as "the only website that really matters..."

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583531].message }}

CDarklock

13 years ago

Originally Posted by tpw

Do you really believe that among millions of advertising locations and thousands of advertising programs available online that Google is all that really matters to the growth and survival of your business?

The only thing that matters to the growth and survival of my business is customers.

This is what people completely miss when they start trying to game the search engines and get high SERPs and build a boatload of backlinks.

None of those things make a damn bit of difference to your customer.

When you trick a search engine into listing your online poker site for a query about Lady Gaga, or get your "free credit report" CPA offer to position #1, or throw half a million links a year onto forums, what the hell have you done for your customers?

Nothing. You have delivered precisely dick. None of this is even remotely interesting to your customer. And when you respond with "oh yeah, well I made a bunch of money because people are stupid!" - wow, I'll bet your mother is proud.

"My son? He runs his own business. He tricks stupid people and takes their money. There are a lot of them, so he makes a very good living."

Don't get me wrong, you have every right to go galloping around the internet taking advantage of stupid people. I believe stupidity should be painful, and you're helping to make that a reality. That's a fine public service you're doing, and I believe in it.

But I honestly don't think it's any way to build a business.

[ 6 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2582982].message }}

IMStudentforlife 13 years ago

LOL the "Google Kool-Aid" do we get Tapioca too??

I agree with the thread started by Zeus66, it can be found here.

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-internet-marketing-discussion-forum/258072-3-ways-stop-relying-google-rankings.html

And this is very timely since the introduction of Google Instant, this will all hurt us in the long run.

Get listed then find other ways to keep the traffic coming other than from Google..
- Thanks
Signature
Old School SEO and IM, 1MediaZone

Running low on inspiration? The Strangest Secret in the World
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583021].message }}

Janice Sperry

13 years ago

I don't ignore Google but I don't worship them either. Up to a couple years ago if you wanted lots of targeted free traffic Google was the only way that you could do it without wasting your time. The game has changed. You can be #1 position for your keyword and think now you will get rich. Then you find out if a UK searcher enters your keyword you are buried on page 9. Google rank and traffic numbers only mean so much. Adapting to the best methods to get conversions is most important and Google is only part of the picture.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583050].message }}

Dennis Gaskill

13 years ago

I don't rely on Google, or any search engine for that matter, but the traffic I get from them certainly is a boon to my businesses. The time spent at on-site SEO is certainly well worth it. I tend to let the off-site SEO (link building) take care of itself for the most part. I've always had pretty good luck with that approach.

I don't rely on just one host for my websites. I don't rely on just one website for my income. I don't rely on just one niche for my income. I don't rely on just one business model for my income...and I don't rely on just one traffic source.

If you put all your eggs in any one basket you're just asking for trouble.

[ 3 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583090].message }}

Bill Farnham 13 years ago

Seriously, who gives a yahoo about Google.

Most likely those of us who also like gravy on our meat and icing on our cakes.

I have noticed that going deeper into the serp pages (redundant?) on G often times yields better results these days.

It's no wonder Google is dancing with itself regarding the new 'instant whatever' and 'personalized results'. They seem to have to out-tricked themselves and lost a little focus so they're throwing things up against the wall at a faster clip these days.

Granted, serving up relevent pages is a tough proposition no matter how you look at it. And a system that invites gaming is bound to hit the tipping point sooner or later. (I think they've reached it.)

I find it far easier to rank in BING. They appear to value content over backlinks that can be easily manipulated, so good for them.

What does the future hold for search? Probably the extra-long long tail. At some point we will probably have to type in a whole paragraph to get a decent result. Who knows...

~Bill
- [ 3 ] Thanks
Signature
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583151].message }}

John Durham

13 years ago

I dont care how big google is... I just want to reach my personal goals... I suspect that about 10% of my personal business comes from search engines PERIOD... yet 90% of it comes from the internet. There are 100 ways to skin a cat... if people believe that google is all there is, then all the better for the rest of us.

Yes I am going to write a wso on it, and NO this is not a plug, but you can promote an affiliate program for instance, on ALIBABA.... the 93rd most popular site on the entire internet... and get a ton of business, but I bet less than 5% of internet marketers take advantage of it.

The say there's "scammers"... Hello?

Thats with ebay or ANYTHING... yes spammers are going to be attracted to the 93rd most popular site on the net (big surprise), but to say Alibaba is a scam is just ignorant, theres more traffic on that one site ALONE than on MANY search engines.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2583259].message }}

christopher jon

13 years ago

The underlying problem with your question is not everybody follows the same business model or relies on the same type of customers for business.

Reading through the replies, many of those who claim that google is irrelevant to their business aren't relying on SE traffic to begin with. GURU's, Article / WSO authors and even web developers rely on word of mouth and generating traffic through forums such as this one.

But xfactor adsense guys who make a living through numerous websites ranking for low competition keywords live or die based on SE traffic.

It's really a matter of figuring out what your product is, how you are going to make money and the most effective means of reaching your customers.

If I wanted to become a WSO selling GURU, I'd spend all of my time leaving well thought out and helpful posts on IM forums to develop a following and a phat list. If I want to become the adsense king I'm going to buy 100 domains and abuse fiverr and cheap outsourced labor to create a gazillion backlinks to my sites for SE rankings.