Is Google taking over everything?

by 12 replies
14
Once upon a time it seemed that Google was a great way to find websites on whatever you were looking for. Now it appears more and more that Google wants to supercede the actual websites. If I go search for travel rates for hotels or cars it is Google popping up first with their info, not any popular travel sites. I looked up the lyrics to a song yesterday assuming I'd go to one of the popular lyrics sites, but Google had the answer at the top. Same for local weather, reviews for restaurants, etc.

At what point is Google hurting the local news station because people no longer view their site (or the ads on their site) because nobody goes there for the weather? Or any number of sites as Google siphons off traffic? What do you think the impact is now, or will be, for the offline businesses we own or serve? They've already taken the 3 pack and started selling it out and now want to integrate appointment setting for offline businesses. When do they squeeze everyone else out, or do they?

It seems like a lot online is a losing battle with the constant algorithm changes for SEO and now Google taking more and more over. Will there be a resurgence of old school offline marketing at some point because Google eventually makes it hard for the little guy to be found online?

I'd love to hear where some of you guys think this is all heading.
#offline marketing #google #taking
  • Please include paragraphs cause my brain hurt and we'll be able to reply
    • [1] reply
    • Wow, I typed it out on my phone and couldn't see how long it was in the tiny box provided. I didn't think it was that long, but I'll break it up if it is too much for you to handle. Hopefully that helps. I have ADHD and understand what it is like to run up against a wall of text.
  • Part of the reason I sold off my online empire was because I was concerned at the way G was moving... We weren't 100% dependant on G, but it was still a significant portion of traffic.

    I think G's results are worse now, than they were 5-10 years ago. I often don't seem to be able to find much useful in the results for many searches...
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Maybe it;s time to start migrating to other search engines, if we all did that it would really put the sh%*ts up google.
  • It seems to me that the reviews are really starting to pop out more in results, and not just google reviews, but the reviews from the other directories. I would focus on making sure a business understands the importance of having some good reviews. As far as their results, I remember a while back when it was a 3 pack, then they went 7 pack, and now back to 3 pack. I think they are always going to be tweaking and testing to see what gets them the most advertising revenue.
  • Google only has the power we, as members of society, give it. Same with Facebook.

    It's simple, just stop doing everything through them. Spread out your searches through other SEs, spread out your ad dollars through other sites. They count on us to be lazy and just give in. I make a conscious effort to use other websites and advertising. I also find hidden gems this way too.

    Yeah, I know I represent the size of an atom, in the great scheme of things, but I do it anyway.

    I use Google, but not for everything and as little as possible.
  • Okay. I get that G is really powerful. It's quite obvious. But you can still make money online without it.

    How? There are tons of ways. I have seen lots of business owners make decent money from Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube and their own websites that gets promoted just because it is so damn good that people has to share it.

    So it is really up to you if you want to think that G has your hands tied or you can see it as an opportunity to look for other ways to make some decent money. You don't even need to look far. This forum is actually a goldmine in itself.
  • I think it is just matter of "Time" & "Technology (artificial intelligence)" Once google has it, you will find it as the only source for whatever information you seek, What you think, all this content on those zillions of pages ... it is waiting for a super computer in other words a super mind capable of answering human queries intelligently and it is just matter of "Time" & "Technology"...
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Thats pretty awesome.

    The current state of affairs where everyone designs websites that demands 8 gb of RAM is unnacceptable.
  • Google is one of the best search engine as compare to others. i also think same that google take over everything the reason behind is that most of the people trust google search engine more then any thing else.
  • Banned
    It's your own fault If you don't diversify traffic sources.

    Does a successful offline business rely 100% on newspaper ads?

    The answer is No, they have multiple traffic sources (signs, TV ads, radio ads, newspaper ads, news coverage, magazine ads, telemarketing, snail mail ads, business directories, business cards, etc...).

    Bashing Google is pointless especially considering they rarely provide a complete answer/solution for search traffic. Look at the Google Schema box, always an incomplete answer yet it allows two hyperlinks for the same money page URL on the SERPs boosting the possibility of higher CTRs.
    • [1] reply
    • Hi.
      IMO, people just think that Google is taking over everything because Google is the easiest and at-your-face search engine available. People forgot about all the other search engines out there.
      I have the right article for you and what he said makes so much sense.
      Here: https://moz.com/blog/why-i-stopped-s...you-should-too

      He's made a big point about Google and SEO.

      I hope this helped.
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed

  • 14

    Is Google taking over everything?

    Once upon a time it seemed that Google was a great way to find websites on whatever you were looking for. Now it appears more and more that Google wants to supercede the actual websites. If I go search for travel rates for hotels or cars it is Google popping up first with their info, not any popular travel sites. I looked up the lyrics to a song yesterday assuming I'd go to one of the popular lyrics sites, but Google had the answer at the top. Same for local weather, reviews for restaurants, etc. At what point is Google hurting the local news station because people no longer view their site (or the ads on their site) because nobody goes there for the weather? Or any number of sites as Google siphons off traffic? What do you think the impact is now, or will be, for the offline businesses we own or serve? They've already taken the 3 pack and started selling it out and now want to integrate appointment setting for offline businesses. When do they squeeze everyone else out, or do they?