Google Tells Internet Marketer NOT To Link To The Google Guide.

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I'm not sure if any of you are on potpie girl's list or not but if you are not - you might have missed out on something that I find amazing. Pot Pie Girl found the google handbook and linked to it.

Well, Google emailed her and ask her to take those links out of suffer the wrath or GOOGLE. It looks like google states the guide belongs to them because they hole the (C) and not for the public to read.

They asked her - in my understanding to not link to the guide and have taken it down fro the internet to top it off. Here are a few posts when this is talked about:

Stop The Madness! Internet Marketing Help from PotPieGirl

Leaked Google Search Guidelines Give an Insight into Ranking Criteria | ineedhits

Download The Latest Google Search Quality Rating Guidelines

Any thoughts on this? Please feel free to chime in!
#google #guide #internet #link #marketer #tells
  • Profile picture of the author barbling
    Well, according to

    Download The Latest Google Search Quality Rating Guidelines

    It's a copyrighted guide (plus I can definitely understand why Google wouldn't want their rules/etc. in the hands of BlueFart folk out there online).

    So they have every right to ask for it to be removed.

    What's the issue?

    Btw, my first reaction to your post topic was that it dealt with

    Interactive online Google tutorial and references - Google Guide

    which would have definitely confused me...it's basically a 'How to Search google' site that's been there for years.

    Btw, I used one word in my post and that got changed to BlueFart. If that substitution happens for the reason I think it would....smart.
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    • Profile picture of the author mysterrio
      Originally Posted by barbling View Post

      Well, according to

      Download The Latest Google Search Quality Rating Guidelines

      It's a copyrighted guide (plus I can definitely understand why Google wouldn't want their rules/etc. in the hands of BlueFart folk out there online).

      So they have every right to ask for it to be removed.

      What's the issue?

      Btw, my first reaction to your post topic was that it dealt with

      Interactive online Google tutorial and references - Google Guide

      which would have definitely confused me...it's basically a 'How to Search google' site that's been there for years.

      Btw, I used one word in my post and that got changed to BlueFart. If that substitution happens for the reason I think it would....smart.
      There is no issue....but ...the issue to me is that I was amazed that they asked her nicely to remove the links. You would think that they would want people to follow their 'rules' and they posted this guide in a public area of their site...you would think it was there to be read...don't you think?

      We understand that - It's a copyrighted guide but no one was trying to steal or claim copyright- just link to it. Having said this, I too can understand there might be some things in that guide they don't want made public.

      Any other thoughts?
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      • Profile picture of the author barbling
        Originally Posted by mysterrio View Post

        There is no issue....but ...the issue to me is that I was amazed that they asked her nicely to remove the links. You would think that they would want people to follow their 'rules' and they posted this guide in a public area of their site...you would think it was there to be read...don't you think?
        I've been online long enough to think that while lots of people would use such a guide white-hat....probably 3,294 times more would try to, ahem, non-white-hat it.

        And remember, "Google" consists of hundreds if not thousands if not beeyons of people. So "Google" didn't post it, a possibly fallible human bean did.

        It could have been a decision by a low-ranking worker bee who then got called to the table for publicizing it.....
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by mysterrio View Post

        There is no issue....but ...the issue to me is that I was amazed that they asked her nicely to remove the links. You would think that they would want people to follow their 'rules' and they posted this guide in a public area of their site...you would think it was there to be read...don't you think?

        We understand that - It's a copyrighted guide but no one was trying to steal or claim copyright- just link to it. Having said this, I too can understand there might be some things in that guide they don't want made public.

        Any other thoughts?
        Well, the document is proprietary and confidential and wasn't supposed to be leaked. However, they didn't get all of the copies removed.
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          Anyone know where I can get a copy?
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          • Profile picture of the author stephenwaldo
            Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

            Anyone know where I can get a copy?
            There was a thread in the adsense/PPC section that had some filesharing links for the download. Sorry I can't post links otherwise I would.

            Ha ha, nothing gives me a warm fuzzy feeling like infiltrating behind enemy lines. Thanks for the tip off OP.
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          • Profile picture of the author pf343537
            Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

            Anyone know where I can get a copy?
            mediafire DOT com/?rkch0lf88eo7wg1
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  • Profile picture of the author digitalquilluk
    I don't think this is all it seems...

    Think about it, why would Google put something on the Internet that they do not want made public? Unless someone has hacked into Googles private file storage to get this document, which I doubt.

    Google more than anyone knows the net is built up by people linking to each other... does not make sense at all.

    Classic Link Bait in my opinion
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    • Profile picture of the author pf343537
      Hey Suzzane,

      First of all thanks for the tip. However, in that link there is now a "FBI Anti-Piracy" page saying that domain was seized, etc, etc.

      So if by any chance you have another link or way for me to get that Google Handbook, please let me know.

      Paul
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by pf343537 View Post

        Hey Suzzane,

        First of all thanks for the tip. However, in that link there is now a "FBI Anti-Piracy" page saying that domain was seized, etc, etc.

        So if by any chance you have another link or way for me to get that Google Handbook, please let me know.

        Paul

        Leaked Google Manual
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        • Profile picture of the author pf343537
          OK Yukon, I got it.

          Thanks a lot.
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    It's strange when a company doesn't want you to know
    the rules that you need to follow in order to be a good
    webmaster. If everyone followed the rules shouldn't
    the internet world be a better Google place?

    -Ray Edwards
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

      It's strange when a company doesn't want you to know
      the rules that you need to follow in order to be a good
      webmaster. If everyone followed the rules shouldn't
      the internet world be a better Google place?

      -Ray Edwards
      You would think so ....
      but Google is evil and they love to stack the deck against marketers. I think they do it for sport. Granted there's a lot of spam around to get rid of and I would get rid of too, but it's pretty apparent that the only marketers they like are the big companies ... and not their affiliates.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      If google didn't want you to find the rules - you wouldn't be able to find them.

      Could it be if they are "leaked" they get more press and people think they've found "the" way? Think how valuable they are if they are "leaked" and then "removed". No one know how to play google better than google

      Seems to me if google made a guide totally public with "here's how to do it" the gaming would begin to find ways around the terms.

      Put out a guide as a "secret that should not have been revealed" and people will perhaps follow the "secret guide" thinking they have an inside track.

      Could be wrong - but seems pretty smart to me.

      kay
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Then
    So if I get my hands on this guidebook, I can conquer the world?
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Joseph Then View Post

      So if I get my hands on this guidebook, I can conquer the world?
      No .. you can just make better informed decisions on how to build and promote your sites.

      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

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    • Profile picture of the author nik0
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Joseph Then View Post

      So if I get my hands on this guidebook, I can conquer the world?
      Yes you can even bribe them with it for higher rankings

      Just upload it to your site and wait lol
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      • Profile picture of the author nik0
        Banned
        In case people are lazy to download the PDF then this part is pretty useful:

        5.1.2 Not all Affiliates are Thin
        Some affiliates are created to help users. Anyone can become an “affiliate” of merchant sites such as Amazon and link to Amazon products. Webmasters may do this to show products they like or to help users find a good deal.
        For example, if the affiliate offers price comparison functionality, or displays product reviews, recipes, lyrics, etc., it is usually not a thin affiliate, and, therefore, not spam. Some websites that offer price comparisons or other helpful shopping features, in addition to the affiliate link.

        The following types of pages have content that is helpful to users.
        • Pages that allow users to compare prices between merchants are not spam.
        • Pages that have original product reviews that are helpful to users are not spam.
        • Pages with original recipes or reviews of non-original recipes are not spam.
        • Pages from websites that are designed to help users find lyrics, quotes, proverbs, poems, etc. are not spam.
        • Contact information: Pages with physical addresses, phone numbers, maps, etc. are not spam.
        • Pages with coupon, discount, and promotion codes that are helpful to users are not spam.
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        • Profile picture of the author yukon
          Banned
          Originally Posted by nik0 View Post

          • Pages from websites that are designed to help users find lyrics, quotes, proverbs, poems, etc. are not spam.
          • Contact information: Pages with physical addresses, phone numbers, maps, etc. are not spam.
          These subjects alone could be an endless supply of niches & sub-niches for Adsense sites (large Adsense sites). However I would be leery of owning a lyrics site, just feels like a bad move IMO.
          • find lyrics
          • quotes
          • proverbs
          • poems
          • Pages with physical addresses
          • phone numbers
          • maps

          Doesn't have to be the most popular site in the niche/sub-niche, just needs to be useful for traffic.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    I got a copy today. Ive read most of it.

    Its long, its boring and well .....gave me a headache.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Will Wheaton has a phrase "Don't be a dick."

      Unfortunately, Google never heard of it.

      They are evil and I hate them...period.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Will Wheaton has a phrase "Don't be a dick."

        Unfortunately, Google never heard of it.

        They are evil and I hate them...period.
        Amen brother.
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  • Profile picture of the author PotPieGirl
    Hey all - it's PotPieGirl! My ears were burning....lol!

    So here's the story, ready?

    Yes, I found that guide (and a video raters guide) online in 2 places... one place was right in this very forum.

    No, I didn't hack into a server to get it.... No, I didn't bribe a former rater to steal it or anything like that. I simply found something that had already been online for a few months.

    I wanted my blog readers to have it. First off, because it backed up things I told them in a previous post (but couldn't "reference") and secondly because I thought it would really help people (ie, my other webmasters) see what these Raters are looking for, what is a good site/bad site etc.

    There really isn't anything in that guide that is "game-able" (is that a word? lol). To me, it was yet one more reason to stop trying to take short cuts or to game things.

    Yes, "gaming" the algo can get you to Page 1, but your site has to have the right stuff to STAY there...and I wanted my readers to get better understanding of what the "right stuff" is.

    So I weighed my pros/cons of sharing it (The Document) and decided I was willing to risk it to help my readers.

    All went along nice and under the radar for a few days...and then I got ratted out to the "press". I really didn't know that it had been over 3 years since something like that had been leaked (according to the SEO "press". I had had it for quite some time since it had BEEN online and leaked by a former Google Rater). So, it wasn't news to me...lol - and I certainly didn't think it was link bait.

    But then it went mainstream and my blog blew up - totally NUTS. It didn't take long to get that contact email from Google.

    They asked me nicely to stop linking to it/sharing it - that it was an internal and copyrighted document and they didn't give permission to share.

    They were clear that they didn't request any other changes to my post/blog, or for me to stop talking about Google ranking, etc - and they thanked me for my "coverage". (which I appreciate because *I* thought the best info in the post was the post itself, but shows what I know).

    They did not threaten me or whatever the rumor of the minute is.

    Needless to say, I stopped. I have much better things to do than battle Google, Inc

    Get this, I actually found in my analytics someone in another forum trying to SELL copies of it for $200 a piece! Can you believe it? (well, we're all marketers, so I bet we can believe it....lol)

    So, sorry, the story isn't as exciting as it could be....but wow, has it gone crazy.

    Thanks for letting me share my side of the story

    Jennifer
    ~PotPieGirl
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    • Profile picture of the author barbling
      Originally Posted by PotPie Queen View Post

      ....
      Get this, I actually found in my analytics someone in another forum trying to SELL copies of it for $200 a piece! Can you believe it? (well, we're all marketers, so I bet we can believe it....lol)

      So, sorry, the story isn't as exciting as it could be....but wow, has it gone crazy.

      Thanks for letting me share my side of the story

      Jennifer
      ~PotPieGirl
      Wow! Selling it for $200? Amazing!

      And so nice to see you here - I remember learning from you 'way back in 2008 when I started Squidooizing. You've got great stuff!
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      • Profile picture of the author PotPieGirl
        Originally Posted by barbling View Post

        Wow! Selling it for $200? Amazing!

        And so nice to see you here - I remember learning from you 'way back in 2008 when I started Squidooizing. You've got great stuff!
        Thank you so much!!!

        I have to admit, it shocked me when I saw him trying to sell it - and I've been in this business a few years...lol!


        Jennifer
        ~PotPieGirl
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by mysterrio View Post

    Well, Google emailed her and ask her to take those links out of suffer the wrath or GOOGLE. It looks like google states the guide belongs to them because they hole the (C) and not for the public to read.

    They asked her - in my understanding to not link to the guide and have taken it down fro the internet to top it off.
    So, they put it on a website in an area that was not password protected, and then are shocked and surprised when people link to it? Hmm. Ironic.

    I wonder if their robots.txt file instructed people not to view that file?
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    • Profile picture of the author PotPieGirl
      Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

      So, they put it on a website in an area that was not password protected, and then are shocked and surprised when people link to it? Hmm. Ironic.

      I wonder if their robots.txt file instructed people not to view that file?
      Actually, they put it in this forum and linked to a file sharing site where they uploaded it.

      I found it by simply Google'ing it...and then following the trail.

      Jennifer
      ~PotPieGirl
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  • Profile picture of the author Lakbay
    Wow i never knew the existence of Google Raters..til now...must find out more...
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    • Profile picture of the author PotPieGirl
      Originally Posted by Lakbay View Post

      Wow i never knew the existence of Google Raters..til now...must find out more...
      That's been going on for years. There's a couple company Google outsources this work to. Those companies hire stay at home moms and students, etc from all over the world as general contractors and are paid like $13 to $15 an hour (from what I've read).

      There are search raters, video raters, ad raters - and I'm sure more.

      It's a legitimate "work from home" opportunity.

      Jennifer
      ~PotPieGirl
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      • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
        Originally Posted by PotPie Queen View Post

        That's been going on for years. There's a couple company Google outsources this work to. Those companies hire stay at home moms and students, etc from all over the world as general contractors and are paid like $13 to $15 an hour (from what I've read).

        There are search raters, video raters, ad raters - and I'm sure more.

        It's a legitimate "work from home" opportunity.

        Jennifer
        ~PotPieGirl
        All of this has taught me one thing, PPG.

        Apparently Google webmasters read your blog on a regular basis with an eye to improving their site(s) performance in their own search results...
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      • Profile picture of the author Lakbay
        Originally Posted by PotPie Queen View Post

        That's been going on for years. There's a couple company Google outsources this work to. Those companies hire stay at home moms and students, etc from all over the world as general contractors and are paid like $13 to $15 an hour (from what I've read).

        There are search raters, video raters, ad raters - and I'm sure more.

        It's a legitimate "work from home" opportunity.

        Jennifer
        ~PotPieGirl
        I see, how do i apply? hahahaha
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  • Profile picture of the author JackPowers
    Lol, it's a good read and Google should be happy it's out there. It's basically telling people not to make MFA sites and thin affiliate sites. Oh yeah, I can totally see how Google loses when people take those secrets and apply them.
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by JackPowers View Post

      Lol, it's a good read and Google should be happy it's out there. It's basically telling people not to make MFA sites and thin affiliate sites. Oh yeah, I can totally see how Google loses when people take those secrets and apply them.
      It is a good read. Bad news for affiliate marketers in general, but interesting to read. They are emphasizing the difference between affiliate marketers (links that go to a different site to make the purchase) and true commerce sites (sales made on the site that you are on), and of course, they are favoring large brand name ecommerce sites and burying most affiliate sites.

      The exception to affiliate sites are the big review/comparison sites like nextag, pricegrabber, dealtime, bizrate, etc.

      5.1.1 Recognizing Thin Affiliates

      To help determine if a page is a thin affiliate, you can do the following: Click buttons on the page. Click on a "More Information" or "Make a Purchase" button. If you are taken to a merchant on a different domain, it is probably a thin affiliate. You will not be able to make the purchase on the affiliate webpage.

      Check properties of images on the page. Right-click on an image on the page with your mouse and look at "Properties" to see where the image originates. Check to see if the address of the image is the same as the address of the page or if it is the address of a "real" merchant?

      Look for original content on the page. Affiliate pages that include original content in addition to the affiliate link are not spam

      Look at the domain registrants. If clicking a button takes you to another page, check to see "who is" the registrant (or owner) of the two domains. If the registrant is the same, the page is not a thin affiliate. Please follow the instructions for checking whose in Section 3.3.1.
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  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii

    5.1.1 Recognizing Thin Affiliates

    I actually find this to be the perfect playbook for building an acceptable Amazon affiliate site.
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  • Profile picture of the author nik0
    Banned
    I've been thinking about setting up a local listing site a long time ago with adresses and all but later I figured out that you can't just copy the yellow pages as it's copyrighted, how can an adress be copyrighted you might think but that's how it works, it would be seen as stealing their database, in my country they go even one step further (or maybe everywhere) where they put fake adresses in the database to find out that people stole it.

    With lyrics you might also run into copyright issue's, hell with most of it actually, and Google approves it as non -spam lol

    The maps idea is a great one btw, I think you once mentioned that as an idea for mountainbike trail maps wasn't that you? Golden idea, I bet no one ever did something with it lol.
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by nik0 View Post

      I've been thinking about setting up a local listing site a long time ago with adresses and all but later I figured out that you can't just copy the yellow pages as it's copyrighted, how can an adress be copyrighted you might think but that's how it works, it would be seen as stealing their database, in my country they go even one step further (or maybe everywhere) where they put fake adresses in the database to find out that people stole it.

      With lyrics you might also run into copyright issue's, hell with most of it actually, and Google approves it as non -spam lol

      The maps idea is a great one btw, I think you once mentioned that as an idea for mountainbike trail maps wasn't that you? Golden idea, I bet no one ever did something with it lol.
      Yeah, that was me in the other thread.

      Speaking of maps, check this out.

      When I was looking at real estate a while back, I found the best site on the net was hotpads.com. Hotpads get's their maps from OpenStreetMap (also Bing satellite view) which is sort of like wikipedia, only for maps (very cool).

      It would take a lot of work to create something like hotpads, but I'm very sure hotpads is a cash machine.

      This goes back to the mountain bike example I posted on the other thread. The OpenStreetMap could be setup to create trail maps instead of real estate maps (like hotpads).

      Basically, anything you can think of that involves a lot of locations, could be used on OpenStreetMap.

      Just a random idea that I doubt has ever been done. You could setup an OpenStreetMap site for displaying the locations of free wifi, or amusement parks, or car rentals, etc... the list is endless.

      I might set something up, later on, IDK. I just like the idea, because it could be monetized in a lot of different ways, depending on the niche.

      Really the main part would be a public domain database, to populate the open map.

      [related link]
      http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Main_Page
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  • Profile picture of the author nik0
    Banned
    It's a great idea indeed, I might want to get a programmer in the near future to setup something like this as well but then more for my own country and rank it for housebrokers or what not indeed. I think people will love it, especially when looking for houses so they can really browse the area a bit.

    BTW: Why is Yukon banned???? Must be some temp ban right?
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