zett - 4:29 am on May 10, 2007 (gmt 0)

So what does all of this have to do with the relationship between search engines and Webmasters? At the core, I think it highlights the problem of assuming monolithic motivations. Assuming, specifically, that money is the driving force of either or both whole party can lead to conclusions and actions that don't effectively fit the real situation.

Google Inc.: Insider Trading [moneycentral.msn.com]

Tell me again, who is motivated by money? Apparently I am missing something here.

* * *

Google is facing the biggest challenge keeping their brand name and brand promise up ("Do no evil" - LOL). They need the webmasters' consent (not by individual webmasters, but indeed the joint consent by the overwhelming majority of webmasters) to actually earn money.

Consenting webmasters = Access to quality content = Users flocking to find that content = More advertising = More money = More consenting webmasters

This devils' circle needs to be broken if we want to end this discussion. It is pointless to complain as long as Google has a seemingly endless supply of consenting webmasters who offer their quality sites in return for some visitors.

A disruption can basically happen at any point in the chain, butmost likely at:

1- Webmasters. May be caring less and less for Google and their bizarre demands to access and organize content. Should there be a mass revolt, e.g. many quality sites blocking actively Google and their bots, this will affect the quality of service.

2- Users. May start caring less about Google as a search engine, just because the results are getting worse and worse and are filled with advertising and spam. Should this happen, Google is toast. Very simple. Users are looking for quality content, and if they do not find it through Google, they will find through other services.

3- Advertisers. May start withdrawing funds as lead quality decreases and price goes up. This is strongly interlinked to 1 and 2 above, but most likely the last possible breaking point. As advertisers are the only revenue source of Google, this is critical to company success.

I agree with several other posters in this thread who basically said - "it's not a Google problem, it's a problem of competition". The competitors are so weak that they can not capture enough eyeballs to get the viral marketing thing started. Not even Yahoo!, who is king in community. And where is Microsoft? They have the cash to BUY their way into users' brains through TV and print ads. Yet, their efforts seem to be lame.

Clearly, the starting point to get rid of Google (and their shady ethics) is to use other ways to search for content. The next time you type in www.google.com, think again, then delete the URL and replace it with an alternative. Lately, I did this with some success, and I am actively explaining to friends and family why I stopped using Google as search engine. Spread the word.

The reason for this mess can be found on the Insider Trading sheet.