Panthro - 4:15 pm on Aug 7, 2012 (gmt 0)

The algorithm just starts to reward any website as it grows in "brandedness".

This is exactly what I mean by a built-in bias for "brands". It helps profits because that is, like you said, what the users seem to prefer. In my opinion, though, it's a win-win for Google. Bigger, more successful companies tend to have more money to spend on advertising. As the branding bias continues, those competing for the top spots will be the ones with the bigger pockets and will have to open those pockets to compete with each other.

I'm not complaining, and I'm not even one of those seeing my sites wiped out or losing traffic from the changes, just sharing my thoughts.

...In fact, it doesn't give us anything actionable as a conclusion and that's what real analysis should result in: an action plan.

I know there's a lot of emotion in the posts around here, and I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with that, but I agree with you about an action plan. Understanding that there is a built-in bias for brands, though, is necessary to developing and implementing that plan.

I just believe the new way forward is pretty clear and a lot of people used to marketing online in the past few years are finding it to be confusingly difficult to deal with. Essentially, it says to be successful, you must be successful.