Google Rules

Literally, and perhaps figuratively

[GrinninGordon]

I think it would be helpful (with Google Guy or one of his colleagues' blessings / commitment), to have a Google Rules (Spam or Ham?) section here.

What I mean is, there are clearly many gray / grey areas that some consider Spamming, others don't. But it is not clear what Google thinks.

I don't know if my suggestion will go anywhere with the management of this forum, or if people will add to this thread. But here are some areas I would *really* like to know what Google think / rule them as;

1) Reciprocal link exchanges. Are they OK, and to what extent?

2) Duplicate content. When does something become duplicate content Spam to Google? Regional copies (I think not, because even Google do this)? Same products from same web site owner but using different html?

Anyone else?

:-)

[sandor]

what i would like to see @ google is a system where sites that you report that are clearly using cloaking, re-directs or hidden text .. are actually removed from the database. i've basically given up on submitting these reports .. and focussed more on trying to get my pages up past the junk. maybe its specific to my industry but there's lots of crap thats getting under google's radar and no matter how many of those spam reports i submit, the pages and urls remain in the index and ranking. sigh </end-rant>