Is It Realistic To Base A Business Around Free SERPs?

[blaze]

Pretty much what the title says.

On one hand, you can never be sure your website isn't going to get booted by the SERPs. On the other hand, Google is almost necessary to get any significant traffic.

Is the compromise that you have to split up your website into many to ensure that you don't lose traffic? Or do you try to build a business that doesn't depend on Google SERPs?

[tedster]

I agree, and I would add: your approach should be based on ranking well for a very wide assortment of phrases. If you avoid games and are not just chasing a small handful of trophy keywords, stability can be had for a nice long run.

However, there is always the possibility of a mishap -- Google does burp at times, even to the best-run of sites. So this thread is a good discussion of various scenarios. Even if the odds are that disaster won't strike your online business, still, "it can happen here."

[stonecold]

tedster - you are right that disaster can happen, but I have never seen it happen for a business that I have run this way.

The other thing you get out of using the right approach is that you can look Matt Cutts in the eye, tell him what happened, show him your site, and be completely clear of conscience.

If you can do that, your reinclusion request will usually be approved.

[KenB]

I agree, and I would add: your approach should be based on ranking well for a very wide assortment of phrases. If you avoid games and are not just chasing a small handful of trophy keywords, stability can be had for a nice long run.

However, there is always the possibility of a mishap -- Google does burp at times, even to the best-run of sites. So this thread is a good discussion of various scenarios. Even if the odds are that disaster won't strike your online business, still, "it can happen here."

Indeed. Good content and avoiding games is important, but like the June 27 & July 27 updates have shown, sometimes Google really screws up and many very good well established sites can disappear for extended periods of time through no fault of their own. My site is living proof of this.

[carminejg3]

yes you can build a business on free serps....

there are many sites that make a lot of money on free serp traffic....

why....

they have information people want to find, and if a serp doesn't delivery those sites to people then people will try other serps for that information....

example I want FREE instructions on how to fix a sink. I go to a serp and search, if I find my information.... next time i plan on buying something.... where am i going to look first? the site that showed me what i wanted.

So to get included and stay included in the serps you need to offer good information. This making the serp look good.