Double Serving

Google not bothered anymore?

[Angelis]

We are in a competitive market and one of our competitors has 3 websites appearing in the top 5 positions on Google. Despite numerous complaints I always get the automated message back saying they will look at it but nothing ever happens.

Has anyone else had any issues with this recently? It used to be very easy to put a complaint in and have it dealt with. Google used to be quite stringent about double serving but I am not seeing that anymore.

[mack]

Perhaps Google view each site as worthy of their placement. even if they are owned by the same people, the algo may view each favourably. There are a log of companies running multiple sites. As long as there is uniqueness to each thus can be very effective.

Mack..

[Angelis]

They sites do have slightly different content, the colour scheme and layout are slightly different but thats were the differences end. The page names, url's etc are all identical.

With CPC's in this industry over £10 a click its rather irritating.

[Angelis]

*Their sites! Sorry, need more coffee at this time of the morning...

[mack]

I can imagine. At least if the competition have multiple sites all ranking well, it gives you quite a lot of scope for seeing what they are doing. I know that's not much consolation.

One point to take on board. If you have 2 sites you are doubling your marketing workload. Just concentrating on your single site will be safer for the long term. Work out what each if their sites is doing to rank, and work it to your own needs.

Mack.

[Angelis]

There is no consolidation to be had, history, CPC and CTR wise our site is much better than theirs, I can drop us to position 4 and our brand will carry us back up to position 2 without me changing the bids.

The CPC's we pay now are over half what they were when the campaigns first went live.

My main issue is why should we / I as an advertiser conform to Google's guidelines if they dont?

On the other hand I could just use the old "if you cant beat them, join them" arguement and put a raft of sites up. As you mention though, I would rather concentrate on one site and do it well than spam Google will rubbish websites for one purpose only.

[LucidSW]

I agree with Mack. Concentrate on a single site, a single ad campaign. It's safer and better in the long term. Don't stoop to their level. If they jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?

[outland88]

What Mack says is quite true but can be expensive and time consuming. Its not without its negatives. In fact many companies voluntary back out on their own because one site may detract from the other and hurt sales. Often times Google hasn't gotten around to the areas but eventually most get boinked. Its good to have distinctly different BU's though because you're not held hostage by any one entity.

[StoutFiles]

Worrying about what other sites get away with will just be an endless loop of worrying. Just concentrate on your single site and hope someday it all evens out.

[toddb]

Google has always been slow to respond to this. Doucment the whois, hosting etc and send it all to google. Keep sending it. About the 3-5 time you will see a result.