Forum Moderators: open
For 6 months now, 3 different webmasters (it might be one, who knows) have suddenly and permanently taken over the first three pages of search returns for a particular tropical island. Beforehand, there were good results including, yes, my site too.
The new kids on the block have cross linked sites, mostly with word for word duplicate content. In addition, they run link farms which use hidden (using a “+”) text links. Their link partners are seldom related to travel or the island (for example, there are links from garage heater and insulated underwear companies – perfect, just what you need on a tropical island).
They have been reported time and time again for running link farms, hidden links and having duplicate content, but nothing happens. So, in the end I write to Google and ask if they have abandoned their TOS / Spam rules, pointing these guys out yet again. And, if they are not doing anything wrong, why have these showing as "crimes" in the Google TOS. I also said, if I see or hear nothing from you, I will suppose you condone what these sites are doing / have abandoned your TOS. No word.
So the ironic thing is I build two duplicate content sites myself (one for this subject, one for another related subject). And then I get me an email address harvester to start my own link farms (as they seem to be approved of these days by Google). So off goes my bot, and then I point it at 4 of my competitor’s sites, and guess what?! The bot gets different results to what my browser does.
Jeez, these guys are using cloaking scripts as well. Surely, Google are going to act now. So, I notify Google and what happens? You’ve got it. Absolutely nothing.
So now webmasters like me are having to build duplicate content sites, with link farms and cloaking scripts to combat the Spammers. Tell me this is all a nasty dream and I will wake up to see these sites trashed soon.
When the SE all go pay for play the spammers will be playing the straight shooters will be empty--
Hope I'm wrong,just a little frustrating.
OH well, let me see build more content...revelent links...
don't cheat.. GO BROKE
is that under the google webmasters guide?
Just kidding GG
But doesn't this mean Google is the living dead?! Sooner or later people are just going to give up on using them wholesale?
What I can not understand is that it is so easy for them to write an algo to find link farms. If there is just one link from a main directory page to a page named or in sub directory called "link", then penalize. Real links sites link back from their all their main directory pages to these link pages.
What on earth do all those people do in Google now? Think of new logos to show on their front page?! I used to be, but am no longer impressed.
Got to go, installing the cloaking script this afternoon. Never thought I would see the day!
I must agree, when the "officials" (google) arent doing their job it does stink, but that doesn't mean they won't suddenly wake up and start again. Maybe they're just making you all feel nice and secure, then one update, bam! they knock it up and knotch and all spammers gone!
Another point is it must be a lot of work for google to be constantly checking spam reports if it is, like you say, so rampant. Don't forget they also lifted all bans at the start of the year, if I remember correctly, which would probably only cause the spam reports to increase.
Having been banned myself and managed to recover, I keep my act squeaky clean but its rapidly becoming a VERY unlevel playing field and I agree, unless Google can combat all this, things will just get worse and worse. No point in having guidelines if they don't enforce them. Yep, I know there are billions of sites out there, but at this rate Google will die through manipulated results.
I can understand my clients being frustrated but it would just be our luck that they'd be the ones that get penalized, and sadly it can take down anyone connected with it. I have to monitor my server these days to make sure no one is breaking google guidelines for fear it will take down others on shared IP's. It sucks basically.
Its a very worrying time for all of us. With Google having such a huge monopoly and not addressing those infringing their guidelines its all a bit much. Google - take note. Unless you DO deal with this, your engine will rapidly become useless.
Thought the dmoz checked there inclusions?
Louise ( from lovely sunny London,England)
Its a very unfair advantage.
We all know how to sapm - we just dont want to take the chance beacuse of GOOGLES GUIDELINES.
But if they give guidelines then they should react when blatantly obvious spam is reported.
Louise
Since I'm interested about web site optimization and search engine positioning, I do many searches on these subjects, but any SEO related Google search reports too much spammers sites, shadow domains, and so on.
I reported the spam to Google many times, with zero results.
Solution: when I have to do a search about SEO, I use Alltheweb, simply because they reacted to spam reports and now their index is really more clean than Google index.
Won't affect us much since we don't get much in the way of spam sites in our niche, but I find I am not wading through quite so much crap now on general searches.
We should know in a few days if it is permanent or just the "dance" prelude.
I'm sorry, I just have not seen any loss of the Spammers from the areas I am in. It is the same, same (and yes, I checked both www2 and www).
THEDAVE
I am sorry, but this has been going for 6 months now. Each month I read Google saying here and there they are working on it. Same old rhetoric, but same old search returns. Nothing changes.
I am not talking about wishful thinking trying to get a few competitors canned. I am talking the first 3 pages of search returns stuffed with (word for word) duplicate content, links farms accessed by hidden links, and cloaking. If Google can not spot (or listen) nor react to this, what says this of Google.
Sorry, but Google do not listen and do not do anything. I have been waiting and trying 6 months. Now I have written to Google (2 months ago) saying I will do the same as my competitors unless they act / advise me not to. I have not heard from them. The spammers are still there. So now I have added 2 duplicate content sites, with link farm exchangers, and with cloaks.
I have no choice. This is not about sinking to the Spammers own level. This is about replicating what Google clearly finds acceptable by token of their lack of response / action.
