The power of anchor text.

modernsavage · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2005, 09:53 AM

If you do a search on Google for f*ckwit (replacing the * for a u) the number one site that comes up is

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1376.asp

which is the page for Deputy Prime Minister - John Prescott.

Using f*ckwit as anchor text someone has managed to associate his page with that word. This clearly demonstrates how important anchor text is in google eyes.

This site http://nomutantenemy.co.uk/beardingt...pond.asp?arg=6

has f*ckwit as anchor text in a link and the text twice on the page.

Sorry if this has been posted before.

voasi · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2005, 05:56 PM

Seems like Tim Worstall http://timworstall.typepad.com is the Google Bomber on this person.

Here's a list of other bloggers helping in the efforts: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...+John+Prescott

Anchor text is still very important to pages being ranked in any search engine.

modernsavage · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 06:04 AM

I think it is a flaw in Google's logic that it will associate a word with a site that doesn't have that word on the page purely because of Anchor text in a link to the site.

It would be better if Google egnored words in anchor text from links from other sites if the word does not exist on the page being link to. Especially if those words are derogatory or rude. Maybe it would take too long to check.

AndrewX · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 05:01 PM

Google bombing and character assassination aside, I don't consider this to be a flaw.

For example, say there is a popular and useful website for webmasters. People start to link to it as "best webmaster forum", because they believe that it is the best forum for webmasters. The site in question is very modest and would never proclaim that they are the best webmaster forum, in fact, they hypothetically prefer to spell webmaster as "web master" as well, so the text "best webmaster forum" doesn't appear on their page at all. And instead of refering calling their forum a forum, they call it a "message board".

The search term "best webmaster forum" doesn't appear on the page at all, but it is still fair and appropriate for them to rank well for the term.