Google's affect on Christmas

[April98]

I'm wondering how drastically these Google updates could genuinely affect online Christmas purchases negatively, this year. Let me explain.

Lets say that the high ranking mom and pop sites with the great niche keywords were all knocked into oblivion during Jagger 1 & 2. These updates have occurred when many of us are ordering inventory in preparation for Christmas. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has axed a large portion of what I intended to purchase, because of the results of these updates. This inventory would have been arriving now or in the next 2 weeks or so, but I've decided to play it safe and assume that my site will not rebound (better safe than sorry!). Even if my site rebounds for particular keywords with Jagger 3, at this point, it's "getting to look a lot like Christmas" and I'm running out of time to purchase inventory that I can have on hand and ready for potential online sales. Obviously, there will be a huge difference in sales volume if I am number #100 instead of 1. Therefore, I may end up turning away large volumes of clients in December if my site rebounds and I can't obtain the proper level of inventory.

Assuming that I'm not the only one that has decided to "play it safe" because of this update, how irritated are online consumers going to be in December if most mom and pop stores are like mine and are out of inventory and forced to close up for the last 3 weeks of the holiday season? It's all hypothetical, but couldn't this cause frustration to consumers? Will they then decide to go shop at a brick and mortar, or will they just type in Amazon.com?

[brian.mark]

Interesting question. I suppose the true mom-and-pop shops can't afford to sit on inventory for much length of time. We're just buying heavy on everything, taking advantage of the "off-season specials" and are going to hang on to it if we don't sell it. Then again, October isn't really a construction month and we just had one of our top 3 months ever even with Jagger going on, so I really don't know what's going to happen over the next couple months.

I guess we'll just hold on and see. The other thing people are forgetting is the new minimum payments that are coming out for credit cards, so many people aren't going to be able to afford Christmas anyway. I know my minimum payment is going to triple shortly, so anyone who isn't able to cover a large jump in monthly bills is going to be spending zip for the holidays anyway.

Brian.

[nipplecharms1]

http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=55319

My overall comments. That and $4.50 gets you a double fat Latte!

Cheers April and good luck.

Michael

[greeneagle]

I believe that we are touching on the importance of SEM (Search Engine Marketing) as opposed to SEO (Search Engine Optimization) here.

There are many other digital doors to walk through in the SEM world. Many times it has been said:

Don't depend soley on "Organic" SERPs!

IMO - That's very good advice.

If they are forcing paid advertising to gain an advantage....try running a free ad in a newspaper!

but... but... but... Yes they are also forcing other avenues than SE SERPs at the same time, so use them!

Ken

[phochief]

Hello all...
We're in the same (sinking?) boat here. Before Jagger we were in top 10 for our primary keywords in a very competitive market. After Jag1 we dropped to page two. Jag2 dropped us to page 3 and 4 for those same keyword phrases "gps units" "handheld gps" and "car gps". Inventory costs several hundred dollars per item, so it's going to make it tough to recoup for lost holiday sales. Fortunately, we're still listed on page 1 in MSN and Yahoo, so things aren't dire, but I'm afraid Jagger is going to make it a rougher ride than expected. I feel your pain. Nevertheless, I realize nothing is guaranteed in the SERPs and depending on them too much is a real gamble. I'll look for other avenues to bring in the biz...

David
http://www.gps-planet.com

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by phochief

Hello all...
We're in the same (sinking?) boat here.

The boat is not sinking, they are just now charging some of us for the ride.

[softwareengineer99]

All I have to say is start focusing on alternate search engines. G is evil. There updates are planned to maximize their returns, not yours or mine. Right before travel season, they banned travel sites. Same thing happened last year. Smart webmasters who can read between the lines will start replacing G with Y or M. Once consumers find Y and M everywhere, G will get hit.

After being a passionate Google loyalist for more than five years, I am just disgusted by them in pretty much every area I have dealt with them (publishing, advertising, SERPs).

Webmaster cries can be found everywhere. But why the heck should G care? There stock prices are climbing ($378) as users find no choice but to click on ads. Sites are being penalized with algorithms whose effects haven't been tested well. G's results look like a joke. For e.g, search for [adsense feedback] and try to find one page from G in normal SERPs.

For AdSense publishers on this forum I recommend you read Jen's article about G's smart pricing.

G is forgetting that small businesses power the economy. Mom and pop sites that end up surviving will know not to put their eggs in one basket and to not be promoting one company blindly.

Once you start focusing on alternate search engines who view webmasters as humans, you will be much more relaxed with each of G's update.

[softwareengineer99]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

The boat is not sinking, they are just now charging some of us for the ride.

ROFL

For how long?

[greeneagle]

incredible help:

"The boat is not sinking, they are just now charging some of us for the ride."

That's a great quote. The only thing I would change is "more" for "some".

That is the game, after all.

I am not sure anyone got hit as hard as real estate this time, or last time, as far as that goes...

That was a "ripe" market!

Ken

[greeneagle]

softwareengineer99:

"ROFL
For how long?"

Until everyone starts to migrate and finds another one raising it's "revenue head"..

Now I am ROFL

That's the BEAST!

Ken

[softwareengineer99]

April98, just wanted to point that your voice is being spread across the Internet :)

--Update--
It's like he read my mind.

There was a time when you were pretty easy to game, and you've made it considerably harder lately, in fact many would say too hard. However like Captain Ahab chasing Moby Dick, in this all consuming attempt to keep the SEO/spammer crowd out, you've placed way to much emphasis on authoritativeness. In fact your SERPS are really starting to become incestuous lately. I'm tired of seeing Amazon, Ebay, Craigslist, and Wikipedia for the searches I do. Where's the diversity? I know where those sites are and I know how to find them, so again stop dumbing down the web for me.

[greeneagle]

softwareengineer99,

That is a well written article...
http://www.wolf-howl.com/2005/10/goo...-together.html

It clearly reflects the views of many I have seen in reaction to the Jagger update!

I have spent 2 weeks trying to figure out what to do about my single casualty, and whether I even want to take on a proposed local area realestate site!

I don't have much more time to spend in limbo doing research, instead of earning a living.

IMO-Much better communication is in order!

IMO#2-They could start by taking those ancient PR formulas down, so everyone stops referring to them.

Ken

[brian.mark]

Originally Posted by greeneagle

IMO#2-They could start by taking those ancient PR formulas down, so everyone stops referring to them.

Ken

But then how will I know when I reach PR12 status? ;-)

Brian.

[aaron2005]

I am a "mom and pop" and make a homemade product, it is the only site that was not hurt by this update, but it is also the oldest (pre-sandbox). I shouldn't speak too soon, in the google search you guys keep checking shows me being replaced with a major spammer.

Brian~ Right again, I can't afford to sit on any invetory, when I get a big order its scramble time.

[brian.mark]

Originally Posted by aaron2005

Brian~ Right again, I can't afford to sit on any invetory, when I get a big order its scramble time.

I feel for you. We were in that situation not all that long ago (didn't build our own stuff, but we had to order as the customer requested most items) and it wasn't fun. We've got a fairly substantial inventory now so that isn't as much of an issue.

There is one thing I didn't consider, though. Sitting on inventory at the end of the year means you pay more taxes on it. I don't mind paying taxes, but it seems funny that Google may be adjusting our tax bill without our approval. :-)

Currently, we've got one of our best Tuesdays ever going. This could get exciting.

Brian.

[damarzee]

Originally Posted by softwareengineer99

Once you start focusing on alternate search engines who view webmasters as humans, you will be much more relaxed with each of G's update.

This is my thought exactly. We are the ones who have helped Google become the giant there are over the past few years, by paying so much attention to them and promoting them, making website life all about their PR system.

Since the Google search engine and the hundreds of Google Powered search engines currently provide almost 80% of all Internet traffic, it is way past time to stop supporting them and instead, start giving a greater amount of support and attention to yahoo, MSN and other major, but smaller search engines.

Bottom line, most of my traffic now is from yahoo and I never even paid their $299 a year fee, but I will now because I appreciate them not trying to play God. I have also stopped all Adsense campaigns and am now using GoClick and Overture. I would also have to recommend we all shy away from AOL and Alexa search engines as well since they are powered by Google, so if Google penalized you or banned you, you are also penalized or banned in AOL, Alexa and over 400 other "Powered by Google" search engines.

No single search engine should be allowed to wield that kind of power and still be held unaccountable for what they do.

Since Google has totally unaccountability and has the power to put almost anyone out of business that had depended too much on them, it's time to shift our focus to creating a broader base for our website traffic and practically stop caring what Google wants, or how they will react. We can still stay aware of what is the best thing to do, but stop making them more important than other traffic sources.

Since one of my primary websites was hit severely...after being online for almost 6 years, this site has lost nearly 4 years worth of daily traffic growth. Tens of thousands are simply gone. I had no idea how dependent I had become on Google.

In response, I recently created Traffic Without Google . I have set some basics in place and I will develop the site in better fashion over the next few weeks. The focus is to help make webmasters aware that any dependence upon Google creates a mortal danger to a business. Our website will provide many alternate traffic concepts and ideas to help a website create a broader base of traffic where Goggle does not account for 80%. We're not dumping Google, but we are re-filing them to "Would rather not depend upon them".

I know I am Google ranting a little and I am still trying to forgive myself for not seeing the incredible error of having placed so much emphasis on Google, but as each day goes by, I am pursuing more and more sources of traffic and I will replace the traffic Google once provided...and if Google ever returns the traffic, that would be great, but I will never depend upon Google to play fair and I will never focus on them for any of my business needs.

There is life without Google.

[incrediblehelp]

If these Google updates really hurt so many (which I am sure they do, I am not debating this) I would think they would be more main stream media and news attention to them. Instead we just hear about great earnings and stock prices. Wouldn't a local news reporter be interested in the "dark side" of the Google online marketers life? Wouldn't a reporter want to know that Google is putting some out of business just because of an algo update. Would they think this is a good story to write or report?

I am not taking a side against Google here at all. I fully agree they websites should be self-sufficient with or without Google traffic, I just think it would be interesting to tell the story to the main stream public some how. Every time I hear about online marketing as it applies to SEO they talk about spidering a website, applying a algorithm which then produces results online and the story basically stops there. The only other time we hear about SEO is in the same breath as spam, email, porn, pills and gambling.

[April98]

Wow, I expected everyone to tell me to stop whining. LOL

Jaan, sure, we could contact the media, but it is a bit risky for business to go on local/regional/national media and complain about Gustapo Google while also telling your competitors that your business is suffering. I don't think I want to be the sacrificial lamb for this, otherwise I would contact all my media contacts. I've been featured on the NBC Today show, after all. I do have a few connections to NBC and MSNBC, but they would be a stretch, and, like I said, I don't want to sacrifice my own business.

[pacole3]

[quote="damarzee"]

Originally Posted by softwareengineer99

I know I am Google ranting a little and I am still trying to forgive myself for not seeing the incredible error of having placed so much emphasis on Google, but as each day goes by, I am pursuing more and more sources of traffic and I will replace the traffic Google once provided...and if Google ever returns the traffic, that would be great, but I will never depend upon Google to play fair and I will never focus on them for any of my business needs.

There is life without Google.

Three years ago, I started a website to draw attention to my writing and design career. I know only a little about html, but I put a basic site together. Then Google came along...and Adsense...and suddenly I was making more with Google that with writing (although that isn't hard!).

I was flying high, thinking I could take some time off to spend with my husband (who is in ill heath) and relax. Then BOOM! January came and my 6,000 vistor a day traffic with down to 500 and I disappeared on Google. So I set out to find other ways outside the net to support my family. And I had been so intent on doing that that I didn't touch my website for two months. Not one change...nada. Then Jagger and my traffic is back and the income is triple what it was at the best of times.

Why? I have no freaking idea! I haven't had time to do reciprical links for about 8 months. I write articles for free distribution, but only one in the last two months. No change to the code (Yeah...I know it doesn't validate.) No change to links. No change whatsoever. Go figure!

[aaron2005]

This stealth that Google works under is actually kind of scary, millions of people losing business and not any media coverage? You know why? Ever try to explain SEO to your wife? My wife doesn't even want to hear about it, she cant even comprehend what I know at this point. We are a very small group and if google decides our websites are trash we are done, but you know what? There will always be a clear way to get results in any search engine, after the dust clears it's time to send out a few probes.

Good idea damarzee, there needs to me more focus on that.

Hang in there.

[greeneagle]

Aaron,

Thank God my wife has a Geek Streak too!

LOL

The Site I lost in Jagger is not reciprocally linked in any other way than any of my other client's Site's - We have never run reciprocal linking schemes with anyone for any of our clients or ourselves!!!!

That "dog" isn't "in heat here", it's something else!!!

Ken