I have read so many posts on webmaster forums regarding Google. Google has gone down in quality of search results, I have no disagreement on that part. Matt Cutts´s posts have been somewhat of propaganda with no too much substance and a lot of smokescreening. Hate to say it, but so it is. So why is Google still the most popular search engine?
To find out the answer, I have to look at myself, because since 1999 G has been the only SE I have been using and I cannot imagine another one taking its place within the next 10 years.
The reason is that Google has no real competition.
One thing Google focuses on is a lot of unique content.
What it does is offer a wide variety of results.
The sites listed in the SERPs are all very different because the content is different and the incoming links are from so many different sites. Say what?? Yes, you heard it. They are from different sources.
I have read so many posts on forums where people complain that they rank on msn and Yahoo! but not on Google.
I then go to their sites and see little content. I search for links coming into their sites and they are all from members of the forum they are posting on.
When I look at high ranking sites on Google, they all have links from sites I have never seen before.
When clients ask me how to rank in big G, I tell them to stop thinking about how to trick the algo.
Ask yourself why Google is so successful.
The reason is variety.
The sites listed in the Google results don´t all have quality content, they don´t all have real content or true info. But when you look at the results overall, you will find that there is a lot of variety and searchers have their choices in which sites to click on. Many of the sites are hub sites with links to tons of sites associated with the same search terms. I look for Costa Rica hotels and find sites with about 20 hotels listed and a lot of sites with plenty of Costa Rica info. When I search on msn or Y, I get about 8 sites with only hotels. That is not what I want. I want to read up on Costa Rica and the areas I might go to.
I doubt that Google will stop being number 1 any time soon. Even if they neglect their very own mission statement. Anyone who wants to challenge them should start their own search engines. Anyone who cannot rank in Google, should take a look at some of the threads on the International Web Developers Network.
You have to think outside of the box. You need to be talented or knowledgable within your own niche or know someone who is. Google is very easy to rank in if only you work with them.
Their concept is old, but until somebody challenges it successfully, it will be the number 1 algorithm that there is.

Mike

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On Blogger Talk I get a lot of questions regarding blogging strategies and my advice is to always blog about your niche or your passion. Let things flow. Traffic and readers will come. You need to have quality and put your best foot forward. If you have something to talk about, let it out. If you own a travel blog, write about your favorite destinations in the world. Make your weblog interesting and give people some tips that are not too easy to find elsewhere. Blog naturally and you will be surprised on how many readers and subscribers will come.

If you are interested in buying a few sitewide links on Frog Engine or the Mike Dammann Web Directory, contact my thru this blog. I will give you a great deal if you buy them for 6 months.

- Mike

Here is a furniture affiliate program that I highly recommend. It is from Furniture For Sale and you can sign up here.

Tip: use the text links, not the banner ads. They work great. You can also be creative using your own text instead of the text that is in the links.

My new directory on Directory Contest is giving away 100 FREE listings to those who help me grow the categories and the content. All you have to do is sign up on my forum, make at least 5 posts and then follow the instructions.

Ever since Contextual Advertising has been created by John Scott and Jeff Behrendt, discussions regarding
CA vs. Directory Submissions have been popping up all over the place. I find it quite interesting how Matt Cutts admits that contextual advertising cannot be detected. He then adds that in the future Google will be able to, but I don’t buy it. If you do it smart and create a good write-up, then how can a spider label it as spam if the human eyes and minds won’t even be able to?
One thing about the advertising program is that we are dealing with one way links, deeplinks within related content. A great formula for success.
Now I have to ask myself how this is going to change the future of the Directory Business, and personally I don’t believe that it will change it negatively.
I think that actually the combination of blog and directory links is great. I have watched http://www.directorycontest.com go from a PR0 to PR6 overnight and when you look at the Google results for the term, you will see a combination of blog and directory links. That combination is very effective.
I believe however that there is a danger. When Google feels like they’re being screwed, they tend to lash out and many get hurt.
Can a large amount of directory AND contextual blog links give away the fact that those links are paid rather than given as a reference indicating that the website linked to is highly recommended for the keyterms within the anchor?
To tell you the truth, I don’t believe that Google will try to stop this trend. I believe they have grown tired of the cat and mouse game with search engine marketers.
IMHO Google is more interested in monetizing on their hard earned popularity and doesn’t want to upset anyone right now. Their new payout system is widely used by web marketers and webmasters. They are trying to tell us that we should report spam and stay away from doing anything that we wouldn’t do if they didn’t exist, but the days of idealism are long gone. Within Google. So in a few words:
I recommend contextual advertising. If you have a brandnew site with no PR and in the sandbox, a write-up from a good blog can give you instant traffic. How? Those blogs tend to rank fast for keywords within the write-up. And your links will be within that write-up, so visitors who are searching for something related to what you offer, are going to click on your links. That is advertising, not search engine spamming. And the fact that there is a nice side effect boosting your rankings, that is not your problem. It’s Google’s. And it really isn’t a problem. Those who are willing to spend a few bucks on advertising rather than registering 100 free blogspot blogs and myspace accounts, tend to also invest into their sites and provide web surfers with results which they can be pleased with.
And by the way, if you have a blog that has content related to furniture or home decorating, PM me.

Michael Dammann

P.S.: You can join in on ongoing discussions on Blogger Talk and Directory Contest.

I have still not sold Frog Engine despite a lot of interest and offers. I am not interested in selling just the database of the forum, or the forum itself. I am actually far more interested in selling simply the directory and not the forum or blog, but that will take away a lot of value and is a part of what the site is all about.

So if anyone has a real offer for the directory in itself, feel free to PM me.
In all cases the buyer needs to make me feel comfortable in believing he/she will honor all current advertising agreements.

Mike

DP Thread - Directory Contest Thread