Sep 30 2007
Why Google will stay on top!
I sometimes wonder why so many people out there don’t really understand how Google works. There are questions about the next PR update, where to buy links, how to change your site and what else can be done to move up in the search engine.
I got ranked by Google before I even tried to figure out Google and mainly because I asked myself what I can do to increase affiliate sales with the traffic I’m already getting.
Back in 1999 I’ve registered 400 domain names and was led to an affiliate program which I redirected many of the domain names to.
I started making money and a friend of mine suggested he’d host one of the domain names and I started building a few pages redirecting my domain name traffic to them.
So let’s say I was getting traffic related to diamond rings.
I would add a cj text link, a little bit of text and from there build new pages about flowers and added another banner.
Soon Google would start sending me traffic, sales started coming in and eventually I started ranking for gift related terms.
Google loves to send traffic to sites that seem to have a lot on whatever people are looking for.
If there is one thing Google provides, it’s variety in search results.
Try typing in “cigarettes” in msn and you will see 10 pages of sites selling the same cigarettes.
Do the same in Google and you will also find a lot of results with government information, anti smoking related subjects and wikipedia.
A page from Fox News is popping up as well.
I’m looking at the top result below wiki and Cig Outlet pops up, a site with tons of content.
If Google sees you as a site with a lot to offer, it figures the likelihood of web searchers finding something they’re looking for is high and they are willing to get you listed for terms that strong. It enables them to give variety, because how many pages of the same thing do you really need?
Not only do you get authority sites, when the term is commercial, adwords will provide additional results.
For the life of me I cannot figure out why the other search engines haven’t tried harder to please their visitors and the only explanation I have is that msn and Yahoo! are just so lazy and complacent, they simply don’t have to work hard on providing good results.
Google aims to please.
Google has for years made a lot less money and focused on increasing quality. Now this has changed, but Google still is superior to the other search engines and will remain to be just that.
What should you do if you have a site and want to make money with it?
It sounds simple, but you need to forget about Google and just do what you believe will convert traffic into sales. Also give people a reason to come back again and again and provide information that not everyone has.
In this day and age, the directory link sales are in full swing and it’s created a big mess. I am often surprised by how much money some companies put into buying links not even understanding how much more effective it would be to find links that help you with direct traffic as well.
A couple of years ago me and “incredibill” rode in my car from the Las Vegas Hotel to the Webmaster Convention and one of the points made by him was how important it is to NOT depend on Google. His insight on how Google rewards you for “real links” was priceless and even though I haven’t spoken to him since, the conversation with him is one of those that will stay with me for the rest of my career.
Many of the newbies in the forum circuit are drawn in by the devil of lights, the “success stories” of web directories getting 100 submissions daily and they don’t seem to understand the effort that needs to be put into a project to really make it successful long term speaking.
BOTW, Go Guides, Yahoo!, Business.com, Joe Ant … all of those make huge bucks from submissions. So do some DMOZ editors.
Will those directories ever get canned?
No!
Why?
Because they have been around for ages. The other day I have come across this thread and made a comment here.
This comment I stand behind 100%.
You can make a web directory about anything and be financially successful.
But you need to have something to offer.
Starting a general directory is not recommended unless you really have a cool concept or something going for yourself that hasn’t been done better by 100 people before you.
The Digitalpoint Directories section is over and done with and posting your signature may do more harm than good if it’s just another web directory in there.
Take it from me, I know!
Mike
5 responses so far
5 Responses to “Why Google will stay on top!”
I just would like to know, why you think starting a general web directory is not a good idea? And which niche directories you think would be better to start ?
Your point about general directories is so true. The secret is to focus on a niche and become an authority in that niche.
Thanks, Brisbane.
Tom:
I think that most directories are being built to make money selling links. I think that if you really want to create a directory and make it good, then go for it. But I don´t recommend jumping on the directory bandwagon and expect the same results you could have gotten a year ago.
I think that if you are into something, let´s say Costa Rica, then make a directory for that. Know which sites are useful, add them, sell some featured listings, add adsense.
But you need to provide people with something of value.
Otherwise you´re just a link seller and bound to go downhill.
You guys can do what you like, but I think it would be a waste of time, energy and effort.
Put your best foot forward. Do something that people will tell others about. Let them do the word of mouth advertising for you saying
Go there to find anything in Costa Rica.
Directories do serve a purpose. But if you only do it to sell links, then chances are that you are going to spend a ton of time and money advertising and if Google decides to ban you, you´re done.
If you create value, you will not even depend on Google.
Try to not do anything that serves only one purpose. Be unique. Stand for something. Then you can do a lot more than all the other people who blindly follow the money.
It´s late in the game, and I will not take my directories down. But I don´t recommend starting one unless you have a strong concept behind it.
Mine gets a lot of traffic and this blog does as well. It´s my voice online. And I shall not be silenced. 
Hope that answered your question. If not feel free to chime in some more.
Mike
Directories do serve a purpose. But if you only do it to sell links, then chances are that you are going to spend a ton of time and money advertising and if Google decides to ban you, you´re done.
If you create value, you will not even depend on Google.
Directories do serve a purpose. But if you only do it to sell links, then chances are that you are going to spend a ton of time and money advertising and if Google decides to ban you, you´re done.
