Comments on: Guess Who Ranks #1 for Blog Consulting?

By: Michael Martine

Michael Martine — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:16:35 +0000

@Mani - Thanks for your comment. I am doing better on Google already (page 3 last time I checked, although different results for “consultant” vs. “consulting”). I’ve had several prospective clients say they found me via Google search. Google does place importance on anchor text… perhaps too much, since everyone tries to game this aspect. It’s not hard. Hell, I can even link to myself in my own blog all the time, every time I use the phrase blog consulting. Just like that.

By: Mani Karthik

Mani Karthik — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:57:50 +0000

Seriously this is bad!

Michael, the problem is with the anchor text, if my guess is right. In Google, they place more importance to anchor text than the others. While yahoo takes all the link pointers and then scans your page for the content, Google takes deviations all the time to make sure there are no formulas people can guess.

I can understand why you are on top for Yahoo and others but not for Google. Had you got some incoming links with the anchor text “blog consulting” I think youd’ve definitely made it to the top.

At one point or the other, it is real - The monster is broken.

By: Michael Martine

Michael Martine — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:53:19 +0000

@Tad - Thanks. I’m kinda surprised, myself.

By: Tad Chef

Tad Chef — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:57:13 +0000

Not bad

By: Michael Martine

Michael Martine — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:43:49 +0000

@Nathan - You know, it’s funny. If I passed myself off as an SEO, I would be a fraud. Real SEO gurus like Glen Allsop or Tad Chef could eat my lunch with this amateur poking around that I do. I’m learning new stuff all the time, trying to remember the basics, and trying it, is all I can say. Perhaps I know a small thing or two specifically regarding blog SEO, but that’s all I’ll admit to.

By: Nathan Ketsdever

Nathan Ketsdever — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:21:18 +0000

Very good SEO Michael! Nice.

By: Allen Taylor

Allen Taylor — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:49:59 +0000

Erica, Google isn’t broke. There was a time when SEO didn’t exist. The profession came about because Google was so good at producing accurate results. In the late 90s no one could beat them.

I think what happened is Google reached a point of diminishing returns. They simply can’t keep up with all the spam out there that is knocking the socks off of the people doing what Google has said to do all along - just create good, relevant content. In a way, they created the rules that led to the strategies spammers are using to kill relevant results. If Google did anything wrong, it’s “let the cat out of the bag” about what their algorithms were based on. But even if they hadn’t, I think we’d still be in the same situation because all it took was a few smart people doing some testing to figure what worked and what didn’t. After that, it was a matter of information traveling.

By: Erica DeWolf

Erica DeWolf — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:47:24 +0000

I think in trying to make their algorithm “the best” for finding accurate results, in addition to being extra top secret about the rules of the algorithm “broke” Google. It may not be as accurate.

I heard once that a Google representative said that SEO didn’t exist, and that web designers should just focus on creating the most relevant content and best usability for the user, and leave the search engines up to them. Ha. I guess the Yahoo! guy was laughing hysterically in the background. I would have really loved to see that…

Great post! Thanks!

By: Michael Martine

Michael Martine — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:04:04 +0000

@Allen - Thank you. I think I probably spent an hour-and-half on it, overall (and not all at once). Although Squidoo has more clout than HubPages, I gotta say that HubPages interface is WAY easier.

By: Allen Taylor

Allen Taylor — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:58:21 +0000

Cool lens Michael. I have intended to establish one myself, but I don’t want to do it until I know for sure that I can devote the time to make it great - I hate mediocrity! I like the Gateway Blogging concept.