Pressure To Rank High Causes Some Spam In Google

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I think it’s fair to say that Google has, and has always had, a relatively significant spam problem. It’s not hard to understand why this would occur. Top rankings in the right keyword categories can mean a lot of money for people, so there’s a great deal of motivation to get rankings by any means necessary. But I think it’s also time to point out that Google has created more than its’ fair share of spam because of their actions.

Mom and pop websites are going up against tough standards to get ranked high in Google search these days. In reality, most don’t stand a chance. Unfortunately for them, they’re entering into a highly technical arena against opponents who are well-financed and ensconced in their current rankings. It’s simplistic to think that the “best site will win” these days.

The best website doesn’t automatically win by default

This is the reality of the current marketplace. Search rankings are the results of numerous factors, and it’s highly unlikely that a neophyte will get it right. Google has always said to just “build the website for users” and the rest will take care of itself, but when does that type of advice ever work in the real world?

If the only option for a new website to get traffic is PPC, then you know the playing field is no longer level. As Google creates more and more artificial barriers to attaining search rankings, the types of websites that do rank will become more and more unnatural, which is exactly what the company is trying to avoid.

As I see it, any measures coming from Google that involve attempting to reduce spam and improve webmaster communications should rely on honest dialogue and not subterfuge to get the point across. Otherwise, Google is alienating the very audience they’re preaching to. I’m not trying to start a Google conspiracy theory here, but merely pointing out how I think the company has gone wrong lately.

Google created this link-popularity contest, and now they should take some of the responsibility for the spam. Do you think Google is effectively fighting spam?

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