Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Last Update: June 26, 2012
I had a note here up for a day and then took it down. It was Number 2 on the Top Ten but I had my answer to what I thought was an important question and I knew I would get it from Kyle or Carson. I got the answer from both. Also, quite a number of you responded and gave me and other readers great information. I thank you all.

The Big Bad Wolf is Google, of course. I don't mind Google keeping the net free of garbage sites but I have some concerns if they intend to set themselves up as the information source by-passing legitimate content sites. My point was that they would end up in court if they start rifling information from other sites.

The bottom line is that Google would have to reference their information. That may well be, but I think they should stay out of the content business, competing with their customers in many cases, and should stick to being a top notch search engine.

Google has their own vision of the future and it is their work to pursue it. It is our job to try to keep them in line with ethical business practices.

But what does this confused old man know?

John
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lisawells Premium
Your blog comments were very interesting, as was the discussion below. Being sort of a lightly- to medium-seasoned newbie, I didn't know what to think about the Google changes. I had sort of been thinking that the feel of Google is that it thinks it's god to the internet world. But it's also THE place to turn to for just about everything.........
ThomasPaul Premium
From what I can see it doesn't seem like they're doing anything malicious. I just did a search on google for "Timothy Ferriss" to verify the spelling of his name:

On the far right hand side you can see that they have quoted wikipedia. Looks like they pulled the info from wikipedia but they gave full credit.

I don't see much difference in them doing that and them displaying a meta description in the SERPs. If it's written well enough it will generate curiosity and a click through.
kyle Premium
Exactly, they are giving better access to information for their users. Google has built their business about serving the best results very little to do with website owners and how they can manipulate algorithms. Google could care less about websites that earn them a ton of money through advertising or adsense if they are not making their users happy.
kyle Premium
Google can be the BIG BAD WOLF...and to many it is John. The thing is, if you build your business based around Google you are going to run into problems at some point.

You should be creating your content, your website, your business for your users, your visitors, you readers and your interaction within them, not Google. Yes Google may play a part in your business, but you will run into far less problem if you focus on "creation" for the user, not Google.

Google is always on the hunt for quality content and every change they make is based around this, not some robotic formula. They use technology to get better and better and over the years they are continuing to gain a better understanding of user behavior and what makes great content. They then deliver these results within their search.

Build for the reader, not for Google. Google will be chasing after you... :
TJ Books Premium
Good advice again! Thank you, Kyle. Took the day off fishing with grand kids so didn't do much else.
Shawn Martin Premium
Amen
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