01.30.08
Posted in SEO Topics at 1:41 pm by blog
Google’s arrogance has been well-documented before and we don’t need to dwell on it here. When Arkesini.com first disappeared (completely) off Google’s horizon about three years ago, I went over the site with a fine toothcomb to identify any areas that might have been in breach of Google’s guidance and acceptable use policies. After a while, arkesini.com made a brief appearance for a few months and then off it went again! I have emailed Google to no avail. I have (three times) filled in the ‘Request Reconsideration’ form but never got a reply or a change in status.
Google is the greatest Search Engine in the world and I have long been a fan of its (original) corporate objectives and credo. Where arrogance creeps in is in Google’s unwavering faith in the infallability of their automated algorithms - so much so, that their software is allowed to be judge, jury and executioner without any humans questioning its decisions.
This benevolent dictatorship with its paternalistic approach to what’s Right and Wrong has no doubt cost thousands of small web entrepreneurs their livelihoods. Apparently, operating a referrals site is Wrong, Search Engine Optimisation is Wrong, not having ‘real conent’ (whatever that is) is Wrong.
Well, let’s see what is Right:
www.teeniesxxx.com
www.3pic.com
www.shliq.com
teenfeedlist.com
www.youngpervs.com
midwestteensexshow.com
www.teensex.nl
That’s just a small selection of sites that obviously qualify to be in Google’s index. ‘Teen Sex’ is a search term that Google’s automated intelligence (and moral authority) finds totally acceptable and rewards us with 1,960,000 results.
Something stinks…
Permalink
03.09.06
Posted in SEO Topics, General at 10:16 pm by blog
Now, here is some free software that is worth its download time! I came across Allscoop RSS Submit Pro while searching the internet for free submission services. This tool is really the business. It’s a free download and installs in seconds.
It allows you to select from nearly fifty rss and blog directories (10 of which you must add your feed to manually) and then goes away and does it for you. It’s very impressive for a piece of freeware and I would recommend www.allscoop.com to anyone with a need for quality php, asp or .net software
To quote from their website:
‘Allscoop RSS Submit Pro instantly and automatically submits your RSS feeds to all of the major RSS feed directories on the Internet.
RSS feeds are the fastest growing way to promote your site. Submit your blog or other rss feed to directories will help to drive traffic to your site and blog. RSS Submit pro can site submit your site to all the major RSS directories in just a few minutes. This freeware RSS software works on all Windows platforms and is a snap to install.’
Try it!
Permalink
02.28.06
Posted in SEO Topics at 5:39 pm by blog
I was talking about automated link exchanges in my last posting and I was pretty dubious about them. Particularly the ones that serve the links from their website through some php script you embed in your page.
Well, last night I thought I would give another system a chance. LinkMachine proved a pig to install but on closer investigation that had something to do with our server. I nearly gave up until I read through the support FAQ and discovered that two particular setting on my web server had to be altered. One was the maximum PHP memory which had to go to 16 Mb from 8; the other was the server’s Safe Mode which had to be turned off. You would imagine that requesting these ’small’ changes from a busy, anonymous hosting company would result in either a flat ‘no’ or a fat fee or days on end waiting.
Not so with my host of eight years, FatURL (formerly Vener Net). Michael from their support team responded to my email within 5 minutes, and fixed the problems (MY problems) in another couple.
LinkMachine from IronZog can be found here and I must tell you - it’s an amazing program! I got to choose from thousands of first class links, several at PR3, 4, 5, 6 and they appear like normal, hard-coded links on totally customizable links pages.
I first went for the free version (highly recommended) but by the end of the evening I had PayPal’ed them the full payment for their top option, the SEO version. It works and works well! What’s more, you can download the Windows version if you wish. The ‘middle’ paid-for option is the LinkMachine Premium:
LinkMachine Premium Features
Exchange links with other sites that use LinkMachine, without the need to send e-mails.
Search by keywords to quickly find many potential link exchange partners.
Full automation sends out all of your link exchange invitations with one click, mails reminders to sites that haven’t responded, keeps track of reciprocal links automatically and takes action when a link is found missing.
Find the sites that link to your competitors’ sites (or any other sites) and invite them to exchange links.
Reciprocal link checker can spider a site to find a link that’s been moved to a different page.
Import your current link pages, from the web, from HTML files, or from .CSV files.
Automatically search for a contact e-mail address on sites you’d like to contact.
A powerful search engine built in to your link directory helps your visitors find what they’re looking for.
Generates link pages free of the “Powered by LinkMachine” tag.
Built in Site Manager tool makes it easy to manage LinkMachine installations on multiple web sites.
Include a CAPTCHA graphic on your link submission form to prevent automated submission of spam links by computer ‘bots’.
Plus, all of the standard LinkMachine features listed here!
Visit my links page to get a taste for it.
Ah, if you too would like a hosting company who are proud to offer a top-notch service without breaking the bank, have a look at FastURL.
Permalink
02.27.06
Posted in SEO Topics at 6:35 pm by blog
It’s very tempting, isn’t it? A skillfully written (or not) piece of php or asp code added to a blank page on your site and a large number of categorised links start pouring in. What’s more, all the sites participating in this automated scheme start displaying a link to your site as if by magic.
Do these systems work in increasing your link popularity and therefore your Google rank or are you seen as participating in a link farm?
We have tried a couple of them, one very slow and cumbersome, the other sleek and well-written. We have yet to see any tangible results but in theory it should work provided you can limit the number of categories you exchange links with to just those that are relevant to your business.
Florists, funeral directors or realtors might be seen as a bit irrelevant to an SEO site if we are to give Google back-end processes some credit for semantic intelligence.
Please comment to this post with your particular experiences of automated systems. You can name names, praise or criticise -all in the name of research!
Permalink
02.24.06
Posted in SEO Topics, General at 11:18 pm by blog
Welcome to Arkesini’s Weblog. From time to time, the webmaster will post his thoughts, discoveries, moans or articles on the dark science of Search Engine Optimization and Page Ranking! Feel free to comment (you have to register first). Happy reading!
Permalink