Can someone explain how they got into this situation? I can't find any backstory.
This, apparently: http://searchengineland.com/googles-jaw-dropping-sponsored-p...
Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
21–30 of 39 posts
Re: Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
#22Maybe this is a dumb question as no one really asked it so far but, umm, I thought Google couldn't mess with rankings. Like, at all. I've read everywhere, even on Google's own properties that rankings are based on their top secret algorithm and that they not only cannot but will not manually manipulate results ever.
I really doubt they'd release a publicity statement that let loose such a big secret so what am I missing or misinterpreting? I really thought there was just no way possible to change results. I get that they can mess with ads but organic results?
Edit: Not to be that guy but what's with the downvotes? I'm honestly asking. If there's something dumb about it I'd really appreciate someone telling me. Then downvote all you like. Am I being naive to think they can't change a ranking? Am I misusing terms? What's up?
Re: Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
It isn't? The first thing I see when I search for "google chrome" is Google Chrome Download | google.com www.google.com/chrome
That's a paid ad. You can tell from the yellow background and from the text that says "Ad" in the upper-right.
How convenient that they can pay themselves for an ad and circumvent the punishment anyway.
Re: Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
#24Regardless of the rationale, Google's willingness to manually manipulate page rank for the sake of PR doesn't make a positive impression on me. There was the appearance that Google was gaming SE results, publicly doing so does not seem like a very convincing argument that Google is above such practices. In other words, I am not inclined to bestow accolades upon them for making real the concerns which were raised.
Well, at least they kind try to fix it, or, make it appear like so.
But yeah, it's like praising someone saying "ok, ill stop murdering people now", on a much lower level of course. (specially after being slapped on the wrist)
Re: Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
#25Maybe this is a dumb question as no one really asked it so far but, umm, I thought Google couldn't mess with rankings. Like, at all . I've read everywhere, even on Google's own properties that rankings are based on their top secret algorithm and that they not only cannot but will not manually manipulate results ever. I really doubt they'd release a publicity statement that let loose such a big secret so what am I mis…
I suspect you are getting downvoted because it is obvious to programmers that because Google made the ranking system, it is possible for them to manipulate the rankings in whatever way they want.
Re: Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
#26Maybe this is a dumb question as no one really asked it so far but, umm, I thought Google couldn't mess with rankings. Like, at all . I've read everywhere, even on Google's own properties that rankings are based on their top secret algorithm and that they not only cannot but will not manually manipulate results ever. I really doubt they'd release a publicity statement that let loose such a big secret so what am I mis…
I suspect you are getting downvoted because it is obvious to programmers that because Google made the ranking system, it is possible for them to manipulate the rankings in whatever way they want.
Thank you. I'm a programmer too but I didn't get it. I figured that could be the case but then I wonder how? I, first of all, naively assumed they couldn't do it because they say they can't (shame on me for being so trusting), and then figured that if they changed the algorithm then there'd be collateral damage. I dont really get into algorithms much so I didn't know they could target a single page like that. The smart programmers would probably say I was a yellow belt compared to their black belt. Anyway, thanks for the answer.
Re: Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
#27"During the 60 days, the PageRank of www.google.com/chrome will also be lowered to reflect the fact that we also won’t trust outgoing links from that page." That was the strangest part, for me. Google clearly can trust outgoing links from www.google.com/chrome. Its clear they had no intention of gaming their own system with this campaign. But they obviously feel the need to act in a 'beyond reproach' way, to avoid th…
The thing is, this just doesn't matter. They still have a Chrome ad at the top of every page and if people are looking to find Chrome it's already simple. The outgoing links don't matter, because the sites the Chrome page links to are also easy to find.
Re: Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's a paid ad. You can tell from the yellow background and from the text that says "Ad" in the upper-right.
I'm aware of that. My point was that not much has actually changed in practical terms. Yes, there is a little "Ad" text and slightly different background, but both before and after, the first thing people see when they search for "google chrome" is the Chrome download page.
Perhaps, but a lot of people are trained to not see ads. I know I _never_ read the boxes with yellow backgrounds.
Re: Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
#29What would happen if an entity started buying links for a competitor product so that it was demoted?
Utter chaos, unless Google's anti-spam team is made up of humans, who could see through it.
See also: "If I change my name to Mark Zuckerberg, they can't sue me, because the judge will think I'm Mark Zuckerberg!"
Re: Google demotes Chrome in search results over pay-for-post promo
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's a paid ad. You can tell from the yellow background and from the text that says "Ad" in the upper-right.
I'm aware of that. My point was that not much has actually changed in practical terms. Yes, there is a little "Ad" text and slightly different background, but both before and after, the first thing people see when they search for "google chrome" is the Chrome download page.
Here in Denmark Google doesn't advertise their browser. However Microsoft does. So a search for "browser" returns an ad for IE, wikipedia as the top result, and then Firefox, Opera and Safari without Google Chrome anywhere on the first search page. So it definitely has changed in practical terms.