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Google, transparency and our not-so-secret formula

Tuesday, March 2, 2010
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Labels: Competition , European Union , Google in Europe Blog , Innovation

34 comments :

  1. UnknownMarch 2, 2010 at 3:42 PM

    But we still can't have the actual algorithm right? :P (Just kidding, and "well put" on several of your points)

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  2. adminMarch 2, 2010 at 3:51 PM

    Can we get any clarification on your last summer 'it doesn't do what you think it does' quote regarding no follow as we both know that it's got very little to do with page rank sculpting ;-). Point is your happy to help when it suits you. Your not happy to help when it doesn't - eg no follow and have the whole webmaster community on the web running around in a tiz! Personally if the European Commission forced Google to be more open I'd be pretty much out of a Job so I hope that doesn't happen.

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  3. DaveMarch 2, 2010 at 3:51 PM

    I am particularly interested in the Local Search which changes quite dramatically. That said, there are lots of insightful tips but very few facts. Most of my investigations are done via webmaster tools which I hope will keep up its aggressive improvements.

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  4. Sweet Spot MarketingMarch 2, 2010 at 3:52 PM

    Agreed Matt. Way to stick up for yourself and Google!

    The only "competition complaints" I see currently that are legit are business listings in Google Maps. I have seen these become super spammy in the last 6 months. Wish the Google spam report for Google map listings was a little quicker to respond.

    I'm currently building my own case study to see how long it takes Google to respond to map spam.

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  5. AdminMarch 2, 2010 at 3:53 PM

    I agree that Google makes a good effort to reach out to Webmasters and Google Software/Tools users. More so than many other software products our company subscribes to.

    I think short of publishing a white paper/tome on the mechanics of Google's Algorithm/s that determine ranking there is not much more Google could do. Even then it would only be "transparent" to some and a new flow of complainers will emerge.

    My only complaint would be lack of information on website penalties and why/when they have been allocated.

    Otherwise Keep Up the Good Work

    Toby Mason
    Rise Digital

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  6. Elevator shoes ( Don's )March 2, 2010 at 3:55 PM

    Thank you Matt. I Love Google. I trust Google. Im fighting against a few spammy Competitors for my key word "elevator shoes" Im stickin to the rules bro. but they aint. All the best with your Skinhead, looks good mate

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  7. AnonymousMarch 2, 2010 at 4:40 PM

    Right-on Matt. This is a great post and tribute to all of the hard work you guys (and gals) do at Google. Every person in a web-related field appreciates your dedication to making search better. Cheers!

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  8. Louise DewoodyMarch 2, 2010 at 4:45 PM

    um ... nice article ... maybe I did not notice the really free facilities given the actual google has written everything there.

    thank you for reminding

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  9. ArgentinaMarch 2, 2010 at 4:57 PM

    What I would criticize about google is that in my opinion it is failing to put the better sites on the top.

    For example, i would like to see google ignore sites with ILLEGAL content, illegal torrents, file sharing illegal sites, ETC ETC... those are ranking on the top of google, while other sites that work hard, can't hardly rank well.


    i would really like to see google fight spam software and black hat software, but i seriously can't see google get a hold of them...

    every time i do a search of a movie, i see all illegal sites in the top 10... i can't understand how those sites manage to rank so well.. while others that WORK hard and honest to rank well, can't get more than 10 hits per day from google... and they also only get 100 hits per day from google images hotlinking their images... its pretty frustrating to work hard during 1 full year handwriting a site and getting natural back links, to find out that the site gets only 10 hits per day... while illegal sites are on the top with 4000 hits from google per day... Its very very frustrating for a honest site owner...

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  10. GusMarch 2, 2010 at 5:10 PM

    I was also very appreciative of the Google Meet-up in Boston. Not only did "Google" (Adam Lasnik) answer my questions, they bought me a beer!

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  11. UnknownMarch 2, 2010 at 5:16 PM

    Superbly defended - Quite why a defense is required I have now idea. Maybe KFC or Coke like to offer up their secrets too - I think not. What's more is that the world is no poorer for it. Is it really the case that if you have a great idea it's yours to keep - but if you have the best idea it's unfair or anti competitive?

    The world is full of inventions that would fall foul in this area and yet time has proven again and again that even the strongest ideas can be deposed and depreciated by the lateral approaches of others.

    If this is to be the fate of Google then so be it but don't jump up and down in a pink fit just because Google aren't giving away the golden tickets to a lifetime at the top of the page.

    Who do they think would benefit from an extended degree of transparency? the biggest corporates with the biggest budgets to employ the biggest teams - is that so different from today?

    it smells a lot like the work a fat cat backed lobbyist than the real concerns of the everyman.

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  12. mikehalvorsenMarch 2, 2010 at 5:32 PM

    It is absolutely hilarious that this has even become an issue at all, much less a lawsuit.

    Google's search engine has lead the way with transparency. Without this unparalleled transparency, they would not be the leader in nearly every market they operate in. People trust Google's organic search results. Plain and simple.

    I've been keeping up to date with all the news surrounding this lawsuit and the company behind it. Foundem has no claim at all. They're an affiliate site. They do not represent any sort of authoritative or even trustworthy vertical search. I attempted to comment on the Search Neutrality's ("initiative") site and my comment has yet to appear. There is one company represented in this initiative (them) and they have a whopping one comment. Doesn't look like their own site is "neutral" enough to allow comments.

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  13. fhuchoMarch 2, 2010 at 5:38 PM

    This is only vaguely related to what is discussed in the blog post: In my experience it's almost impossible to communicate with Google, I will give one example - I wanted to know recently when will Android Market expand to more countries (I mean being able to sell/buy apps). There are many questions about this on official Google forums, without any answer from Google emplyee. I also asked on Google Developer Day, being told something like "We're working on it". Why can't someone from Google just give an answer like "For some reason we can't tell you this information" or "Android Market will be exapanded to more countries sometimes in 2H 2010"?

    From my point of view this is quite in contrast with the claim that Google tries to be open.

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  14. Bob Shirilla - Simply BagsMarch 2, 2010 at 5:38 PM

    Matt,

    I totally agree - The secret stuff isn't very top secret any more. Google wants to deliver the best results for every search.

    As a business person, I realize being the best is very challenging. That includes my website.

    Thanks for posting this on Twitter - wish you posted all of your activity on Twitter.

    Bob Shirilla

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  15. mr.gMarch 2, 2010 at 5:47 PM

    don't forget all the patents too!

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  16. Renan CesarMarch 2, 2010 at 6:05 PM

    Clap-Clap-Clap! Excelent post!

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  17. AnonymousMarch 2, 2010 at 6:17 PM

    So when do we find out what the secret sauce formula is Matt?

    secretsaucemarketing [@] mac [.] com

    Donovan Roddy =oP

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  18. Desire AthowMarch 2, 2010 at 9:48 PM

    The truth is that there is no single secret formula that gets Google ticking. Instead there are a number of very clever people trying to make life simple for everyone else AND at the same time firefighting those very, very bad guys that use search engine for spamming and phishing. Try a search on "download windows 7" and look for those EDU websites to understand what I mean.

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  19. deleteMarch 2, 2010 at 9:55 PM

    Great post Matt.

    Whatever trade secrets Google has, they need to stay behind closed doors. The instant they are released will be the downfall of Googles accurate search results. The accuracy of Googles search results are the reason why users continue trust to use Google.

    Google has provided vast amounts of information on how to rank and achieve successfully within Googles search results, and you continue to do so - thank you!

    The information is there, you just have to be prepared to put in the effort and study. It's not difficult!

    The reward is success - if it's just given to you, you won't appreciate your achievement.

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  20. Monte HuebschMarch 3, 2010 at 12:54 AM

    Great post Matt. Well said and I believe you are very open about most things. I also agree with the comments about the LBC. It is a spammy mess. Can hyou focus on that for a while?

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  21. SebastianMarch 3, 2010 at 1:01 AM

    Even without access to Google's secret sauce, avoiding penalties and indexing issues caused by flawed code is a breeze with all the detailed info out there.

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  22. CraigMarch 3, 2010 at 1:06 AM

    I disagree with Argentina. Google shouldn't filter illegal sites, they are there to reflect the information that is available on the web and if most of it is about torrent sites then the results will have to reflect it. They already have filters for adult-oriented content, but how many people would turn on a filter that will hide torrent sites when you could do it yourself with "-torrent" in the search bar. So people don't like your site, tough luck. IMDB doesn't like torrents and it is always the first result when I search for a movie.

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  23. JezCMarch 3, 2010 at 1:40 AM

    It ain't what you say, it's what you do. Examples - the Chilean Earthquake - kudos for creating the resource. But after several days the best you can do for the UK, Germany, Italy, France, etc is to tell Americans how to call a US resource. Why not tell Brits to call the Foreign Office, the French to call their Department, etc. Why do you think it is important for the UK server to tell Brits about how important Americans are, and that Brits can look after themselves. The *implicit* message is that we're second class citizens.

    How about the high speed broad/fibre experiment? Offered to the US only. So the rest of world uses chipped stones and smoke signals? If you want us to feel valued, then you need to value us.

    At *many* opportunities (not all) but far too many, the GOOG plays to a US audience. And that parochial view of the world means we're suspicious that you might have unconscious influences on how you treat the human factors in search ranking. Yes, you use algorithms - but they are informed by human decision making. Humans in California. Rewarded in dollars. And whose first instinct is *frequently* to think of addressing US needs first.

    You've done a great job of communicating how you want us to think you wor. But the *implicit* message is that the rest of the world is just less important.

    Thank you for your attention.

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  24. JezCMarch 3, 2010 at 1:46 AM

    Drat. I worked in the US for almost ten years. I know how that last posting will be received. I should point out that I have previously written an article decrying Foundem's claims, and looking at Ciao, and pointing out that other vertical search companies (Trovit, for example) are present.

    Google's problem, IMO, is not a failure to communicate the search algorithm, but a failure to show that Europe, or Africa, or Asia, is as important to Google as the USA. You sit in the US, with US taxes, under US law, offering US beta tests, and even global charity relief with US resources, and then try to tell us that we're wrng when we think that you think of the US first. If you want us to think we have value, then you need to treat us as if we are valued. Otherwise the suspicion will continue that you prefer US companies. Doesn't that seem reasonable to you?

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  25. Jeff BallwegMarch 3, 2010 at 4:20 AM

    Not sure that EU realise, keeping a few things secret, and thereby keeping search-spam to a minimum actually improves our results, not the other way around. The last thing my customer needs is rubbish out-ranking his genuine business.

    Thanks for the post. And your blog. And your Twitter. And Webmaster Tools. And all the papers. Maybe you ought to publish a book?

    Jeff Ballweg Web Design
    Christchurch, New Zealand

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  26. Clifford BryanMarch 4, 2010 at 9:03 AM

    Well done Matt, you guys have been great. I think people are getting frustrated with caffeine roll out. Great job on cleaning up spam. I've noticed. They get erased and don't come back as quickly.

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  27. Ed BloomMarch 10, 2010 at 11:21 PM

    nice rebuttal Matt.

    But is the real story here not the fact that Microsoft has learned from it's anti trust days and decided the best way to tackle google is to try to slow you down via litigation rather than trying to catch up with you by innovating and competing fairly?

    just a thought.

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  28. SarahMarch 13, 2010 at 3:52 PM

    I realize this post is "old news," but I've bookmarked it to give to my own clients who just don't understand "why Google does x," or who think SEO is some huge secret.

    Matt, please take my sincere "thanks" back to whomever it concerns for giving us (and by "us" I mean website owners/bloggers/Internet users) a plethora of tools and information!

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  29. UnknownMarch 15, 2010 at 9:42 PM

    I agree with JezC - I'm myself suspicious that Google prefers US companies and US website owners. I have several travel related sites (hosted on a server in the USA) on which I work hard since 3 years and follow all rules and practices indicated by Google - original content, incoming links from relevant sites, no bad neighborhood, fast loading pages, frequent updates, original news, etc. You think this helps? No way, I can not get serious traffic in any way and keep in mind that I'm speaking about 26 sites! On the other hand, I worked several years ago for a US company and what you think? Their sites, on which I applied exactly the same techniques as on mines, got much more traffic into a much shorter time, even if the sites were pretty new and even without really serious content on it! Isn't strange? For me, this is enough to think that in the Google's algorithm are present secret codes that shouldn't be there - like a piece of code that gives advantage to US companies against others, for example. Can be somebody sure that there isn't present such formulas?

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  30. patrickMarch 23, 2010 at 8:23 AM

    what a great post. I really enjoy reading this post. application migration

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  31. SilverstallApril 27, 2010 at 8:37 PM

    I have yet to meet anyone in business who has not a legitimate complaint about the European Commission, from local farmers, fishermen and even many in the jewellery business. Its inconsistent and illogical directives are treated with contempt by those whose businesses are affected by their ill thought, illogical and ill-advised judgements and directives.
    As a QC recently advised "don't let the bastards wind you up"

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  32. FrédéricMay 30, 2010 at 5:14 PM

    My website was banned in 2006 just when my competitor decided to put a lot ( but a very lot) of money into Adwords. Now I see some webmaster are doing the same that I did (spamdexing) I was doing light spamdexing ( making duplicate page for sinonyms ) I ask for Google to have similar attitude and banned those sites. No reactions for 8 months now. If u write to google is the same writing to Sant Claus u don"t get an answer. Google abuse of its dominante position they can not introduce distortion of competition, it is in the law. Why does google not respect the EU law ?

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  33. San Diego Web DesignerMay 31, 2010 at 8:58 AM

    Well said...Google has always been innovative and diplomatic. As the web has changed, Google has adjusted to maintain position in search. The inherent power in #1 is NOT abused. G is very business friendly.
    If only our government could be as "together".
    Why can't the feds run the country as smoothly as Google runs the web?

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  34. Producer of elevator shoesSeptember 9, 2015 at 9:50 AM

    Thank you very much Matt to you and to your whole team to keep doing that with dedication and passion . From my experience in making by hand luxury elevator shoes , I know that honesty pay always at the end of the game, all the best to you and to your team and family

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