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Google
Dance Causes Widespread Confusion If you've been involved in search engine marketing for long, you may have heard of the phenomenon known as the "Google Dance." No, this is not a hot new dance step you'll see at your local nightclub. Instead, it describes a scenario where Web pages tend to "dance" up and down in rankings on Google, generally over several days each month. The technical reasons for the so-called Google Dance vary. Usually, they coincide with Google's introduction of a new, fresher index at the end of the month. At this time they may also introduce a change in their ranking algorithm, an unintended bug in their system, or a combination of the two. Each time this happens, some people drop in rank and some rise in rank. Those that dropped in rank or disappeared entirely often fall into a panic if their business was receiving significant amounts of traffic from Google prior to the change. Since Google has become so popular, even a handful of rankings can net a business thousands of visitors per month. If the Webmaster made a change to his or her site when the dance started, they worry that they did something to inadvertently spam Google, causing their site or page to be dropped. This, in turn, leads to countless rumors on the Web. These rumors can develop a life of their own until they are considered undisputable fact, rather than what they normally are -- speculation. On the other hand, if the person did nothing to their site since the last time Google indexed it, the Webmaster may fall into a state of confusion as to what is going on. A few weeks ago the number of messages regarding Google on various discussion forums spiked at an alarming rate, far more than any recent Google Dance. Hundreds of messages were posted in a matter of days indicating that this was no ordinary dance. This one was "special." In addition, the instances of pages appearing and disappearing, and rankings fluctuating wildly have persisted beyond just a few days at the end of the month, going on for a full month or more. Many folks contend that things have still not settled down as of June 5th, while others feel the worst of it is now over. Theories on what has been happening run the gamut. Planet Ocean, a well-known search engine research firm, speculated that pages containing the mouse over tag, or links to major affiliate networks such as Commission Junction were being penalized. However, they later learned other pages with these tags and links maintained their rankings. Therefore, they admitted this may have little or nothing to do with the wild fluctuations on Google. One of the more common theories is that the Google dance is a combination of factors. While Google has not given a full explanation for the recent anomalies, based on comments from their representatives, we know that they have been in the process of updating their index in a bigger way than usual. This process has been ongoing, being executed in phases. For example, there have been credible reports that Google's index of page content has not been kept in sync with their link analysis database. This along with other technical factors have caused Page Rank scores, link popularity scores, and rankings to fluctuate wildly, at least for some Web sites, over the past month. This should calm down as Google puts everything in sync again. Other Web sites have disappeared in the index, only to reappear days, or even hours later. Many have concluded that Google's attempt to bring in fresher content along with other changes in their system did not go as smoothly as planned. There's also indication that changes are propagating across Google servers at varying speeds. That's why you can sometimes see different results on the same search from your West coast office versus your East coast office. According to a recent Search Engine Watch interview of Google engineer Matt Cutts, the search engine has been testing among other things, new spam filters. The article implies that these tests may explain some of the anomalies that webmasters are seeing. While Google remains fairly tight-lipped about the new filters, Cutts admitted that they are trying to crack down on hidden text and hidden links on Web sites. Obviously not all hidden text is "bad." For example, meta tags are hidden, but you'll not be penalized for using them. However, Google does try to penalize pages that use certain other techniques intended to hide text or hyperlinks from the end user while making them visible to the search engine. One common tactic to hide a link is to use a tiny, 1-pixel image that contains a link. Considering that Google already has the technology to index image content, it is a fair bet that you will be penalized for using such a common technique, or will be penalized in the very near future. Rather than hiding links to pages, consider creating a site map page that contains links to all your other optimized pages. You'll need to link to this page from your home page for Google to consider it as a legitimate sub-page. In my opinion, you should avoid using any images for this link that are smaller than what would be considered a small button on a Web site. So long as the image is of sufficient size and does not consist solely of transparent pixels, Google would have great difficulty penalizing it in any kind of automated process. Technically, you could still make any image, or a portion of a larger image on your site serve as a link to your site map page. Therefore, a clever Webmaster could still effectively conceal one or more links from the average human visitor without being caught by Google's new spam checks. However, you should be very careful not to simply create GIF images that contain nothing but transparent pixels. If you do, you will surely be red-flagged for spamming. Even if your site is still listed today, now is the time to make sure it is "clean" before Google completes all of its new spam tests. Some of the clever ways to hide keyword TEXT on a page will likely be targeted as well, so bear this in mind! The best thing to do is to design your pages in such a way that hiding links and keywords becomes unnecessary. As for the Google Dance, I'd recommend that you be patient. Run your pages through the WebPosition Page Critic, and make sure your pages are free from spam, particularly hidden text and hidden links. Work on building new incoming links to your site and then simply wait until things settle down. Take a deep breath and repeat after me, "Everything will be fine -- I just need to relax." If your considering an Optimization campaign, and want Top 10 Rankings in over 80% of all web searches - then its time for Netsymmetrics Website Promotion
Zeus Information
Zeus is a smart internet robot that traverses the web, spidering sites and creating for any webmaster, a vertical themed link directory. Train him to find web sites, matching your unique themes or subjects, and he will zoom off to find thousands of them. Zeus then helps you to review and organize them into vertically-themed categories and possible inclusion within your link directory. Zeus creates qualified traffic to your web site in numbers you have always thought to be impossible. This is quickly accomplished through a series of steps utilizing dynamic website content, increased search engine activity and genuine, match-each-other reciprocal links. Content is quickly added to a website with dynamically changing, Zeus-generated, link directory pages. With a single click, your Link Directory is built and uploaded to your web site. These themed pages are keyword-tuned to score high in search engine rankings. Search engines give higher rankings to websites with themed content that match each other through mutual reciprocal links. It is now possible for your directory pages to place in the top 10 search engine listings with a single search word! Imagine having hundreds of these pages, each page built around a single keyword or phrase. As a possible added bonus, re-submission to search engines is a forgotten chore once reciprocal links point towards your site. Robots will visit your site more often because they will find links to your website more frequently throughout the internet. One good reciprocal link can give you the same amount of traffic as a major search engine and with a Zeus internet robot, you can have hundreds of reciprocal links. The best qualified visitors to your site are from reciprocal links. Zeus simplifies the tedious task of reciprocal link generation by providing, from your link directory, a pool of qualified, theme-matching, reciprocal link prospects, organized by themes or subjects. A contact manager is included allowing you to email an individually-personalized reciprocal link request to each website's webmaster. Everything is easy to edit, organize and maintain. Link Partners receive a preferential graphic and listing at the top of each directory page providing a compelling reason to reciprocate the link. Your link directory will also ensure your website's visitors stay longer and bookmark it into their favorites, for a speedy return. Zeus is non-invasive to visited websites and follows all the Robotic Guidelines as described throughout the Internet. You can use Zeus in multiple themes; great for web marketers, authors, researchers, webmasters or serious hobbyists. Zeus is not for everyone but if you are a moderately to expertly skilled webmaster, with limited time on your hands, who could benefit from a vertical-themed link directory and increased website traffic, Zeus will automate almost every aspect of creating such a directory. The following are actual links to working Link Directories created by Zeus. While you are visiting these Link Directories, ask yourself these questions: If these subjects were of interest to you, would you rather go to a Zeus generated Link Directory or a major search engine? Does a Zeus Link Directory have less garbage than a major search engine? Where is the link information better organized and easier to find? Which one has more listing information about each web site? toolady.com - Parrot, Macaw and Cockatoo Resources Crown Jewels . . . Strange Properties of Stones
A common misconception: A common misconception about Zeus is that he sends email automatically, without supervision, as he travels throughout the internet. This is not true. Zeus shows you each website he finds, allowing you to explore it and make a decision whether you wish to include it's listing into your Link Directory. He then allows you to personalize the reciprocal link request that he will send to the email address you select. The email MailMerge feature also allows Zeus to automatically include each website's unique information, from his database, into the body of your email to further personalize your message.
Zeus works if you do: While Zeus does save you thousands of hours involved in reciprocal link generation, there are still tasks you must do. You must invest your time into learning and operating Zeus. Beware: Zeus is highly addictive and a 12 step program has been considered :-) Zeus will require approximently 4 to 20 hours, of your time, to initially train and become comfortable using him. The feature-packed user interface is easy and intuitive to learn, there's just a lot of it. Zeus combines a html browser, a relational database, an email program, FTP program, contact manager and a smart internet robot that automatically traverses the internet, ALL merged into one program. Zeus will then require from 30-60 minutes per day to review the websites he finds, assign Theme categories to them, personalize email messages and manage your reciprocal link requests. Zeus will become an important tool, used often.
Help and Support: The program help is great but must be followed and learned step-by-step, page-by-page. Zeus users scored the program help a 3.8, out of a possible high score of 5. Many new-comers to the internet have learned to use Zeus without prior knowledge of the technologies they are using. The key to success is investing their time, reading Help and just doing it :-) Zeus utilizes online html Help. After a short tour of the controls, a fun, hands-on, training course is presented to you in bite-size pieces. You will actually be operating and practice-training Zeus, within the first 5 minutes of the course! You may also press context-sensitive help symbols to quickly get the help you need in any area of the application. Cyber-robotics support is unsurpassed on the internet. There is a quickly answered Support Board, Priority Email Supprt, indexed website search, common topics search and many numerous FAQs pertaining to all common questions, organized by subject matter.
What it takes to be successful with Zeus: Successful Zeus users are webmasters who really want to promote their website and have learned through experience how disappointing the search engines really are. They have the motivation to see a project, as large as Zeus, through to success. Zeus is a never-ending project that will reward you many times over in increased website traffic. If you are someone who expects results without hard work, please spend more time trying to promote your website using the search engines.When you have learned The Truth, please remember Zeus and return for a DEMO. Zeus works if you do.
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NEWSLETTER
September
2003
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