thinking of the kind of results Google is returning lately essentially unusual cross linked internet sites and the new strange net two.0 directories (the ones developed by users) filled with all kind of crap usually rank improved on very same search terms than effectively written web page that follows all Google webmaster guidelines and that actually are relevant for the searched terms cheap hats;
and considering that prospects (and possibly not just mine ones) lately mind only about becoming on 1st page on Google they look to be happier having a crappy ugly web-site so long as is 1st page on Google (the issue is the fact that 1st web page includes only 10 final results, so I wonder how we are going to all fit in there);
and thinking about that the quantity of time spent in developing a nice seeking web page with fascinating contents it does not appear to become worth the work anymore, because IMHO for how Google ranks websites (in the end they take into account the hyperlink references to a website a lot more than its contents, even if Matt says they do balance both) it somehow appears much better to devote on Search engine optimisation the time you'd ordinarily commit in creating a great web site with fascinating contents;
all these viewed as, I would say Search engine optimization has turn into basically the only factor that actually matters, and I agree with you that too many individuals are cheating, and nonetheless IMHO Google doesn't look to be able to automatically catch up on this issue and to detect the cheaters, it relies on manual spam report from webmasters, I tried to fill a few of them, but I under no circumstances observed penalties given I've never ever got a reply.
Effectively so far I in no way cheated on Google, but re-reading myself I am asking yourself if I'm slowly moving for the DARK SIDE of the force.
Marco, thanks for breaking the ice and answering this wholesale hats. I was afraid no one wanted to touch it. Your comments are spot on. It not all poor that clients are serious about SERPS. It has the side benefit of having them away from Flash intros as well as the like. OTOH, our resignation that absolutely everyone is cheating has brought us to figuring out we've to beat the cheaters. somehow. Google actually needs to admit some fault in developing this mess. It like their ignorant of capitalism. Their algos not merely permit cheating, they encourage it. Chris Adragna Nov 24 '10 at 15:46
You will come across most Pink dolphin snapbacks tactics have their roots in white hat practices, it is my understanding that the mini-net and link wheel ideas are taken from major stream media. Most newspapers and magazines personal far more then just 1 publication they have several niche publications and commonly somewhere on every single of them it says its owned by x or it is an x publication having a link back for the flagship website. So these practices in themselves are usually not bad, they've been in use because just before there was an net (check out a few of your print magazines there's just about guaranteed to be some cross promotion).