Google Increasing Communication with Webmasters
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"I wish Google would tell me what I'm doing wrong!" If you've ever thought you might be under a Google penalty and expressed that sentiment, you're not alone. But here's a much more comforting thought: you just might get your wish.
There are a lot of things to like about Google, but if you're a webmaster or a site owner, there are a whole lot of things to dislike, too. One of the biggest complaints that site owners and anyone who has to perform search engine optimization has with the company is its lack of transparency. Yes, Google has a set of webmaster guidelines, divided into design and technical guidelines (http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/
answer.py?answer=35770) and quality guidelines (http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/
answer.py?answer=35772). It even has a set of guidelines specifically covering search engine optimization (http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/
answer.py?answer=35291).
Somehow, though, that's not enough for many webmasters and site owners. And given how much a website's standing in Google's search engine results pages can affect a company's business, that's not too surprising. One common concern, for example, is making sure your site is indexed by Google. If it isn't indexed, or indexed but apparently not receiving its full PageRank, webmasters have very little clue as to what is going on...and that lack of knowledge can be very expensive. Is the site in the infamous Google sandbox? Has it been temporarily banned? Why was it banned? What needs to be fixed?
Is it any wonder, then, that it's not unusual to hear webmasters say, with varying degrees of frustration and bewilderment, "I'd gladly comply with Google's guidelines, if only I knew what they were?!" Granted, some things are obvious, but others are much more subtle. When it comes to being penalized, there's no question in my mind that search engine spammers get what they deserve. But what about companies trying to do an honest job who accidentally run afoul of one of Google's guidelines? It can and has happened, and that's a case where a little personal attention might be helpful. Google hasn't been deaf to these cries for transparency -- and according to a recent entry in Matt Cutt's blog, the company is finally doing something about it.
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