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Friday, February 11. 2011

An interesting perspective on internet marketing from our respectable oriental rug consultant/expert friend at Rug Rag, who is clearly frustrated by the Google system in which, as I understand it, one can buy one's position on searches. Commerce is a tough game:

Sniper sites show up in the top 10 search results for "Oriental Rugs." A 100% commission-based single page facade website literally has every site link directing traffic straight to an affiliate Canada-based dealer which cannot sell most of their Persian rugs to the States unless they happen to be warehoused in NY.

Another is a hole-in-the-wall shows in top ten for "Oriental Rugs." So many unbelievably great rug companies in the States with fantastic websites and merchandise, and a black hat SEO site represents the top 10 searches for the term. They have over 20,000 pages from what we can see most are dedicated for each town and city in every state covering the US, in some cases, misleading to have a location selection in every one.

Picture of a spider-hole rug store below, courtesy Google maps. Front had the name on it, so that pic is from the side. Ranks 6-8 for "Oriental rugs" in Google. Problem is, there need to be more quality sites ranking for these keywords.

We want to keep the junk Persian rugs off peoples' floors, but we don't rank high enough to be seen before people make purchase decisions.

Posted by Bird Dog in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 17:56 | Comments (8) | Trackback (1)

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Google tricks
Last Friday we had a guest post by Rug Rag about his frustrations with his internet marketing. This week, I see at The Other McCain a post relevant to that one, titled Stupid Google Tricks: “Being ranked in the top 5 for something on Google and bein

Weblog: Maggie's Farm
Tracked: Feb 16, 13:25

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I see. So what's the answer? Have the omnipotent government regulate google's business?

Google wants to make money like everyone else. Can't fault them for that.

I agree that as a consumer or vendor it is dismaying.

#1 feeblemind on 2011-02-11 18:36 (Reply)

Ok. Thank you very much. I am just now in the market for two beauties, but living in a rural area I have to rely on the internet. Is it possible for you to post a couple of "good" sites?

Thanks,

#2 applepie on 2011-02-11 20:27 (Reply)

Many years go, my wife and I were visiting her sister in Chicago and we wandered into the Marshall Field's store, where we chanced upon the rug department. I knew nothing about Marshall Field except by reputation, having been brought up on Filene's and Jordan Marsh in Boston, and neither of us knew anything about Persian/Oriental rugs. We were mesmerized by the beauty of their exquisite collection of rugs and determined on the spot to own one. We found a rug we could afford and bought it after we learned that they would ship it home for us for just $35. plus we could send it back to Chicago for the same price if we decided it didn't fit or if we simply didn't like it. In the end, the rug turned out to be a great fit and we've been happy with our purchase ever since.

#3 Agent Cooper on 2011-02-11 20:53 (Reply)

this question of "black hat seo's" will be be sorted out in good time. since may of 2010 - competitors of the company i work for, have manipulated the organic rankings with any number of tactics to appear on page 1 of google - often displacing our traditional and well-earned high ranking on page 1.

google has users that depend on viable results for their search terms; the users will go elsewhere if their search results are skewed by savvy snake oil vendors.

in june, july and august of 2010 our company's site experienced a 20% (catastrophic) drop in traffic.

in january of this year, google announced recognition of the problem and the implementation of a remedy. in the last month - our site has experienced a 20% increase in traffic... thanks to these efforts by google. i'm grateful for that, but i know that the only reason they made an effort was to bulwark their reputation of providing good search results. they couldn't care less about our company.

that it took only seven months to rectify is a testament to the power of self-interest. i lost sleep for a while but it is happy camping for the meantime.

#4 johnnyonline on 2011-02-12 00:01 (Reply)

Will Bing be the death of google?

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/02/09/will-bing-be-the-death-of-google.aspx

#5 feeblemind on 2011-02-12 00:14 (Reply)

It depends on location. Here in PhilPa I get quality in my top ten. For example the first couple are bona fide legit net retailers then

Alex Cooper Antique, Persian and Oriental Area Rugs - Alex Cooper ...

Roy Maloumian Oriental Rugs Discount Warehouse Outlet -

Emmett Eiland's Oriental Rug Co.

Richard Rothstein Oriental Rugs

#6 Nicky Hoi on 2011-02-12 02:38 (Reply)

A while back when I was still active in the charter business, I wondered about how to get ranked in the top 10 for my area. Turns out there are two ways. One, you pay Google for the privilege (or for special side bar links) or two, pay a search engine "consultant" to Googlebomb search engines with fake pages and links to up your ranking.

Google has only one interest - getting paid for what they do. They may play nice with the rankings and express an interest in "fair" rankings - may even do something in the short term, but trust me - they aren't altruistic despite their "Do No Evil" motto.

Google is inherently evil and potentially the biggest threat to free speech and privacy that has ever existed. 80% of all search traffic runs through Google. Recently Microsoft's Bing search service was caught using Google search results in their search algorithm. If Bing is using Google, where else can one turn to to avoid using Google?

#7 Tom Francis on 2011-02-12 06:58 (Reply)

It has been my experience that Microsoft is the worse threat to free speech! They have floors of attorneys in Seattle looking for a way to control the internet. If they ask you for a proposal, or a bid to do consulting work for them. The gal in charge of the project will take the work and issue you a small check (usually from her household grocery account). The check will cover you for hours in presenting the proposal. Not for preparation. Of course, she then will claim the work as her own. Lot of folks at Microsoft are doing this and this is a symbiotic relationship, because you cannot sue Microsoft--only the individual. Good luck with that! Besides, there is not a single attorney in Seattle that will go after Microsoft. Most attorneys out of state will simply call over/make a better deal for themselves for not taking the case and then walk away. They ain't no sweethearts in Seattle folks--no matter how nice they are to the environment!

#8 anotherone on 2011-02-12 11:30 (Reply)

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Friday, February 11. 2011

Guest post from Rug Rag