Big Brand Cites Algorithm Trade for Slow Trade/Evil Google

insectlife

insectlife

New member
Aug 2, 2012
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So I was doing a catch up on "real" Marketing with "proper" companies and "big brands" which no doubt we've all represented at some point or another.

I came upon this article:

Moneysupermarket blames Google update for slow trade | News | Marketing Week

Selected quotes:

"Moneysupermarket has become one of the first companies to blame recent changes to Google’s search algorithm for a negative impact on its bottom line."

lols.

"This dip in numbers followed changes to Google’s natural search algorithm – announced in April this year – which decreased the ranking of sites the search giant believed to violate its “quality guidelines”.

lolss.

Moneysupermarket’s trading update reads: “As has happened in the past, now the algorithm changes have settled down we are working on regaining our positions in natural search in insurance”."

lolsss.


Being far from a decent SEO I can't say I follow these high value niches, but on this case I thought I'd check out the site and see what was what and if they had received a big slap (not even on page 1) or de-index penalty but no, it was much more worse than this...

...An effective #1 position linking to this tool:

Google-car-insurance-widget.png


Following the acquisition of: BeatThatQuote.com in 2011 (I think) whose homepage states "Due to BeatThatQuote.com's acquisition by Google we are no longer providing price comparison services through the BeatThatQuote.com website." i.e they're perhaps using the above tool.

This article (2012) covers it in more detail Google Launches UK Insurance Comparison Ads - State of Search but is also echoed here How Google Makes Millions Doing SEO but this time with retailme.not and vouchers/coupons (I think someone here linked me to it).

TL;DR

  • Google creates new #1 spot for insurance niche linking to it's own comparison tool creating commission for them.
  • Matt Cutts claims algorithm updates aren't driving up the price of PPC and conspiracies aren't true: Matt Cutts: Google Didn't Make Panda & Penguin to Force People to Buy Ads - Search Engine Watch (#SEW)
  • Similar behaviour alleged in Retailmenot Vouchers/coupons niche.
  • Typical Google Do No Evil contradictory bullshit or just an another example of ruthless business
  • Coming soon to a niche near you?
 


So the objective of business isn't to make money? I must have missed that lecture at business school.
 
MS are greedy fucks. They still have the #1 spot for "credit cards" and "loans" etc, but they have took a big hit for various insurance terms. BeatThatQuote is nothing new. They are suffering simply due to greater competition online. Money.co.uk for instance are becoming the top dog in the UK. Google gives these fuckers multiple listings on the front page for pretty much every mid-high level term. They even have the #1 spot for "payday loans" atm. Not very clever of MS to whinge like this. Google should take a look at their dirty link profile and give them the boot.
 
vgeek said:
So the objective of business isn't to make money? I must have missed that lecture at business school.
Click to expand...

That sounds all dismissive and alpha, but don't forget the importance of long-term orientation.

igl00 said:
their search, their rights
Click to expand...

I can see this argument but surely is an anti-competitive practice? Google is the defacto search engine with over 60% of search results. Does this not constitute a monopoly? (IDK)

Incantation said:
Google should take a look at their dirty link profile and give them the boot.
Click to expand...

Can of worms right there. :frenchman:
 
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