04.26.08

Banned from Google for being too good

Posted in Best Practices, Social Tools at 9:13 am by Mosey

Someone sent me a story last week or so on a guy who was banned from google. I know, people get banned every day so this had better be good.

Well, it is.

This particular gentleman had a great use of Facebook applications to drive traffic to his site (and improve his SEO). Make an app (I think it was a horoscope) and have a link to his site (it was a dating site). People add the app, Google picks up all these links back with good key phrases “best dating for free” and whatnot. Pretty smart cookie.

Here is the banned part. He started expanding the message and changed the link to a second business of his. Goggle got upset that he wasn’t linking to the serving site and was just “advertising.” Thus,they banned him for link-farming.

Now, we all know what a Google ban does for you. It is like having yourself blacklisted from using your thumbs every day. You can still survive but a lot of things get a lot harder.

Even when this guy changed the link back, Google said no. He even moved his apps to a new link and it is moving slowly, but he is being careful because he is on double-secret-probation from Google.

I found it interesting as a study in something really smart getting on the bad side of Google for changing the equation a bit. I am glad Google is watching but this guy sounds like he made amends and after his (admitted) mistake tried to make things better. But the Google god is a vengeful one and smite him good.

Be careful with your one-off brilliant ideas on your already established site. You don’t want to lose your thumbs.

For the life of me I can’t find this story any more. I remember the details but my google-fu is weak today and I can not find the story. If you have it, please link to it in the comments.

Technorati Tags: google banned, facebook applications, social media

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