Transparent Search Engine Business Models
Google created the PageRank and Google Toolbar as a smart marketing ploy, but for the most part they speak in ways which intentionally convolute their actual ranking criteria.
Yahoo! has tried to be a bit more open with Yahoo! Shopping doing link renting / SEO for their own sites and the Yahoo! Search blog referencing and communicating with SEO industry members.
MSN Search Beta went one step further than Yahoo!. They not only link off to SEOs on their blog, but they also brought some SEOs in on developement of their search engine.
Bill Gross recently released Snap, which was founded on the idea of a 100% transparent search engine.
Lycos and Ask Jeeves (1 page PDF) are going one step further by selling SEO services. Is there any better way for a search engine to throw their credibility in the dumpster?
forum threads covering Lycos & Ask Jeeves:
Comments
Aaron, Yahoo's PFI is not all that different if you stop and think about it. What is the differene between optimizing or editing for inclusion? Spam will cetrtainly be the biggest victim. SEOs should rightfully be concerned but the threat of the practice was always right around the corner.
Your book will benefit from this activity. IMO. the Lycos service is fairly expensive. Self SEO will look more attractive to some looking in.
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