Category — google alternatives

Like most people my first foray into monetizing my websites was Google AdSense. It paid pretty well per click and made me enough for a few nights out every month. Recently I have been more involved on the other end as an advertiser. Using AdWords let me really understand what a total BS AdSense is and how much publishers get screwed.

Before I jump into my problems with AdSense I just want to let you know that this problem exists across other networks, I just happened to notice it on the Google.

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According to Forbe’s Ask.com has finally thrown in the towel to fighting off the Google. They realized that they can’t compete under their current model. They decided to focus all of their energy on attractive married women. No it’s not what you think its for, get your mind out of the gutter. According to Forbes here is what the search engine will focus on:

The leaner Oakland-based search company will be retooled as a homemaker’s resource providing answers to queries about cooking, gardening and health. The target audience will be married women living in the American South and Midwest.

Investors did not seem to think this was a great idea, but did like it somewhat. I disagree completely I think this is a GREAT idea. I am for more vertical search engines. The Google results are not relevant to everyone, and although they are trying to create personalized search, I think that Ask is on the right track. This also supports an earlier post about Vertical Search stealing Google Search Share in the future.

Finally this blog ranks for the term I was going after “google sucks” and has been bringing in a steady stream of traffic. The problem is when I started this blog I did not have a clear view of where I was planning to go with it. In fact it started as a place for me to vent about some of the hypocritical Google activity I saw around me.

I have been reading about how to create a blog that ads value to the readers. Don’t get me wrong I think there is value in raising awareness and most importantly questions regarding the Google. However, I want to take this blog one step further and offer something back to the readers.

Help me sculpt this blog into a community resource. Read some of my thoughts below and please leave a comment with your feedback or suggestions.

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If you have researched across the web for SEO material it is without a doubt that you stumbled across SEOBook. Search Engine Optimization is the practice of actively trying to get your web property to rank on search engines and gain organic ranking. Keyword research, title tags, meta data, anchor text, link bait, etc sounds overwhelming doesn’t it?

If you are like me you realize that the noise to quality ratio is quite awful when it comes to SEO online. However SEOBook claims to offer enough information to separate fact from fiction for experts and teach the basics to small business owners just starting out in SEO.

Below is review of SEOBook and the top 5 Reasons NOT to buy SEOBook

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I am thinking maybe we need to create a “neighborhood watch” of sorts for the online space. Every day I learn of something shady, hypocritical, or downright monopolistic that they do. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to site and write down every time I hear of them doing something “evil.” For example, just today I saw two posts from some of my favorite bloggers that showed what Google has been up to.

First up is Aaron Wall on Hypocritical Nature of AdSense

Next up was Slightly Shady on Google Creating Its Own Internet

Seoker.com on Google Toolbar Steals 401 Messages

Here are my two cents on both issues:

UPDATE: The fine Folks of Google Horror Stories  sent me a note letting me know that they are designed to serve as a Google Watch Dog. Feel free to post your horror story there.

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