BMW Receive the Google Dealth Penalty...

[freakitchen]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4685750.stm

BMW's German website, which is heavily reliant on javascript code unsearchable by Google, used text-heavy pages liberally sprinkled with key words to attract the attention of Google's indexing system. However, once a user clicked on the link displayed in Google's results window, they were redirected to a regular BMW Germany page, which contained far fewer of the key words.

Google confirmed that BMW.de had been removed from search results, adding that it would not tolerate any attempts to manipulate searches.

Obviously, BMW's use of such tactics is 'wrong'. But I specifically wondered what everyone else thought on their removal of the page from the listings. Aren't google now skewing the search results as badly as BMW did in the first instance?

Seems like Google is becoming a target for attack these days...

Freakitchen

[mbossman2]

it seems to me that Google is flexing it's muscle...if they aren't careful they may attract some regulatory attention...I am sure that there is some overly officious bureaucrat or legislator or attorny general who would just love to make his or her name by going after google.

[catacon]

That seems really unfair. I don't see a problem with have a page that gets searched by Google and then redirecting to your normal page. I would hardly call that manipulating.

[Stuey]

I totally support google's actions. They're just trying to promote fairness, and the article said that BMW's actions were a breach of google's guidelines.

[mairving]

A BMW spokesman admitted the company used the doorway pages, a practice known as search engine optimisation and banned by Google. But the spokesman insisted the company's intentions were honourable.

Nothing wrong with what Google did. They have rules. BMW knowingly broke those rules. They lose their Google page rank. Maybe now BMW will change their site to use acceptable standards like everyone else is required to use.

Driving traffic to your site in this way is deceptive and not honourable even if you do make fine autos.

[EzyStvy]

BMW could always ask for a refund. Oh wait, they didn't pay google anything...

[786ARS]

so what, i mean, good for google doing the right thing, but for bmw, comon, how hard is it to go and type in the obvious, BMW.com?

786ARS

[freakitchen]

After some thought I'd probably have to side with google here. The term 'used car' isn't one that BMW have any right to associate solely with their own product.

Interestingly, a search for bmw.de now brings no hits at all....

so what, i mean, good for google doing the right thing, but for bmw, comon, how hard is it to go and type in the obvious, BMW.com?

If people were searching for BMW, then fair enough. But that's not what was happening in this case

FK

[mbossman2]

the question is: while the text of the page does not include the words in question, would the javascript code cause those words to be listed and with the same frequency as represented?

[mairving]

Originally Posted by mbossman2 the question is: while the text of the page does not include the words in question, would the javascript code cause those words to be listed and with the same frequency as represented?

It doesn't really matter. Google has rules. BMW knowingly violated those rules. Javascript is secondary.

[glc]

I have no sympathy for someone who tries to beat the system and gets caught. I place a lot higher importance in ethics than far too many people these days.