Archive | Feb, 2010

The importance of Link Building

For some reason I have started to see many blogs about the subject of buying links for your website.

Google is very cautious when it comes to links pointing to your website – especially when they have little or no relevance. Usually you will find that Google simply ignores these links (whereas Yahoo and Bing will “see” all of them).

Buying links (and selling links) has long been a subject Google has frowned upon (although selling links has usually taken the bulk of Google’s displeasure). Many websites have often trampled their way to the top of the search engine natural listings on the back of spending £1000′s on links.

Up until now, poor quality links (or irrelevant links) has had a neutral effect with Google. They have neither used them towards the overall quality of a website nor penalised the website in question.

Rumour has it that Google caffeine may come along and start penalising websites with irrelevant links, which could see many websites seeing their natural search listings sinking like a stone.

Google looking to provide ISP services to the US

Google have announced they are looking to provide 1gb per second fiber optic ISP services to US homes (between 50,000 to 500,000). Their PR message is that it will help them learn and understand what users want, make the web better and faster, as well as allow them to develop applications that would be too complicated to run on slower networks.

They have also mentioned they will operate an open access network allowing other providers to use their fiber optics. See the video below:

Does switching hosts adversely effect your SEO?

A great (and reassuring!) video from Matt Cutts at Google regarding the best way to switch website hosts without your SEO ranking being affected.

Google Buzz For Mobiles

A couple of days ago Google announced the launch of Google Buzz for mobiles. Please watch the video above for a brief introduction on what should prove to be a fantastic application.

Key features:

1. Share Photos & Videos with friends. Send photos & videos whilst you are out and about.
2. “Buzz” about the place you are currently visiting
3. Tag your whereabouts – this means your “buzz” will show up to anyone else in or near the same location.
4. “Buzz” layer allows you to find any nearby “Buzz” from other people who have been to or are in the same location – this allows you to find recommendations of places to eat, drink, visit, see, etc. Or just find out things that might be great to do.
5. “Post Buzz” allows you to add to you “buzz” by simply talking into your phone

Visit buzz.google.com on your mobile browser to download the application – currently only available on IPhone & Google Android, should be coming soon on Blackberry,Nokia S60 and the Windows Mobile.

Google launches Mortgage Lead Generation Facility

Google has just launched a mortgage lead generation faciility in the US. This facility is available to people across 15 US states, and allows the user to compare mortgages from the lenders who have decided to participate. If a customer requests a quote, then the lender pays Google a fee (which I assume will be no different to how websites like money supermarket operate in the UK).

The question is, how long before Google decide to do this in the UK? And what sort of impact will this have on the business models of lead generation websites or comparison websites? Also, how will this affect the Mortgage Broker industry in the UK (which has been through a torrid 18 months).

I suppose only time will tell…