Busting some SEO myths

by Joost de Valk on 8 August, 2007 at 11:37 11 comments

Short note: A fellow Dutch SEO, Wiep, has done a nice post busting some SEO myths, worth checking out!

The results:

Google indexes a website if you add a Google Analytics code. Busted!
Google indexes a website if you use Google AdWords. Busted!
Google indexes a website if you add Google AdSense. Busted!
Google indexes a page that can only be reached through nofollow links. Busted!
Google indexes a page that is excluded by robots.txt. Plausible!?!

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Tags: Google Analytics
Category: SEO
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11 Responses to “Busting some SEO myths”

by Peter van der Graaf on 8 August, 2007 at 12:27

I've seen it on Wiep.net, but I don't really agree. I've seen plenty of proof for number 4. It just isn't true for every case as for wieps example.

by Joost de Valk on 8 August, 2007 at 12:33

Ehm Peter: that has recently been fixed, as in 2 weeks ago or so, so I think 4 is actually true now...

by Peter van der Graaf on 8 August, 2007 at 13:20

Ok if you say so! I have no use for it as a SEO tactic, but when I do I'll retest it.

by Joost de Valk on 8 August, 2007 at 13:51

@Peter: check it out: http://www.davidnaylor.co.uk/matt-cutts-confirms-nofollow-fix.html

by John Hacking on 9 August, 2007 at 11:55

I've seen no. 2 to be true a few times. I've also noted that Google will index a blog post on a new blog site within 15 minutes. I suspect the RSS feed goes straight into the database tables.

Do a search on "blue nike sneakers". That term was ranking number 1 within 15 minutes of me posting it on a brand new blog on a brand new domain within 15 minutes. Spooky !

by Ruud Kok on 9 August, 2007 at 21:16

@John, fast indexing is really usual for blogs at least. check matt cuts post on his blog: http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/minty-fresh-indexing/

by Joost de Valk on 9 August, 2007 at 21:22

@John: I'm guessing the Google sitemaps you use at /sitemap.xml work as well :P

by PocketSEO on 16 August, 2007 at 23:23

Google definitely does not always obey rel=nofollow. Lately I've had blocked pages indexed and cached from a new site. The indexed pages had been blocked with robots.txt from the site's launch.

by PocketSEO on 16 August, 2007 at 23:24

Sorry, I mean that they do not always obey robots.txt (not rel=nofollow)

by Joe Beccalori on 31 August, 2007 at 19:45

Can you share some more specific details of your study? Were these tested in isolation? Were they tested for highly competitive keywords?

I don't doubt it's true, as Google has always been above-board at separating ranking from sponsored links as inherent in their business model. Just curious as to how you tested, especially since you soft-reference Mythbusters, one of my favorite shows.

Best,
Joe Beccalori
SEO Blog blog.beccalori.com

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