Busting some SEO myths
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!?!
Related posts
- Google subdomain & 302 spam
- Wikia Search: Crap
- User stylesheets to show nofollows
- PageRank sculpting - Siloing and more
- Nofollow outbound links on your homepage and category pages
Peter van der Graaf Aug 8th, 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.
Joost de Valk Aug 8th, 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...
Peter van der Graaf Aug 8th, 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.
Joost de Valk Aug 8th, 2007 at 13:51
@Peter: check it out: http://www.davidnaylor.co.uk/matt-cutts-confirms-nofollow-fix.html
John Hacking Aug 9th, 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 !
Ruud Kok Aug 9th, 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/
Joost de Valk Aug 9th, 2007 at 21:22
@John: I'm guessing the Google sitemaps you use at /sitemap.xml work as well :P
PocketSEO Aug 16th, 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.
PocketSEO Aug 16th, 2007 at 23:24
Sorry, I mean that they do not always obey robots.txt (not rel=nofollow)
Joe Beccalori Aug 31st, 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