| LED Digest 2151: Are Google Rankings Fair? |
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================================================== The LED Digest Moderated Discussion List "Effective Online Advertising, Since 1997" Data > Information > Knowledge > Wisdom pair Networks: The LED's Web Host Hosting and Domain Reg. from a Trusted Leader pair.com for Hosting | pairNIC.com for Domains ================================================== List Moderator: Published by: Adam Audette LED Digest adam, led-digest.com http://www.led-digest.com .............................................. May 2, 2006 Issue no. 2151 .............................................. .....IN THIS DIGEST..... ====== NEW ===================== --== Google Rankings - Are They Fair? ==-- ~ Robert Winter "I came across a website which I believe may be unfairly benefiting from in-coming links..." --== Throwing Down the Gauntlet ==-- ~ John Smart "I propose that we...set up a fictional site..." ==== CONTINUING ================= --== Billing Your Time ==-- ~ Martha Retallick "I use the MYOB software's time-tracking module..." ~ Michael Linehan "Sometimes clients just have to be told how it is." ~ Tom Aman "I would suggest you have a minimum billing amount." --== Dealing with Shipping Costs ==-- ~ John Smart "Caution needs to be used with shipping and handling." ~ Kathy Wilson "I've been a fan of using the USPS for years." ==== BILLBOARD =================== --== Country Specific Domain Extensions ===-- ~ Ian Faulkner --== Hyphens in URLs? ==-- ~ Beth Earle ========== NEW =================================== From: Robert Winter Subject: Google Rankings - Are They Fair? I am doing a research paper on "Google Rankings: Are They Fair?". As part of my research I came across a website (places very high in Google pages) which I believe may be unfairly benefiting from in-coming links to their website (knowingly or unknowingly). When I use Google Search, "Link: www.pointofsuccess.com" It shows numerous incoming links from a website called www.pmq.com which appear to be many separate "questions" to a website called pmq.com. Each "question" counts as a "link" to pointofsuccess.com. However, I cannot find any URL in the pmq.com link referring to pointofsuccess.com. This leads me to wonder why pointofsuccess.com is benefiting from so many link counts coming from the website called www.pmq.com? Google Help Center says, ----------------------- "...webmasters can improve the rank of their sites by increasing the number of high-quality sites that link to their pages." ----------------------- I am confused why pointofsuccess.com is showing up in Googles number of "high-quality" sites based on such "poor-quality" links from pmq.com??? I would be interested in receiving an answer to the question, "Why is pointofsuccess.com benefitting from so many "poor-quality" links (which look like a form of "link spam") when Google says that "webmasters can improve the rank of their sites by increasing the number of "high-quality" sites that link to their pages." Can one of the "SEO gurus", please explain how this is happening? I tried contacting Google but got nowhere. Robert Winter -------- new post - new topic -------- From: John Smart Subject: Throwing down the Gauntlet - Test Site? There was a post about unique IP's and how that affects Google. Because I have tested this, I was able to answer. Most of the answers we post and read are based on assumptions and inconclusive data (that is the nature of the search engine beast). I propose that we put our money where are mouths are, set up a fictional web site, get it listed on Google, then make changes and see how they affect the positioning. A Google-lab test. I am more than happy to donate time, server cycles, server access to this project. I may even have a domain or sub domain to throw in. Would anyone care to join in with this? Do you want to test the theories that you have? All results - good and bad - will be freely shared with Adam and the rest of the LEDers, none of this will be tagged proprietary. This could be a fun experiment. We would need a theme for the site ('Widget polish' - or either of magnifying glasses or needles in haystacks would seem appropriate!) I will happily install a message board in a non-indexed area so that we can track changes (and see site stats). If any are interested, I would really like to get started on this! John Smart, Technical Director InternetDesign.com - A Human Touch in a Digital World ======== CONTINUING =============================== From: Martha Retallick Subject: Time and billing > I have a client that sends me small updates > that sometimes take less than 5 minutes. - Brett Atkin, LED 2148 When I bill my time, I bill it in 15-minute increments. I use the MYOB software's time-tracking module to handle my time billing. And, even though I'm a singleton, I like to have my weekends free for non-business type things like volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, running errands, studying for my community college classes, and working on my house and yard. So, if a client wanted to purchase some of that weekend time, I'd charge 'em extra. Hope this helps! Martha Retallick Western Sky Communications Web/Graphic Design & Consulting http://www.westernskycommunications.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Michael Linehan Subject: Time and billing > In this 24/7 world, am I dreaming to think I shouldn't > be working every weekend to meet the client needs? > Am I the norm or the exception here? - Brett Atkin, LED 2148 Brett! You deserve a life! And so does your family. Sometimes I have to work weekends because of a particular deadline. But when I do, I take a 'weekend' during the week. Sometimes clients just have to be told how it is. If you let them treat you like a 19th Century garment factory worker, some people will take the opportunity. And on five minutes - yes, you're right. The admin takes more time than the job. I'd encourage you to make a minimum time of maybe half an hour and ask the client to save up changes. None of my clients have had any problem with this, when I explain why. Of course, it depends on your cash flow. Are you willing to risk losing that five minute client PLUS the referrals they will (I hope) bring over the years. But on the weekend thing, I'd put my foot down, whether you lose that one or not. Michael Linehan Marketing Alchemy www.marketing-alchemy.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Tom Aman Subject: Time and billing Aside from the time factor (how fine a breakdown you use for billing), I would suggest you have a minimum billing amount. Consider: no matter how large or small the actual amount billed, there is a certain minimum time associated with preparing that bill and all the other factors in keeping track of it from the time it is sent until it is paid. I remember one company that specified a minimum billing of $30.00 no matter how small the value of the actual item purchased AND this was in the 1960s, so I would expect the equivalent today would be over $100. Tom Aman Aman Software http://www.cyberspyder.com -------- new post - new topic -------- From: John Smart Subject: Shipping charges Caution needs to be used with shipping and handling. It appears that the IRS are sick of people selling things on eBay for $0.01 and charging $40 S & H. With that in mind, be watchful. My understanding is that you have to now pay tax on handling (but not on shipping). Therefore shipping calculations need to be very carefully done - after all - who wants an audit, and to be the 'example' that the IRS are looking for. John Smart, Technical Director InternetDesign.com - A Human Touch in a Digital World -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Kathy Wilson Subject: Shipping charges I've been a fan of using the US Postal Service for shipping for years. Their prices are less than other shipping services and, as an additional bonus, when you use the US Postal Service, you can get shipping materials for free. Order online at their website, www.usps.gov. They also have all postal rates for every type of service they offer to every place in the world on their website. Love, Kathy Wilson http://www.under-one-roof.net Life Purpose Coaching ~ Spiritual Teaching ~ Vibrational Healing ==== BILLBOARD =================================== From: Ian Faulkner Subject: Country Specific Domain Extensions Can anyone tell me if I would be better off using a URL with a hyphen, for example "widgits-france.com" rather than "widgits.tv", i.e. would the .tv have a negative influence on country relevance? Thanks Ian Faulkner -------- new post - new topic -------- From: Beth Ann Earle Subject: URL hyphens > Do the search engines look at domain names? - Bev Hanna, LED 2148 Hi, Bev. This seems like something that keeps going back and forth -- several years ago, it was deemed important by a number of experts, then it seemed as if it was deemed spammy and likely to hurt rather than help your search engine performance. From what we've been reading and seeing lately, it seems like it can be useful for search engine positioning to have your search terms in your domain name (although not so useful that anybody would want to run out, buy a new name and completely re-do their site). And let's face it: good SE ranking is simply a means to an end (that end being the increased likelihood that people looking for your goods and services will be able to find you). Good ranking won't get you anywhere, if searchers are still reluctant to click on your link. Interestingly, I (along with a number of other people, according to some research) am much more likely to click on a domain containing keywords rather than a domain containing a company name. Also, using keywords in your domain name just seems like a good signpost for people -- a site named www.canadian-photography-painting.com is a really good clue about the site's contents. Of course, I'm one to talk: my company's original vertical portal for the plastics industry is www.polysort.com (our company name!). At least we did it a little better when we decided to launch a site focusing solely on our SEO services. Yours in all that is LED'ly and Springy (or Fall'ish, depending on your hemisphere), Beth Earle www.pilotfishseo.com ------------------------------------------------------- The LED Digest is sponsored by pair Networks: pair.com for Hosting | pairNIC.com for Domains © Copyright 1995-2006 Orange Wheel, LLC. All Rights Reserved. "You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist." - Indira Gandhi |
