Possible Class Action Lawsuit Against Google NZ - Yellow Online special treatment?

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#759594 11-Feb-2013 16:07

freitasm:
Take your tinfoil hat off if you want to continue this discussion here.

+1... I see a lot of accusations, assumptions and hand waving but I can't say I see much substance to back them up; Just references to what seem to me to be misinterpreted articles regarding overseas court cases and annecdotal "evidence."

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Mark

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#759595 11-Feb-2013 16:07

Tastes really sour and bitter in this forum thread!

Any chance you could post example searches so you can show how your web promoting skills are falling down vs the other companies with their alledged unfair advantage ?

Sorry for the narky sort of reply but for a "professional website designer here in NZ." you are not coming across as very professional.

networkn

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#759605 11-Feb-2013 16:13

googleantitrust: I suspect your "enthusiasm" is likely to have you in trouble, can I recommend you take a chill pill, law suits are a LONG business, don't fizzle just yet.

Sarcasm and feigned friendlyness (MATE) aren't likely to win you any friends here nor help your cause any.

How about:

"I have noticed this behaviour. I am interested in investigating forcing x company to not behave this way, and would like to hear of anyone with similar experiences."

I understand you are upset, however I think you need to take a deep breath.

mattwnz

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#759606 11-Feb-2013 16:13

Have you been guaranteeing top google rankings in search results to your clients or something?
Google algorithms change, it is a fact of life. I have had the same problem in the past, where my site used to rank top, dropped off the front page. The thing I do however is never guarantee good search results, because it is largely outside you control what happens.

networkn

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#759609 11-Feb-2013 16:15

mattwnz: Have you been guaranteeing top google rankings in search results to your clients or something?
Google algorithms change, it is a fact of life. I have had the same problem in the past, where my site used to rank top, dropped off the front page. The thing I do however is never guarantee good search results, because it is largely outside you control what happens.

Also a fact of life, that companies who pay to advertise will normally get higher rankings, it's true in all mediums.

googleantitrust

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#759616 11-Feb-2013 16:31

mattwnz: Have you been guaranteeing top google rankings in search results to your clients or something?
Google algorithms change, it is a fact of life. I have had the same problem in the past, where my site used to rank top, dropped off the front page. The thing I do however is never guarantee good search results, because it is largely outside you control what happens.

Thank you - points well made / and taken.

Just very frustrated to see/ realize this today

In regards posting examples - all of my sites rely on Google - not sure 'we' want to go public just yet.

This is the reason monopolies often get away with abusing power - when you have a tight grip on a market - those who depend on your are hesitant to speak out.

Happy to once a law suit is ready to go though - then fully in public.

Need 20 or so more examples - new Yellow Pages websites mysteriously jumping the queue on sites which have worked hard for years to follow Google's advice and climb - and in doing so, helping Google build the product (so called 'organic search engine') it now appears to be hocking off to the highest bidder

:)

googleantitrust

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#759618 11-Feb-2013 16:36

networkn:
mattwnz: Have you been guaranteeing top google rankings in search results to your clients or something?
Google algorithms change, it is a fact of life. I have had the same problem in the past, where my site used to rank top, dropped off the front page. The thing I do however is never guarantee good search results, because it is largely outside you control what happens.

Also a fact of life, that companies who pay to advertise will normally get higher rankings, it's true in all mediums.

I repeat - again - it is not possible for a website that has just been built, and not even linked up to other sites, to suddenly appear on the front page, in a highly competitive industry, in front of sites that have been at the top for years and work on them each month to keep them there, linked up to 30-40 other sites (every directory in the Country) etc etc

Yes, Google have 'changed their algorithm ' - they now seem to favour Yelllow sites.

Anyway - lets see how many other examples are out there.

I have one through already - but as promised, strictest confidence until we have a plan in place.

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Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

Talkiet

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#759620 11-Feb-2013 16:38

googleantitrust:
Yes, Google have 'changed their algorithm ' - they now seem to favour Yelllow sites.

So hang on... Google, a private company, according to you, is no longer allowed to refine their search and indexing algorithms?

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Ragnor

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#759623 11-Feb-2013 16:43

The OP needs to post an actual real example of a website with a strong SEO history that has recently been surpassed by a new powered by Yellow site in organic search results.

mattwnz

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#759625 11-Feb-2013 16:49

googleantitrust:

Need 20 or so more examples - new Yellow Pages websites mysteriously jumping the queue on sites which have worked hard for years to follow Google's advice and climb - and in doing so, helping Google build the product (so called 'organic search engine') it now appears to be hocking off to the highest bidder

:)

As someone previously pointed out, yellowpages does have a high page ranking, and if they are then interlinking between the two sites, then those interlinking sites can also benefit from this. The same may apply if you interlinked between yellow. So algorithms may have changed to allow this. But they may get dumped down the rankings with the algorithms change again in the future
I do see some web designers that install webpages on their own clients websites, with links to all the other websites that they have created, in the hope that that helps with SEO across all their websites, but I suspect that google will eventually catch onto that sort of thing. SEO is a tough business to be in, which is why I wouldn't want to specialise in it.

Glitch

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#759634 11-Feb-2013 17:10

Can you be specific about what yellow site you are talking about?

Could just be the case that the yellow site is ranking for metrics you haven't optimised for. Or even this one backlink you are taking about carries more link juice than all your backlinks combined.

Just wait it out for awhile before you even consider a class action lawsuit, this just sounds like the usual google dance that all seo's have to put up with.

sidefx

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#759643 11-Feb-2013 17:16

Today I spoke with one client who we have had on the front page of Google for their main search terms for the past 3-4 years - but suddenly, they have dropped right off just in the past few months.

$100 each for the filing fee maybe - and we have an trained expert in Monopoly Law (and websites oddly enough) to represent us - already organised.

Just very frustrated to see/ realize this today

...

Need 20 or so more examples - new Yellow Pages websites mysteriously jumping the queue on sites which have worked hard for years to follow Google's advice and climb - and in doing so, helping Google build the product (so called 'organic search engine') it now appears to be hocking off to the highest bidder

Let me just get this straight in my head:

You've just noticed this today but are already absolutely sure that these websites "jumped the queue" based on some underhanded deal between Yellow and Google.

Having just noticed this today you already have an expert in "Monopoly Law and Websites" lined up and ready to proceed with litigation.

And you already have a figure of $100 "filing fee" in mind for each person who wants to join you in said litigation?

hmm..

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

tigercorp

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#759657 11-Feb-2013 17:43

googleantitrust: It also suggests Google paid off the investigators and made an out of court settlement doesn't it mate?

It doesn't suggest that at all. If you read the link I provided to the FTC ruling you'll see quite clearly that the settlement wasn't a payout and wasn't even related to Search bias.

Read between the lines.

The goal of any out of court settlement (and / or bribe) is to insure the final "formal" press release looks squeaky clean.

What they had to pay/ bribe to get that final report is the big question. Out of court settlement terms - "no admittance of guilt". As is often the case.

Look - are we/ you seriously suggesting Google is innocent of manipulating their monopoly?

Sorry, but that's pure rhetoric.

Jarno

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#759670 11-Feb-2013 17:56

So you want to bring a class action lawsuit in New Zealand? Well, have fun as there is no such thing on the law books here.

googleantitrust

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#759846 12-Feb-2013 00:51

The purpose of this post was to raise the issue - get it out there - and ask for people who ARE seeing the same thing to email details (in full confidence - as stated)

I have received some emails today which is great.

I think the best idea is to leave it for a while and see what sort of response we get in total - a few weeks maybe.

If there is enough evidence of this ACCUSATION/ suspicion - then can take further 'steps'.

Cheers.

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