Going back to the topic of page rank, and the illusive Google search algorithms, did you know that your website could end up in “Googlehell”? Googlehell refers to the supplemental index which has been created to “store” websites that the Google search algorithm deems of “low quality” or websites that seem they are artificially designed to increase their own search results. As we discussed briefly in class, there are now consultants who specialize in improving Google search results for websites. They specialize in manipulating aspects of websites that they think Google’s page rank and search algorithm look for when ranking websites. Even though this is a topic that is discussed quite often, with good measure, the power of Google’s page ranking system is monumental. Websites who’s livelihood is solely based on the traffic their sites garners from a Google search can be devastatingly affected by a poor ranking. Google themselves publish this list of guidelines.

Googlehell was recently broadcast in an article in Forbes showcasing the economic effects that this phenomenon has had on websites who depend on their search results. Although Google is seemingly not doing this intentionally, it just shows how their algorithm has some aspects which could use improvement. I am curious how Google will handle this phenomenon if an overwhelming increasing number of websites end up with this predicament. The article claims that the business owner sent an email to Google asking for some information why his website may have ended up in the supplementary index even after readjusting his website to ensure it conforms with the put in place “guidelines.” What makes this problem more complex to solve is the fact that websites that have been artificially created to look real are increasing in sophistication and amount. It will be that much more difficult for the Google search algorithm to differentiate properly. It would be an amazing job to be on the cutting edge of making their search algorithm be able to handle not only this complication but others that are sure to arise.

Another point the article makes is the fact that the guidelines as published above are quite vague. How much detail should Google provide about its ranking system? In many ways, it makes perfect sense for Google not to publish any information that could help websites manipulate their rankings (since it causes problems, and for the obvious reason that is it wrong) but should websites such as those broadcast in the articles have to be condemned to Googlehell and perhaps there are numerous other legitimate websites that have not even noticed. The article detailed that his one business owner did not notice that he was in “Googlehell” until six months after he noticed significant sales drops, after the economic damage is done. One of the easiest fixes would be for Google to increase the times they evaluate their supplementary index. Did you ever wonder if it’s someone’s job to sit and check the supplementary index for legitimate sites that may have accidentally been placed there? If it’s not, there should be. The reason I am writing about this is because of the fact while I knew the algorithm was not perfect yet, I didn’t realize the economic effects it has had on other businesses. I wonder how much money Google has indirectly cost websites such as these?

Anyways, the point of this was to highlight manipulations of page rank, and the possible negative economic side effect. What are your thoughts?