Comments on: More Google SEO Myths Exposed

By: jemple

jemple — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:29:43 +0000

I am still amazed that scraped content ranks as well as it does. My admin team over at ibl builder do a manual check for each new site submitted to the link network, and that involves pasting text into google to check for duplication, and the amount of scraped content ranking happily above the obviously original content is staggering.

By: Mihaela Lica

Mihaela Lica — Sat, 23 May 2009 12:00:45 +0000

@wiseweb – I made that not especially for those who run WP blogs – it is actually very easy to proove if we get a WP site with very short entries – we can check how many pages are actually indexed and how many are listed as “supplementary results”

By: Mihaela Lica

Mihaela Lica — Sat, 23 May 2009 11:58:28 +0000

@orokusaki – I have a site that has almost no back links, but it has a PR4, how do you explain that? I tell you how: it is a blog, with very rich content, optimized by me. I am doing SEO since 2002, successfully for ALL my clients.

By: Mihaela Lica

Mihaela Lica — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:54:01 +0000

@cldnails I never assumed it was all the arsenal. :) I guess using this only depends on what each of us is ready to do for greater Google PR. As far as I am concerned, allowing scrapers to steal my content is not an option, no matter how many links they might give me. I’d rather have an editorial link on any site, than 100 links from scrapers.

By: cldnails

cldnails — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:20:28 +0000

@Mihaela lol. It’s just a tool, not the whole arsenal. And not encouraging is one thing, but the point is that you cannot stop scrapers. So, why not make the best of it?

As for rankings, my sites have lasted and been on top for great keywords for more than 2 years. I have two sites that have used this method and they are still going strong and standing in the serps.

I’m not interested in converting anyone, only pointing out that you can benefit for the jerk scrapers. Putting your head in the sand will undoubtedly do you no good.

By: Mihaela Lica

Mihaela Lica — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:18:09 +0000

@cldnails, well, from the perspective of “every link counts untill deindexed” I guess the theory is viable. However, I would not encourage other people to use this technique. PageRanks are not as important as SERP ranks. Many times scrapers rank on top of original content, stealing traffic – which is vital for those who monetize based on number of visitors. Besides, once these links are “deindexed” the PageRanks drop – naturally. So the glory is only temporary.

By: cldnails

cldnails — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:20:45 +0000

@Mihaela Lica really the concept is simple, I encouraged people and automatic splogs to scrape my RSS feed to publish on their sites. The blog in question uses WordPress as a backend blogging script, so there are plenty of plugins available to help ensure that I get credit for what’s scraped.

I use RSS Footer (http://yoast.com/wordpress/rss-footer/) to automatically add a link in the RSS feed for each post, with a link back to the original post and to my blog. Now, I understand that it can easily be removed, but more often than not I found that scraper sites won’t take the time to remove it from each individual post. Furthermore, my feed was scraped by many sites and continues to be and not just from a single host. Therefore, until deindexed in Google, those sites were giving me a backlink.

Again, this is one small part of my marketing method. Yes, I did encourage people to still my feed, since there is no way to keep them from doing it anyway. However, I did help ensure that a link was placed back to my site when automated, which that link held just as much weight as any other link from a site. Thus, this was a part of my overall link building strategy.

You don’t have to be a believer to understand that every link counts, until deindexed. So past that, I’m not sure I can convince you.

By: Mihaela Lica

Mihaela Lica — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:33:17 +0000

@cldnails – this is the most interesting statement I’ve ever heard, in 7 years of SEO, that scraper sites boost PR. I am really curios to learn what other “marketing methods” support this statement. Forgive me for not being a believer, but I really don’t see any good coming from scrapers (AKA site plagiarists).

By: cldnails

cldnails — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:35:59 +0000

@Michaela Lica of course I’m not talking about my personal blog. I’m making reference to my actual money making sites and blogs. The site linked is simply a ‘for me’ site and has nothing to do with my actual marketed sites that have been PR6.

Furthermore, I’m not stating that the PR6 was JUST because of the scrapers, but they did help. That is based on link tracking and other marketing methods.

By: Mihaela Lica

Mihaela Lica — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:26:18 +0000

@cldnails – I do not think you are talking about the blog linked from your signature, which is PR2 as I see. I also seriously doubt that the PR6 you are talking about is a result of your site being scraped.