Network Marketer Devoured By Google Saurus Rex
I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories about businesses vanishing in the dark of night. Internet millionaires sleeping with their laptops and “Googling” their names every thirty minutes in a desperate attempt to avoid the next “Google Slap.”
But surely, you have nothing to fear from Google, right? You aren’t a millionaire internet marketer. Besides…
The Google-saurus Rex won’t see you if you stand still, right?
Wrong. He has a keen sense of smell. He opens his gaping jaws. Rows upon rows of diamond-sharp, bloody teeth. CHOMP, MASH, MASH. It’s over. Your business is dead. No second chance. The Google-saurus suffers a brief bout of indigestion then goes on to the next victim. Dealing out the dreaded rending of flesh known as the “Google Slap.”
WHAT is the “Google Slap” anyway?
Basically, the “Google Slap” is when Google shifts their rules ever so slightly and devastates thousands of businesses who rely on Google’s tools like Google Adwords or the Google search engine.
It’s popular to call it a “slap” but for a home based marketer losing their entire business it’s more like a forty ton lizard ripping them to shreds with razor-sharp teeth.
I know it’s hard to believe but million dollar businesses have been wiped out overnight by a small changes in Google’s policies. It’s happened before, and it most certainly will happen again.
WHY is It A Problem For You Personally?
Well, it’s not like Google sits there with a list of people they hate. But they don’t look at your balance sheets before they make changes to their rules. They don’t care. They just send the Google-saurus after you.
For example, let’s say you’re pulling in 20-30 qualified leads a month online. And you start to rely on those leads to build your business. Imagine what would happen if that died overnight. Vanishing without a trace.
Well, that’s the power of the “Google Slap”. It could make it very expensive for you to bid on keywords or even kill a large portion of your Google Adwords or even your search engine traffic overnight.
Maybe you’re thinking, “Naw, this will never happen to me.”
Well, that’s all fine and dandy, but you wouldn’t be the first business owner the Google-saurus gobbled up by accident.
So you should do your best to make your sites Google friendly from day one. Pour some Google repellent spray over your business. Unless you like the idea of building a business for months, making a profit and then watching Google crunch it for lunch.
So HOW can you avoid the “Google Slap”?
You can’t outrun the Google-saurus, but here’s some tips that I think will help you out. I can’t guarantee anything. He’s a big beast and he gets hungry from time to time, but he has a short attention span. So give him loads of content to devour.
#1 Google Self-Defense Tip – Post Content Relevant To Your Keywords
Probably the easiest way to avoid the Google-saurus is to go out of your way to provide excellent content that’s relevant to your keywords. This is especially important if you’re using Google Adwords.
Don’t even think of “tricking” Google. I know there’s a lot of strategies out there for giving Google the slip but most of these strategies are only gonna get you slapped in the long run.
You wouldn’t gamble your entire business on a card game and you shouldn’t try to outrun the Google-saurus. The best scientific data shows he can run 78 miles per hour and teleports at the speed of light.
#2 Google Self-Defense Tip — You Are Not The Law, Google Is.
If Google has a rule, follow it. If they update their rules. Follow them. Don’t try to sneak around Google. They practically own your butt already. You live in their jungle so you live by their rules. Period.
This means reading everything when you sign up for Google Adwords. This means reading every little update too. Yeah, it’s a pain, but unless you want to lose your business overnight you better stay on top of things.
#3 Google Self-Defense Tip — The Matching Game
You should strive to match your keywords to your ads and landing page.
For some reason rookies who use Google Adwords seem to think you can shock people into buying. Their ads aren’t relevant to their keywords or landing page. It’s like sending your prospects into the Twilight Zone after they click on your ads. It kills your sales and Google hates it too. So I don’t see why people keep trying to do it.
What If You Do Get Slapped By Google?
What can you do? Well, I hate to break bad news to you but once Google-saurus chomps you directly, you’re basically “screwed.” Your domain name will probably be useless. They might not accept your credit card for Google Adwords anymore and they could even screen your I.P. address.
But in general, the “Google Slap” is more like a gentle warning.
They’ll change their rules ever so slightly and your SEO traffic will die. Or your Google Adwords keywords will be too expensive to bid on. You’ll suffer for a few months and then find new keywords or a new strategy that isn’t Google based. It’s a reminder that Google will change over time and you have to be ready to adapt.
Google-saurus Is Watching You
With that said, if you listen to Google and do your best to provide high quality content relevant to your keywords, you should do fine. Above all, don’t try to trick Google into ranking your sites.
Any Google Complaints?
For the most part, I love Google and I hope you do too. But every once in a while they really get my goat with some wacky changes.
How about you?
Do you have a bone to pick with Google? You can share it with the group by leaving a comment today, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. 
Jason The “Better Networker”
The Jason Better Blog
P.S. Early Warning System: If you enjoyed this post then please tell your friends about the Google-saurus. It might very well save their lives. If you spot him coming, you have about three seconds to hit that little retweet button on the top of this post before he munches your bones. Fair warning.
9 Comments
Jason on December 22nd, 2009
Hah Mitchell,
You always have an original take
on things.
Yeah, it was getting out of hand
with hyped-up promises and ridiculous
claims. Now, at least temporarily they’re
being slapped around the ring.
I just hate to see some of the more
innocent dudes getting hit hard almost
by accident.
There’s always some casualties on both
sides. But hey, they have a right to do
what they want at Google don’t they? I
mean, they set the rules… we follow them
or turn into dinosaurs.
Anyway, just thoughts.
Love the way you put thing’s Mitchell.
[Reply]
Wayne Wu on December 22nd, 2009
Hey Jas,
I can empathise with Google on this. For the most part, Google wants to give its users the best possible experience, which is providing them with the best possible content.
As well as using Google for our own marketing purposes, we’re all users of Google as well and we trust it to give us good results. So we should strive to deliver good content all the time.
Relationships are probably more important than anything in business. Build a solid relationship over time by delivering value, and Google slap won’t be such a big problem in the long term.
Cheers,
Wayne
[Reply]
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Evening Wayne,
I like your point of view. I think
we tend to make Google into the
villain when they’re really just
trying to improve the quality
of their service.
Still, even a good business owner
could make a few mistakes and get
on blacklisted. I hope a few of these
tips help.
[Reply]
Derek Alvarez on December 23rd, 2009
Hi Jason, I can definitely see Google’s point of view. After all, I use Google to search all the time and I expect to find what I’m looking for — not some “carnival hawker” trying to pitch me something.
Having said that, I’ve given Adwords a whirl and I didn’t crack the “code.” Not yet, at least.
Since then, I’ve taken some advice from Mike Klingler and have been figuring out my brand and marketing strategy using Social Media. It’s MUCH cheaper to make mistakes this way (LOL).
I have used Facebook ads to advertise our Fan Page, though, and we’ve definitely recouped our investment there.
Anyone else using Facebook ads?
[Reply]
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Hey Derek,
Oh yeah, social media is much cheaper!
But there’s no way to ramp things up
as fast as PPC. Man, it’s crazy what you
can do with Google Adwords.
I think this article came across a little
too harsh on Google. Oh my. Goes to show
that you have to be careful when you write.
I’ve just seen people get wiped out by being
blacklisted by Google and it isn’t pretty for sure.
You peaked my curiosity with your Facebook
ads though. Have you considered writing an
article about that?
I think some of the folks on Better Networker
would love that. Especially if you can show them
specific results and how to do it.
[Reply]
Derek Alvarez on December 23rd, 2009
That’s a great idea, Jason — Thanks for the inspiration!
[Reply]
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 am
Derek,
I think I have to thank you. You
keep me on my toes. lol
[Reply]
Rebecca Geiger on December 23rd, 2009
In essence I think the major thing Be good. I am not a huge marketer YET but in ANY business you do shady things your gonna get caught somewhere somehow and Karma really likes your A$$.
I think that in addition to building your ranking: building your list at the same time will keep your business going if you accidentally get g-slapped. Protect your list like it is your child and treat those PEOPLE on the end of your email like people then everyone wins.
[Reply]
Well let me tell you Jason, the dreaded ‘google slap’ has sure been the talk of the town lately.
It’s all I hear about from all the top producers…Seems like every single ‘Guru’ out there has recently suffered this spanking. From what I understand, many have been more than just Slapped.
Between all the article and dozens of webinars I’ve been a part of over the past few weeks, I’m moved to express my views on how it effects us all…New and seasoned marketers alike.
From what I’m hearing, the top dogs simply buy their way out of it, signing up for as many as 20 new Google Adword accounts and plowing into new $100K campaigns, eclipsing anything we’ve already seen.
I won’t carry on too much about this now, however, stay tuned for more.
Many of us are watching to see how these new ‘machines’ that are being set loose to counter Googles’ attempts to get rid of all the ‘carnival hawkers’ spewing out over rated BS Hype about how anyone without even the ability to read can sign up and make 7 figures a month simply by plugging in a computer.
Come on, we all know it was getting out of hand!
Sorry Dude, I’ve got some opinions about all this.
Maybe I should take ‘em over to the forum.
your friend and student of life,
Mitchell Dillman
[Reply]