The constant battle for visibility in Google search results has intensified, with websites using various SEO tactics and broadcasting search results with affiliate links.
TBS report
January 20, 2024, 8:00 a.m
Last modified: January 20, 2024 at 1:51 p.m
Despite efforts to combat SEO spam, search engines, including Google, struggle to stay ahead. Photo: Collection
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Despite efforts to combat SEO spam, search engines, including Google, struggle to stay ahead. Photo: Collection
Google, a staple of Internet searches, is facing growing criticism as a recent study sheds light on a decline in the quality of its search results.
According to Gizmodo, despite the search giant’s assurances of an improved experience, a study by researchers at the University of Leipzig, Bauhaus University Weimar and the Center for Scalable Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence suggests otherwise .
The study focused on 7,392 product review search terms on Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo, revealing a worrying trend. Google’s top-ranking pages showed signs of optimization, with more affiliate links and low-quality text. This phenomenon is attributed to the prevalence of affiliate marketing, where websites use product reviews and summaries to generate revenue through special links that lead to retailers such as Amazon, BestBuy and Walmart.
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The constant battle for visibility in Google search results has intensified, with websites using various search engine optimization (SEO) tactics. However, many resort to unscrupulous methods, compromising the overall quality of the content. The study indicates that despite efforts to combat SEO spam, search engines, including Google, struggle to stay ahead.
Although Google performed better than Bing and DuckDuckGo, the severity of the problem cannot be ignored. A Google spokesperson defended the company, highlighting improvements made over the past year and the overall quality of search results for billions of queries daily. However, the study suggests that changes implemented by search engines have only provided temporary relief as spammers continually find new loopholes.
Lily Ray, Senior Director of SEO and Head of Organic Research at Amsive Digital, expressed concern about the current state of Google. While acknowledging the company’s efforts to address the issues, Ray and the SEO community note a sense of disarray in Google’s search functionality.
“Google has been getting better in certain ways, but in others, it’s getting worse,” Ray said.
Despite Google handling billions of searches daily, concerns about the search engine’s declining performance persist. Gizmodo covered a strange situation recently in which Google showed a child’s assignment to do a search on former President John F Kennedy’s position on the death penalty. It contributes to the growing narrative that Google is in serious trouble.
The study also highlights Google’s increasing reliance on user-generated content, which makes it vulnerable to manipulation by spammers. In response, users have resorted to adding “Reddit” to their search terms to find authentic community-driven content. The wider impact on the Internet economy, where Google plays a central role, raises questions about the sustainability of current practices.
As Google grapples with these challenges, the SEO industry is increasingly vocal about its concerns.
Lily Ray summed up the sentiment, stating, “I don’t understand how anyone in the SEO industry is doing anything but complaining about Google right now.” The study emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and improvements to ensure the integrity and quality of online search results.
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