Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I’ve written previously about Rick Santorum’s Google problem and the need for politicians to have at least a basic understanding of SEO.
I still get questions about how this situation came to be, so here’s a primer:
- Google’s ranking algorithm is based on many factors, including the number and quality of external links pointing to a site, the words used as linking text pointing to a site, as well as the text on the site itself.
- The Santorum Google situation is not a classic case of Googlebombing. Googlebombing is a technique that could make Santorum’s own site rank well for an undesirable search query by linking to Santorum’s site using that undesirable phrase as the linking text. For example, linking to Santorum’s site using the phrase “umbilicalheadlice” as the linking text might result in Santorum’s site ranking well for that term. (but I won’t bother. We already know he is umbilical head lice).
- The Santorum Google problem is caused not by Googlebombing, but by standard SEO. The problem for Santorum is that an undesirable website has a very high rank (#1 in fact) for Rick Santorum’s name. The solution would be for Santorum’s official website to naturally outrank this undesirable site.
- This is the same situation often experienced by professionals and celebrities who wish to control the top ranks for their name, but find it challenging to outrank a pre-existing site with many advantages. The branch of SEO that specializes in handling these situations is sometimes called Reputation Management.
- The undesirable website for Santorum has a more external links pointing to it than Santorum’s official site, as seen in this comparison:
- However, Rick Santorum’s official site has more different domains linking to it and in most measures of SEO strength, it is a strong contender to the undesirable site.
- There is a good chance that with Santorum’s newsworthy performance in the recent Iowa caucus, his website will soon gain enough unique links that it will naturally outrank the undesirable site.
I normally try to maintain some neutrality on this website, but some politicians don’t deserve it. Rick Santorum is one of those politicians. May he froth his tiny self away from the public sphere soon.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The 2012 Republican primary season so far has been a series of quick & exhilarating rises followed by quick & embarrassing falls. Let’s observe:
Michelle Bachmann: tapped out by the end of summer 2011
Rick Perry: Wild ride with peaks after each bad debate
Herman Cain: a rapid rise in October followed by an equally rapid fall
… and next on the list: Newt Gingrich, whose star appears to be rising as of mid-November, 2011:
But all the hype surrounding the rise & fall of each of these contenders seems to be missing the fact that Ron Paul has remained solid throughout. Here’s a chart showing Google searches for “ron paul” compared to searches for “newt gingrich” over the last 30 days:
The red line? Yep, that’s “ron paul.” It’s higher than Newt. In plain words: The American public is more interested in Ron Paul than it is in Newt Gingrich. The search volume for Ron Paul has been consistent throughout the election season. And, while searches for other candidates often focus on blunders and gaffes (“rick perry oops” and “cain smoking ad”), Ron Paul’s searches seem to focus on policy and serious info: “ron paul education” “ron paul forums” and “ron paul occupy”. If Ron Paul manages to become the Occupy candidate, Dems better watch out.
I’m curious, he’s curious, she’s curious, they’re curious, yes, we all want to know what Herman Cain’s 999 plan really is!
Google searches have been on the up for “999 cain” as seen in this screenshot:
Here’s the scoopadillio direct from HCain’s site:
- 9% Business Flat Tax
- Gross income less all purchases from other U.S. located businesses, all capital investment, and net exports.
- Empowerment Zones will offer deductions for the payroll of those employed in the zone
- 9% Individual Flat Tax.
- Gross income less charitable deductions.
- Empowerment Zones will offer additional deductions for those living and/or working in the zone.
- 9% National Sales Tax.
- Unlike a state sales tax, which is an add-on tax that increases the price of goods and services, this is a replacement tax. It replaces taxes that are already embedded in selling prices. By replacing higher marginal rates in the production process with lower marginal rates, marginal production costs actually decline, which will lead to prices being the same or lower, not higher.
Sarah Palin has been a perennially popular Google search query. People may search for just “sarah palin” or they may go deep with “sarah palin paul revere” or “sarah palin bus tour.” But here’s something new: search interest for Sarah Palin has dropped since the end of June, while Michelle Bachmann is on fire. This chart shows Google searches in the US over the past 90 days:
Notice how the yellow line, representing Bachmann, has some big spikes in June, and remains elevated into July?
Next, just looking at searches in the state of Iowa:
I guess Iowans already know everything they need to know about Pawlenty and Romney.
