When Google bans the best content
While doing some new work on the site I was pondering the possibilities of monetising the site in a slightly more effective way through various affiliate schemes. Naturally I need to read around the topic a bit first before making any decisions so off to Google I went. After a few minutes of reading search results it got me thinking - John Chow knows this stuff inside and out and offers brilliant advice on the topic - yet he's no where to be found.
You see, John got banned from Google for a clever yet cheeky link campaign where users were able to enter a competition to win cool stuff (such as a 24" widescreen TFT) by linking to him from their site using the link text "make money online". After a shockingly short period he was the #1 result on Google for that very search term and waves of Google searchers were sent in his direction. Google saw this underhand tactic and banned him for it - which figures.
Yet now I find myself searching for advice on affiliate programmes and one of the best resources isn't there
I respect John's material because I've been reading his blog for a long time on daily basis (plus there's no arguging with his earnings). John does indeed have good advice on affiliate schemes and where to find the best deals, but Google no longer shows that content. Google no longer shows any of his content - which is a shame because there's a LOT of excellent stuff there.
So how many other sites are useful but banned too?
John isn't a bad person - indeed he made his fortunes by thinking outside of the box and trying to capitalise on the current climate of the business landscape. In this instance it meant promoting his site with a very "make money online" heavy link-back scheme which didn't pay off. Shouldn't this prompt Google to rethink their algorithm rather than ban the user who found a hole?
Therefore I wish to express distaste for the situation, not on a personal level because I like the site but more because I respect the information he provides (and it has potential to help thousands).
Let me just clarify that - I don't want John to be unbanned from Google because I like his site; that aspect is completely academic. My reasoning is purely because I genuinely believe his content is the best on the topic of making money online. Google recently accounted for like 64% of all searches made in the USA and that makes them a MAJOR source of information; and those 64% missed out on some good content.
So how many good sites like John's have been banned that we don't know about because we didn't discover them before it happened? For that reason I really think JohnChow.com should be brought back into the Google listings because he provides inspiration and advice to normal people wishing to better their online prescence.
That's all I have to say, but if you agree with me: put it in a comment.
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