I just tweeted the quote below, but I thought I should probably make this prediction here as well, just to mark it as an official look into the old SEO crystal ball.
Judging by the past, sometime in the next 30-45 days, Google will pull something that is going to freak SEOs out. It's that time of year!
Just sayin' ...
Dont they tend to freak people out more closer to the holiday? Say Thanksgiving time?
It was October 24th (approx. 30 days from now) last year, when the paid link TBPR penalties came crashing down around people’s heads – see http://www.seo-scoop.com/2007/10/24/pr-update-today-many-sink/
If I remember correctly, it’s usually October when the fun begins, but occasionally some extra fun moves in later in November and December. 🙂
I saw today for the same keyword my clients site at #2, #3, #4, #5 (on Google uk) depending whether the user was logged into Google or not. When not signed in everyone gets the site at #3.
….hum. The client is either elated or devastated!
Any thoughts?
I think the more complicated google makes it for SEO, the more we can earn! That makes the difference between a professional and a layman. The more complicated it is, the more they depend on us 🙂
When everyone and his brother can get good results, where is our job?
(Just my evil thoughts)
My owrst bitch slaps from Google always come in October. (several years now)
This will be my first experience. I’m kind of excited.
Does the same kind of change happen every year or is it just “time for change”?.
I.e. how can I prepare myself and my clients?
Tertius, it’s not the same thing each year, but it’s always something pretty big. Either a major rankings upheaval, or a giant penalty applied…something like that. Something that gets webmasters and SEOs in a tizzy. Will they pull one this year? We’ll see… I’m not sure you can prepare, other than to be in the proper mindset to not panic when it happens.
Your right about the time of year, but lets be honest, whatever they do never comes as a ‘huge’ surprise. Nothing is ever really out of the blue, there is always some ‘subtle’ lead up to it. Like how paid links was in debate for a while before google actually came forward and said they were penalising them.
If I had to guess (and I hope IÂ’m wrong), I suspect its going to be linking focused again. Recently Google pretty much said directory links are no longer neccisary (in a typical tight lipped Google kind of way), so im pretty sure that soon enough they are going to firm up on that and say for certain that they are discounting them. Just my guess thoÂ….
Hey Dona you were absolutely rite. Google has done “Google Dance” again by launching search Wikki. Search Wikki has created a buzz in SEO Industry that SEO is now dead as everyone can customized the search results and can save those for future results. They say If more are more people are going to use customized results there will no such thing called top ranking and simply there will be no SEO at all. You were right Google is again trying to tease SEO and webmasters