but I do argue that Google’s policies for Webmasters, aren’t based on trying to cut people the best deal, it’s about what’s best for Google, and what’s best for Google is not always what’s best for us, duplicate content is but one example.

Why don’t I switch? Good question.

Again,
Marshall

A well-written post but I don’t agree. Any of us can switch away from Google instantly to another search engine, email service, etc. – unlike Microsoft which grew to control the desktop. The switching costs are practically zero.

People stay with Google because it mostly works for them and they’re used to it – it provides a consistent experience. Seth Godin wrote a post yesterday that almost works for Google also – everybody uses it because everybody uses it.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/07/everyone-else-reads-it.html

“We kowtow to Google like it’s some kind of moral authority”. Google at one point, for webmasters was a moral authority, garnering a level of respect from Webmasters. It’s the chasm that has been created by the ongoing business development of the brand that makes Google such as easy target.

IE. some companies are always bas*****, but Google has grown into one. A lot of people really TRULY hoped that Google was the start of a new chapter in Business practice.

Well, I think many of us have a “Love/Hate” relationship with Google – we use their tools, but at the same time, we don’t like that Google decides what is duplicate content, and there’s no regulation. Many people, including my site, have lost traffic (which, to be fair, we’d never have gotten without Google) for reasons we can’t figure out, or get a direct answer back on – even on Webmaster Central).

I have written many posts favorable to Google, but Google has had a “free ride”, a “I can do nothing wrong” attitude for the last 12 years – but the tide is turning. Sure, Google will be in control of Search for a while, but people are beginning to wake up and figure out that all comes with a cost.

I’m seeing Johnon.com coming out against Google, calling Google “evil”, seeing Steve Rubel calling Google “untransparent” and the DOJ going after Google’s book deal. What does that sound like?

Last year I was at a Brandhacker meetup in Manhattan when Kevin Ryan who used to run Search Engine Strategies, predicted that legislation and regulation against Google within the next two years was inevitable – there has been building a popular belief that Google is become too powerful – and that, if it’s mission is, to organize and structure the World’s information – it must be regulated – because no one company has the right to do that, on it’s own, without any oversight.

Sure, it’s great that Google took on that mission “Structure the World’s Information” and make it all “searchable” – I think that’s what your saying – and Google should not be penalized for being consistent in attempting to achieve that.

And I think, that is what the popular sentiment is beginning to reflect. I had nothing to do with the sentiment of those posts – they’re coming from people who are waking up and deciding – maybe they don’t want the world’s data to be structured the way Google decided to do it. Maybe…. they don’t want it structured, in the sense that Google is doing it, at all. I don’t know.

My feeling is, it’s OK for Google to do what it’s doing – were it “Regulated” by Governmental Agency , say the FCC, or a new agency created for that purpose.

Question is why penalize google for being consistent in the process, and others not figuring out how to play the game. People can be whom they want to be – and just like any system, there will be players outside of the system, and will find their voice in other mechanisms.