More than one blog have discussed Google’s policies toward big businesses versus its policies toward small businesses. Should small business owners be worried?
Until now, small businesses have had no problem getting indexed or ranked in Google – if they knew how to do it. Many small business owners don’t have the time to go and learn how to do their own SEO. Those who do can manage a well-run campaign, but it takes time away from their businesses. Others don’t mind paying a professional SEO to get done what needs to get done.
So is Google moving toward a big business-preferred policy? That’s the accusation. Made by veteran SEO Aaron Wall.
I’m skeptical of these allegations. First, I don’t think it would benefit Google to focus on the profits of ad revenues at the expense of the integrity of its search results. They’ve spent their entire company history trying to improve those search results and make them as good as they can be. Are they perfect? No. Far from it. But at least they have the goal to make them be.
That may be a naive position, but I’m confident that Google wants quality search results for its users. Otherwise, why be in business?
What Google Is In Business For
Google, like the rest of the World Wide Web, is in a constant state of change. Its business changes. Its search product changes. Its ecosystem changes. The company has learned to adapt to the ever-changing desires of Web users and their current ecosystem is a testament to that. Google+ is evidence of this change and represents what Google sees is the future of its own system. What the rest of us make of it is our business.
Personally, I think small businesses can still benefit from Google’s products in some very powerful ways. That includes Google+, YouTube, Google Analytics, Webmaster Tools, the Google core product (its search engine), Picasa, Google Reader, and many more. I think small businesses will be able to benefit from Google’s products five and ten years from now – assuming the company still has clout then.
Will big businesses have an advantage? Yes, of course. They always have. But that isn’t Google’s fault. Deep pockets breed competitive advantage. It’s a business principle.
The Small Business Advantage
It’s easy to make Google the bad guy because so much that rises to the top of its search results, which can often make or break a business online, depends on its internal policies and practices. Nevertheless, if they continue to put searchers’ needs and demands above everything else, then their business model will continue to succeed. If they get away from that, Google will crumble. I believe the company executives know this.
Small businesses may not have deep pockets, but they are nimble. Being able to adapt to changes to the online marketing landscape quickly gives us an advantage over big businesses – deep pockets notwithstanding. Instead of crying over spilled milk, I’d prefer to mop it up and pour of cup of iced tea. Marketing a business – any business – is not a one trick pony show.
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