The Article Writer

I’m feeling pain migrating through my stomach this morning. No, it isn’t indigestion — at least of the food kind — rather, it is all of the articles I have been taking in these past few days which are discussing Google and their massive PageRank penalty pogrom.

Some of the articles are informative and I can sympathize with those bloggers/webmasters who have been hit for no apparent reason. I am not defending Google, obviously some sort of explanation by Matt Cutts would be helpful when the smoke clears (i.e., when a full export to the Google toolbar of PageRank takes place).

PageRank Doesn’t Matter — Or Does It?

What bothers me is that there is a segment of the SEO world who is crying foul when they clearly have no reason for them to do so. After all, these are the same people who have told us over and over again that PageRank doesn’t matter. Really?! Then why are you objecting so strongly now? Have you had a change of heart?

My thinking is that we would all be better served if we were to take a step back and look at certain facts and respond intelligently to what has taken place:

Fact: Google is a public company and they can do what they want. Google answers to shareholders and they are in business to make money. As a customer, you are free to go elsewhere.

Fact: We have known for months that this day was coming. Google warned us and we talked about the upcoming changes. Sure, no one saw things unfolding the way that they have, but here we are. Now what will you do?

Fact: Google doesn’t own the internet. Yes, their influence easily outstrips the influence of any other company, but they do not own the world wide web. If Google offends you that much, then find other products to use (just like when you rejected Microsoft). Maybe it was a big mistake for you to build your business model on Google’s back in the first place.

Fact: The rise and fall of so many companies over time proves that Google’s popularity can easily be eclipsed by an unknown, future start up. Bill Gates thought that he was king way back when and a few years back Facebook was just a fun project for a Harvard student. The internet is in constant flux.

Fact: Google’s actions will make you a better business person. You knew that putting all of your eggs in one basket was dangerous, but you took the risk and are now paying for it. Let this be a lesson to you: businesses are built on the foundation of mistakes made and the lessons learned from those mistakes. If you are unable to learn from this experience, then perhaps being in business isn’t right for you.

Okay, this rant is officially over. Can we get on with what we were doing and find a way to do what we were doing better?

Please hear me out. Firefox isn’t going around asking people to contribute funds to their current marketing campaign. At least not directly. What the upstart web browser wants people to do is to order a 3.5 foot long Firefox fathead sticker and paste it in a very public place. Specifically, if you have room on the side of a building that you own, then Firefox would love for you to hang it there. Or, you can place their ad in some other “can’t miss” location.

They also want you to fork over $69.50 to purchase the sticker.

Introducing Operation Firefox

I first learned about the campaign when I logged on this morning. My usual double-click on the Firefox icon always brings me to a landing page where the Google search bar sits prominently in the middle of the screen. Today, I noticed just below the search area the following statement:

Mozilla is recruiting for Firefox. Do you have what it takes?

Of course, I clicked on the link which took me to Operation Firefox, the recruiting campaign website where I learned the particulars for a contest. Only 50 banners will be placed and the contest is open to residents of five countries: the US, Canada, China, New Zealand, and Japan. In addition, the following conditions must be met:

1. Interested teams have to submit a proposal on what they intend to do by November 9.
2. 50 teams will be selected based on proposal completeness, execution logistics, sticker exposure, and originality. Selected teams will receive the giant sticker for free.
3. The selected teams will place the sticker and document the process. The documentation will then be submitted to Mozilla.
4. First prize is a Mac Book Pro and one of three Nintendo Wiis for the runners up.

Apparently, the campaign’s website and other Mozilla sites are being overwhelmed today as I can no longer access them to to snag a photo or reverify certain information. Their contest rules clearly mention that the 50 teams will receive their banners for free, so I guess the $69.50 fee is for people not participating in the contest.

Will I participate in this viral campaign? I already am by writing this post. Sorry, I don’t have a place where the giant sticker can be placed, therefore this blog will have to do.

Pass the Link Love, Please

It is time for me to overtly share some linky love with you. The following articles have caught my attention and are posted here in no particular order:

• I stole some headline creating ideas from Laura Spencer when I read her 25 Best Selling Words post. Dependable & energizing words guaranteed to grab the attention of quality readers! I used a total of seven of them thus far in this post.

• Jennifer, at Catalyst Blogger wrote, “When Charging Rush Rates Backfires,” a piece which covers her personal experience of overcharging a client in hopes that they will go away. Guess what? They accepted her bid! It looks like Jennifer will be very tired over the next several weeks.

• Copywriter Bob Bly asks, “Do You Write the Way People Talk?” which I found to be a good reminder for me not to use stilted language in my writings. I prefer conversational writing, words that engage readers as if you were talking to them face to face.

• I nearly forgot about the pending screenwriters strike until I read Maria Schneider’s The Writer’s Perspective blog today. On the Screenwriters Strike discusses the issues behind the strike, particularly the impact new media (internet) is having on the writing industry. Even if you don’t write for Hollywood, you can certainly understand how important this issue is for writers of all stripes.

• Kathy Kehrli, the Irreverent Freelancer, writes things on her blogs the rest of us only dream about posting. Okay, she tells it like it is — from bad jobs to clients who stiff writers — if you tick Kathy off there is an excellent chance that you will be featured on her blog and gain her Middle Finger Award. Kathy may not name names, but she gives enough hints to her freelance writing colleague readers to help us avoid falling prey to their dastardly schemes.

• Brian Clark, of Copyblogger fame, received a nasty surprise when he realized that Google dropped the PageRank of his blog down. No, he doesn’t sell links and there doesn’t appear to be anything else he is doing wrong until you read his Thanks Google! post and you begin to wonder if the Big G has it out for him. Note: Google still hasn’t done an official export to the Google Toolbar of updated PageRank for all sites since April 2007. Instead, Google is penalizing certain sites now for various transgressions, real or imagined.

That’s all the link loving I have to share for my readers today. Don’t forget to snag a feed if you haven’t done so yet.