Striking back at SERPs saboteurs

June 5, 2006
by Latitude

One of the most pressing questions for many companies is how to handle “Google bombers” and other saboteurs who, using their net savvy, can engineer search engine results to the detriment of the business(es) of their choice. Search Engine Watch has a particularly interesting and useful post on their blog for those who want to delve into this topic further.

One case in point is Victoria’s Secret, a Google search for which currently lists an anti-Victoria’s Secret website at number two in the rankings.

The dirty secret site has an image with an “angel” holding a chain saw. The site makes it sound as if whole forests are regularly depleted because the cataloger lacks environmental awareness. What can you do when this happens?

You certainly have little control over the natural rankings of saboteurs unless they spam. You can easily choose to hand spammers that polute your rankings over to search engine quality assurance teams when they use tactics that would have them removed. In the case of the dirty secret site, it appears the other extreme is occurring. The campaign for environmental change at Victorias Secret may be working. Perhaps Victorias Secret will establish more earth friendly contracts with their suppliers.

As Search Engine Watch points out, there is also much to be said for attacked companies putting their side of the story out there, too. The alternative is to leave search engine surfers with unanswered questions and, perhaps, serious misgivings about doing business with you.

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