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2012

GOOGLE PENALIZED CHROME? NOT REALLY!

January 4, 2012 0

Yesterday, there was an article on Google Chrome, over a sponsored-post issue. Many experts were thinking that like in many other similar cases, would Google ban Chrome too. It is just a day old story, and Google has already given Chrome a cold shoulder. The effects can be noticed, if one types ‘browser’, ‘web browser’ or ‘Internet browser’ in Google search. The first few pages has no clue about Google Chrome. Its pushed beyond the fifth page of the said search.

However, it seems it is only a smart move from Google and not really a harsh punishment. Google is known for its tricks and here seems to be yet another addition to those tricks.

When one is searching for Google Chrome, via the above mentioned keywords, there has been a push in of the ‘Sponsored Ads’ section. Thats a clever move. On one hand, the tech world would applause the efforts worked out by Google by penalizing Google Chrome for such an act, and on the other hand, it is sponsoring Chrome ads right from the first page.

If one hits the search query for these words, Google Chrome ad appears in there, at the top or the bottom. Two screenshots to note the same have been posted below.

The same can be noted if a similar search query is entered, such as ‘Internet browse’.

One might have expected this to happen. Google will never leave its services and products alone. It has used the ‘screed’ mode earlier and here it is using the same mode yet again.

SearchEngineLand had earlier reported that ‘if you type the keyword “browser” on Google now and prompt a search, first page Google results suggesting the Chrome homepage will not show up, at least not for the next 60 days’. That is so very true. But Google now has a way to defend itself. The search engine giant can say that they have levied a harsh penalty on Google Chrome, but the ads are being displayed, as it is a sponsored ad and Google would not interfere in that section.

The question is, Google has the authority to remove Chrome completely from the first few pages at least. But would the search engine giant take that move?

Recently, in the Android Market, a developer team had cloned a Siri app for Android, which was not just a copy, but a sheer remake of the original app. On coming to know the fact, Google removed the app and other apps even, which came from that specific developer.

So, that was harsh!

Here its Google’s own intellectual property, which might have either forced Google to leave that section untouched or to skip that.

In these circumstances, demoting Chrome would not affect at all, as the sponsored ads are still there and for a relevant search query, it follows each and every page, which is quite common for Google’s sponsored ads.

SEL had a report, which quoted a mail from Google as saying, “We’ve investigated and are taking manual action to demote www.google.com/chrome and lower the site’s PageRank for a period of at least 60 days. We strive to enforce Google’s webmaster guidelines consistently in order to provide better search results for users. While Google did not authorize this campaign, and we can find no remaining violations of our webmaster guidelines, we believe Google should be held to a higher standard, so we have taken stricter action than we would against a typical site.

But is Google really interested in penalizing Google Chrome? One will have to wait and watch.