What is Google Bombing?
“Google Bombing” is a phrase that describes the action of influencing the search results of the search engine Google through certain optimization factors. This is usually a result of a prank or political stand- but it can also be used in search engine optimization efforts by certain companies.
Google bombing has also come to be known as link bombing. This is a fitting term, since the process of Google bombing includes a technique that makes certain links on WebPages all have the same anchor text- which gives the website that is being linked to a boost for that keyword in Google search. Google bombing first started out as a prank on Microsoft, but has recently become a threat to Google’s search effectiveness- and also has given a huge rise in search engine optimization companies looking to make easy money.
Interestingly enough, the term applies to more than just Google. It has been reported by other search engines, such as Yahoo!, that this action has had the same effect. This has led many to keep with the term “link bombing”, instead of the more specific Google bombing. Google has taken steps to counteract the measure, via a new algorithm that supposedly reduces the effect of link bombing.
Link bombing has become a popular political and corporate subject as well. Being the number one result for derogatory term will surely give a more negative influence for a political candidate. Oppositely, a corporate identity would want to have the first search result for a good term- as it would be likely that more business would be conducted. In the end, link bombing has become a widely known phenomenon that Google is trying desperately to work around. Until that happens, pranks and unfair advantages may be found around the Google search results- but rest assured, Google is working to minimize the problem for a fairer environment for webmasters.
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