Good search gives relevant results from authoritative sources. Search spam gets in the way. So now Google wants search users to help weed it out.

Google’s game

Search spam arises from sites trying to game the search algorithm to turn up in results where they probably shouldn’t.

Google’s global search outreach lead, Juan Felipe Rincon, has posted on The Keyword blog to encourage Google users to report search spam. He wants to hear from them ‘when something seems … phishy’.

Sorting hat

Search engines treat search spam seriously. The worst search spam uses black-hat SEO to spread unsolicited marketing, or to get malicious code on unsuspecting users’ computers.

Neither of those things is good for a legitimate brand. Being marked as search spam can seriously hinder an enterprise’s chances of success.

Google publishes guidelines for webmasters and runs events to advise how to rate well in relevant searches, without falling afoul of anti-spam efforts.

Algorithm method

Google’s algorithm does the grunt work of search vetting, but it doesn’t catch everything. In 2017, Google acted upon around 90,000 user reports of search spam. Rincon wants that to rise.

Users can report search spam to Google by clicking the ‘Send feedback’ link at the foot of any search results page.

These days, do you treat SEO as a specialist field, or a content concern?

Copy Transmission is a Melbourne-based agency :: Better Brands. Loud & Clear.