The term "Google bowling" has been floating around the Internet for a while now. The practice is one of many that can be put under the heading of negative SEO, and while I'm not a proponent of these methods, they are worth noting:
Google bowling: As Google attempted to curb link-popularity exploitation by penalizing Web sites that purchase link ads across the entire site, it also created the environment in which Google bowling came to be. As a form of negative SEO (search engine optimization), certain unscrupulous entities began buying sitewide links for competitor sites, thus causing them to incur the Google penalty. Simple, evil and a very real practice.
Spam in another's name: This form of negative SEO is even more simple. If spam gets Web sites in trouble with search engines, then creating spam on behalf of a competitor might lower their search engine results. In addition, a Web site's URL can be used for spamming in online forums, social-network sites and blog comments. It's hard to prove that the victim is innocent, and social-network sites might ban that Web site regardless. This can have a negative effect on the link neighborhood of a site.
Tattletaling: Did you buy links on other Web sites to improve your search engine rankings? Google doesn't like that at all. If your competitor finds out that you use paid links, he might tell Google and your rankings might drop! Of course, you can tell on your competitor, too.
Faux copyright complaint: If a search engine is notified that a copyright infringement exists (or might exist) on a Web site, then the search engine must remove the reported page from its index for 10 days. Snarky, but effective if someone wants a page out of the search engine results page (SERP) system for a spell.
Faux duplicate content: If someone creates duplicates of a competitor's Web pages, these duplicate pages will split rankings with those of the original site. Again, this isn't theory. This is something that is done in practice regularly.
To be clear, I am NOT promoting these tactics, and some of them will put you in legal hot water. But it is good to be aware of them so you can protect yourself against such practices, or at least identify these attacks when they are occurring. And, if someone is pulling one of these stunts on you--well, all's fair in love and war.
Related Articles
Top Position Launches Dedicated SEO Service for Property Professionals
By: Pank | 14/11/2007 | PPC Advertising
Pay per click and search engine optimisation agency, Top Position has launched a dedicated SEO service for property professionals.
If You Build It, They Will Come...
By: Adrian Kennelly | 12/05/2006 | Online Promotion
...No they won't. On the web, building a web site is not enough. If there are no links to the site anywhere, no-one is going to visit it. The site won't even be listed in any of the search engines without some incoming links. To get traffic, you will need to do some promotion.
How To Build An Opt-in List
By: Arild Myklebust | 14/10/2006 | Affiliate Programs
The inconvenience of building an opt-in mailing list using PPC (pay per click) search engines, is the cost connected to it.
Seo: Content Controversy
By: Scott Lindsay | 18/05/2007 | Internet
One of the ways search engines determine site ranking is to sort through your online content and rank the site based on repeated keywords or phrases. Content rich websites have found success in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies. While I highly recommend this strategy there is another viewpoint that is...
PPC And The Banner Ads
By: Scott Lindsay | 14/06/2007 | Internet
Banner ads seemed to have gone the way of the Dodo bird. In essence these forms of advertising on the web were relegated to link exchange programs as Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising came to dominance. PPC relies more heavily on target consumer activity and remains a no-frills, cost effective...
The Four Secrets of Successful PPC Campaigns
By: Barbara Fischer | 16/07/2007 | Marketing
Over the past decade, online marketing has become an integral part of most businesses’ marketing strategies. In particular, Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) have become one of the most common channels for any business to sell its products and services. In this article, I will share some insights into successful SEM and SEO campaigns.
SEO - Anchor Text And Headings
By: Scott Lindsay | 02/10/2007 | Internet
There has been a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy that has been largely ignored. It may even be considered a minor element in the scheme of SEO techniques.
Most if us have visited websites with anchor text (hyper links) to third-party sites with more information. In the world of HTML you...
Ppc - Click Attacks
By: Scott Lindsay | 16/10/2007 | Internet
Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising is designed to bring targeted customers to an individual website. The ecommerce business owner pays an agreed upon amount to have this advertising placed on the web. Many PPC affiliates are beneficiaries of this type of advertising.
In essence, whenever a PPC ad is clicked the...
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Automated customer service
By: ManuelGarcia | 17-11-2007
Hi, I am looking for reliable articles that will give me some information about automated customer service. Can someone pls provide me with a website? Thanks Manuel
Is an iPod Shuffle - 1 GB a good prize for an ...
By: wickedtruth | 17-11-2007
Is an iPod Shuffle - 1 GB a good prize for an online contest/drawing? If not, do you have any other suggestions?
What is seo?
By: freepass99 | 12-11-2007
what is seo?
How to run a web 2.0 site?
By: xiaonanhuang | 12-11-2007
how to run a web 2.0 site?
The Best SEO company is?
By: SEO | 05-11-2007
Which companies you consider as the best SEO companies?
I am looking for someone who can research and ...
By: jimjasper | 02-11-2007
I am looking for someone who can research and indentify some good keywords for my website? Any suggestions.
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Networking Articles
Brand Campaigning With Traditional Tools: Getting Maximum ROI
By: Marc Levack | 21/08/2008
Brand campaigning is a vital phase for every new companies or business. It is very important for them to be noticed in public. All marketing strategies of promotion of products and services will be effective once the brand name of organization is established and known by public.
China Corporate Finance, China Ipos, China Spac, China Reverse Merger
By: m.jeya | 20/08/2008
A special purpose acquisition corporation commonly known as a “SPAC”. SPACs are shell or blank-check companies that have no operations but that go public with the intention of merging with or acquiring a company with the proceeds of an initial public offering. SPACs serve an important role in bringing new technology to the market. A SPAC is similar to a reverse merger.
Yellow Pages Egypt – Egypt Telephone Numbers & Listings
By: Habibul Hasan | 20/08/2008
Egypt Yellow Pages (http://www.yellowpages.com.eg) is the Egypt’s local best search engine with all the information regarding Egypt business phone numbers, listings & news.
Benefits of Using an Attorney Answering Service
By: Jacques Habra | 20/08/2008
Using external answering service for your legal businesses can pay rich dividends over time.
Networking Magic! 5 Stick & Move Tactics to Make Your Network Work Like Magic!
By: Felicia Davis | 19/08/2008
These 5 tactics will help you put your networking skills in overdrive!
How to Start an Online Ebook Business
By: Amitt Sharmaa | 18/08/2008
To be able to work from home is something that most people would die for. The ability to make your own schedule and also spend quality time with your family is a dream. Everyone needs to make money doing something that they really love. If you love writing books or just love reading books, then selling e-books is the perfect career option for you.
China Consulting, Shanghai Business in China, China Ipo, China Bpo, Quality Web Services in China
By: m.jeya | 18/08/2008
Billing, customer leads, and medical claims such data require processing, which may be time-consuming and expensive. Dynasty allows you to have a professional designer quality website and at the same time gives you the ability to easily update it whenever you require. Online and Offline Data Entry includes the transcription of information from the original source into a machine readable form, including single keyboard entry, double keyboard entry and scanning / OCR.
Looking for the Perfect Free Translation
By: Clint Jhonson | 17/08/2008
If you are highly interested in providing your company with a professional translation, you should pay attention to some tips in order to make the wisest choice that will not waste your time and money. For instance, you should check whether the translation company will provide the necessary free proofreading.
Business 
