How Google Can Make or Break A Small Business

securitas writes "USA Today's Jefferson Graham reports on how Google affects small business through its rankings and text ads. The feature describes how the fortunes of small companies turned when their Google ranking rose or dropped, as well as the effects of Google's paid search text advertising model. Search Engine Watch says that Google now performs an estimated 80% of the searches (200 million) on the Internet every day. The result is that Google has become a critical part of any online marketing strategy and has spawned a whole Google-optimization industry where consultants can charge $5,000 per site for tweaking. The feature is light on technical details but the stories of those who prospered and suffered due to Google make a good read."

it really works!

[digitalsushi]

it's true and i can prove it -- we dont use google adwords, and we're going absolutely horrible! XD

The secret formula

[russler]

1. Start new small business 2. Tweak google. 3. ??? 4. PROFIT!

Re:Google Adwords

[zippity8]

Or, alternatively, you could advertise on /. by snagging the first post! =P

Ironic

[Sir Pallas]

..that the add that came up (for me) on this article was an add for Google AdWords. After what happened to the fractal website recently, maybe this is the start of a war: Slashdot now knows that Google too has the power to slashdot. That would truly be the war of the Two (server) Towers: Google googling Slashdot; Slashdot slashdotting Google. Oh, the humanity!

A Stupid Google Joke

[jetkust]

Joe Computer #1: Hey, how do i get to my search engine?
Joe Computer #2: Just look it up on google.

Re:I'm a google optimizer

[IANAAC]

cyberspace savvy

There's a catch-phrase that would get you in my circular file real quick.

Don't moderate what you don't understand.

[Thud457]

That was just a subtle [ehumorcentral.com] way of calling "BULLSHIT!" on the parent post. Hence, ontopic. And insightful.