SocialSpark, PayPerPost, RealRank, Google and You

Although I think Google has been acting a little evil lately, as does Frank Carr, I think some of the effects of the recent PageRank (PR) smackdown are temporary. I've been soaking up information like a sponge, from all kinds of sources.

The PR subject has been beaten to death for nearly two months. Why am I offering more related information? Because you have choices to make. "The Google Effect" can be temporary or permanent depending on what actions you take.

Is SocialSpark replacing PayPerPost (PPP)?

I'm not going to repeat what others have written. I encourage you to read Ted Murphy's article, "Enter SocialSpark", and Andy Beard's article, "SocialSpark.com Preview - PayPerPost Goes Googley?". They tell you what it is and what you can expect from it. Pay attention to a key word in both: Nofollow.

I believe SocialSpark is scheduled to debut in January, but it might be moved up due to all the Google brouhaha. Is it going to replace PPP? I think it will.

What about all the PPP posts that are still on your blog?

If you read the terms of service for the sponsored posts services, you'll discover that you're required to leave the sponsored posts in place for a minimum of 30 days (it's probably why you have to wait 30 days to get paid for them). After the 30 days, you have 3 choices: 1) Leave them as is without the nofollow attribute on the links, 2) Add the rel="nofollow" attribute to the links, or 3) Delete the posts.

Once SocialSpark gets underway, I recommend the 2nd option. That is, unless you think your sponsored posts weren't good content in the first place. Regardless, unless you choose to remain with option 1, you won't have any non-nofollow links remaining that Google can spank you for. At that time, you can go to Google's Webmaster Tools and request reconsideration and probably get your PR reinstated.

Will RealRank replace PR?

The question isn't relevant. RealRank™ is a completely different metric which means a whole lot more than PR. The data is being collected through the ITK Tools (formerly PPP Tools) and compiled by IZEA's Argus analytical platform. In fact, the only reason I can think of to get your PR reconsidered is to prevent Google from removing your blog from their search engine completely.

Of course, there are some advertisers that will continue to be fixated on PR and there are some bloggers who will remain obsessed with their PR. It is for these reasons that I recommend you request reconsideration as soon as all the dust settles.

The Final Analysis

Looking back at everything which has transpired, and what I've learned through reading hundreds of authoritative articles, I think Google made a mistake in penalizing PPP bloggers. It's only one, however, of several mistakes the company has made in recent weeks.

If you remove your own passion from any analysis, you'll realize that we made a mistake as well. We let ourselves get into a position where PR can affect our earnings. We should've never let that happen.

(Image source: OpTempo)

November 23rd, 2007 By RT Cunningham | Categories: Advertising, Blogging, Marketing | Tags: Google, PageRank, PPP, RealRank, SocialSpark |

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Pingback: RealRank, SocialSpark and PageRank | Needless Productions on December 5th, 2007 at 7:30 am

[...] replace PageRank? One of the main selling points of any major website to its' advertisers? RT Cunningham says that the question of RR replacing PR is irrelevant. "RealRank is a completely different [...]

hari on November 23rd, 2007 at 9:38 pm (Reply)

Thinking aloud. So this might be a bit of a ramble…

I think internet advertising as a whole is in the phase of decline as determined by the Law of Diminishing returns. Too much competition in the advertising field can lead to a situation where there is too little returns for the advertiser (and consequently for the publisher) as well.

This is not just true for bloggers. It applies equally well to google themselves as well. Their own AdWords/AdSense programme is on a steep decline and they're now showing the desperation to keep up with the market… Using their might in the search engine field, they're just trying to bulldoze their competition in the advertising field…

I think the compromise you've mentioned the (rel="nofollow") for links will work only so long as advertisers are willing. To my mind, the current system of internet advertising relies so heavily on links being visible to search engines. So will that change at all in the near future? Even if the paid service is willing to allow rel="nofollow" attribute, will their own ad clients accept this? What will be the effect on the number of advertisers willing to pay for links which are invisible to search engines and which will likely not be clicked by a majority of human beings either? Remember, the rel="nofollow" is not just for google, but for all search engines which identify and respect that attribute. So for all practical purposes, those links are really "dead" links with little value to anybody…

It all boils down to "is the business model sustainable practically?" and that is a question that is quite hard to answer in a constantly changing technological environment.

RT Cunningham on November 23rd, 2007 at 9:59 pm (Reply)

I don't know about decline, but I do know it's changing. Perhaps it's for the better.

As to what the advertisers are willing to pay for, your guess is as good as mine.

Jamy : seaykopitiam.com on November 24th, 2007 at 4:15 am (Reply)

I like your last sentence on :" We let ourselves get into a position where PR can affect our earnings. We should've never let that happen."
Nice observation and write up. stumbled.
Jamy

RT Cunningham on November 24th, 2007 at 4:26 am (Reply)

Thank you, Jamy!

Frank C on November 24th, 2007 at 9:01 am (Reply)

I suspect Google will go further in coming months, perhaps even penalizing sites that use a nofollow attribute in a attempt to boost their online advertising sales.

I also think that they'll penalize sites that link to commercial sites, no matter the context of the link. For example, if you link to Amazon, even if it's not an affiliate link, you'll get a Google penalty.

Bottom line, if a potentially commercial link doesn't go through Adwords/Adsense it will eventually be penalized.

Frank C's last blog post..Some Links #10

hari on November 24th, 2007 at 11:22 am (Reply)

If they do that, their search engine's whole foundation will come crumbling down. 99% of the web is full of sites that link to commercial sites in one form of the other. Will google then go one step further and ban linking altogether? Let's not get too carried away at the moment.

Stevo on November 25th, 2007 at 4:54 am (Reply)

Regardless, unless you choose to remain with option 1, you won't have any non-nofollow links remaining that Google can spank you for. At that time, you can go to Google's Webmaster Tools and request reconsideration and probably get your PR reinstated.

Won't Google just start to penalize SocialSpark posts as it had with PPP? Changing to nofollow won't matter if you continue to publish articles with paid links, no matter who they come from.

Stevo's last blog post..fishmonger

hari on November 25th, 2007 at 12:32 pm (Reply)

No. I believe it's google's own recommendation that paid links add the rel="nofollow" attribute.
2. Stevo on November 25th, 2007 at 12:42 pm (Reply)
  
  Sorry, I meant, changing your old links to /nofollow won't matter if you have new links without the attribute. You'll still be penalized.
  
  Stevo's last blog post..give it up for the supercrone
RT Cunningham on November 25th, 2007 at 1:42 pm (Reply)

All your new links should have nofollow on them if you use SocialSpark for the opportunities. So basically, no more than a month after starting with nofollow links, the old links could be fixed and you wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.

Steve on November 26th, 2007 at 11:06 pm (Reply)

How long will it take for advertisers on PPP to get more realistic about PR? Scanning some of the opps, if I had a PR5 I wouldn't be taking $5 to blog about perfume when there are far better opportunities and better sites to use.

Sour grapes? Yes, my PR is low because I do PPP. Even with a higher PR the available opps are ridiculous.

I hope RealRank is understood and adopted by the advertisers.

Steve's last blog post..a morning at guangxiao si

RT Cunningham on November 26th, 2007 at 11:15 pm (Reply)

I'm sorry about the sour grapes. I do $5, $6 and $7 posts because I enjoy doing them and not for what they're worth. I just did a $6 one when there was a $7 from the same advertiser for the same thing. (I'm still qualified for the PR3 posts which pay up to $50.)

If I needed the money, well, it would be a different story.

Just like anything new, it'll take a little while for the advertisers to get with the program. I don't expect to see a lot of changes before January.