Strange question about link juice.

[Krankensigns]

I have been trying to get to the bottom of a Google algorithm error and have been showing examples of the issue at hand in another forum. This is not the same link that I have mentioned in other forums, so this is just an example. If repeated several times in a thread or series of threads, would this shortened link carry any juice for the featured result on the page? I was told it would, I do not believe it does anything other than illustrate my question in the thread.

[EricaMcGillivray]

Hi Clifford and Linda,

Unfortunately, this Q&A conversation has taken a turn for the worse. Both of you are clearly working hard for your businesses and for your families, and we all can empathize when frustrations with our work is escalated and our livelihood is at stake to make it work.

However, personal attacks and personal grudges are unacceptable here as it goes directly against our TAGFEE code and our community guidelines. This isn't to say we can't have disagreements, lively debates, or hard conversations. But we always need to remember the human we're dealing with on the other end of the conversation.

Right now, a couple things will happen:

1. I will shutting down this post so it cannot get anymore comments.

2. I will be editing some of the comments to remove personal attack language.

3. Both of you will be getting emails so we can clear up anything there.

Thank you.

[MickEdwards]

ah, yes.  I seem to have walked into the middle of a shortener row which made things unclear

So to your original question.  I guess the answer is 'possibly' yes, if the link induced guys to click on the listing it might give it weight.

[Krankensigns]

Mick. I get that you don't see the problem but you may not familiar with the history of this POI and the widely reported Google algorithm Pigeon One Box Map fiasco. It has many names and has been around for several years as near as I can tell. This POI was part of a group of 4 false Place Pages, and all used keywords as the company name, but they all had the same exact address and phone number. They were built entirely from Google guideline violations. I had reported them and ultimately, the one related to vehicle wraps was changed to the real world name but still carries the one-box algo error. It is a mess and there are people in my position going ballistic on line, Blumenthal has referenced several of those.

Here are some examples of the Google Algorithm Spam Search Result Error. All are not exactly like mine but they are based on the same issue. Some are built intentionally by spammers because they know about the error, some are built by business owners who know just enough about SEO to be dangerous.

https://www.seroundtable.com/google-maps-spam-17624.html

http://blumenthals.com/blog/2013/09/28/hummingbird-local-knowledge-graph-shitty-search-results/

http://blumenthals.com/blog/2014/01/08/mining-for-google-hummingbird-guano-in-so-cal/

http://my.jetscreenshot.com/5227/20140107-nkvl-125kb

[Krankensigns]

I can not count the number of times I have called them. i can not enumerate how many times I and my associates have "reported a problem" on the bad algorithm and the spammy feature itself. The specific POI can no longer be found in MM or Google Maps, but Google that term and whoop there is! Clicking on it takes me nowhere and the directions tab reruns an error.

As for the link issue I didn't provide any sort of link that others hadn't provided for thier examples. You can't promote a feature that is locked in that algorithm because the POI doesn't exist.

[MickEdwards]

Looking at the Google result I cannot see the problem.  The shortener leads directly to the result I would expect to see.  If this is not the case then why are you using it?  I have to agree that if you have some problem with that link then posting on places like here will just 'promote' it.

If there is some listing mix up have you contacted Google direct - http://blumenthals.com/blog/2013/01/08/google-local-now-providing-phone-support-for-verification-issues/

[LindaBuquet]

I'm really sorry if something I said, or removing one of your posts on the topic because it was off-topic upset you.

But there was nothing said that could remotely be considered [Portion of this comment removed for TAGFEE reasons - editor]. I merely explained why that post was not allowed and was trying to caution you that all the posts you've been making may not be helping your cause.

And again I'm sorry you are having to go through this frustrating experience.

[Krankensigns]

Not really. That POI—as nearly as I can tell—is in the process of being deleted. I can almost watch as it goes away. First the address disappeared and it was only the street and city and state, then it was only the city. Then, just the state, now it is only identified as "United States".

Having said that—you are fully aware of how important this is to me and how it has the potential to hurt my business, I have a wife and two children, one of whom is special needs, this business is my livelihood and that of my employees and their loved ones. I care deeply about this awful Google algorithm mess. Sorry if I bother you when I try to understand what the hell causes it or how to end it.

I know from talking to others, this just takes time Google will fix it. I fully expect that algorithm error to go away in a few days or weeks. That's what everyone is telling me, except you. You never attempted to allay my concerns and fears.

[LindaBuquet]

Hi Clifford,

I'm the one that said that over in my forum. Sorry I could not explain more. Was running out door to hospital as my daughter was having a baby.  What I meant is this...

I was not implying you talking about and linking to that site so many times at different places using the Google URL shortener carries link juice in the traditional sense of the word.

However Google learns about and quantifies the popularity of a site based on links and hits. (And many other factors.) And most small local sites don't get many hits or have many backlinks, so any uptick in links and hits could indicate prominence, authority or popularity.

When you use Google's own link shortener - given many of Google's tools are designed to get her gain info about user patterns and how people search the web... given that you are creating that link right on Google and telling her what site to go to - don't you think she's following that link to the destination? And we KNOW she's recording action on that link, because you can see how many hits right in the Google link shortener dashboard, correct?

So my point was if you keep saying over and over at different places "vehicle wraps charlotte nc" check this out LINK (Google short link" going to competitors site) you are giving that site, not link juice in the traditional sense, but lots of added attention that Google could interpret wrong. Especially since you keep mentioning the keywords and link over and over so many times.

Someone at Google is not reading everything you write to try to understand the sentiment. It's a bot that's programmed to look for certain things. If for local it may well be looking mainly at location and service KWs and links. So when you keep saying city + KW and linking to them with a Google link over and over, it could be perceived by the algo as "this business must be pretty popular or important".

None of what I just said above is known science, just some educated assumptions about how Google works at a more subtle level. And I've seen some cases lately where using a Google URL shortener in a very specific way seems to possibly help ranking.  So I was merely cautioning that when you keep giving that Google URL clicks and attention, it could possibly have the opposite effect that you want it to.

Also we know for a fact that clicks from search to site impact ranking, so when you tell possibly hundreds of people reading all the forums you've been posting at to search Google for "vehicle wraps charlotte nc" and check out the one box - if lots of them are, and some are clicking the site to check out why it's ranking - that's def giving that site more clout too.

Does that make a little bit of esoteric sense?

[Krankensigns]

To further explain, the POI that is showing in the Google OnBox began as a keyword stuffed fake POI called "Charlotte Vehicle Wraps" showing in the #1 position. I went to MapMaker and suggested the "real-world" name for that feature/NAP. It was corrected but the corrected POI is still showing for that search term.

[Krankensigns]

Thanks Mick. I am having a horrorshow of a Google algorithm error here in Charlotte NC for one of my search terms: "vehicle wraps charlotte nc". I won't use the link here, but Google that and you will see the POI locked in the Google oneBox.

It's a long story, and you may not know why that feature is even there but I can explain. I was trying to get answers when last night I received a very threatening and hatful private message from one highly prominent forum individual that I was giving link juice to the feature or POI that is caught up in the one box error.

[MickEdwards]

I'm not sure I understand the question?  It seems you are asking if there is any link value in Google search results.  If that is the case then the answer is no.  Links to a Google results page could only possibly benefit Google.