Google as "GOD"

Google is the almighty when it comes to ranking web sites (don't even mention Bing as they recently admitted to using "Google" results.) So Google has this great/huge algorithm that they apply to pages, and when someone searches for a word, out comes a listing of websites with relevant results. This formula is, of course, a secret. If everyone knew what the formula was, they'd "cheat" by changing the content of the site to cater to the formula, and therefore yield a #1 position in the results. Google frowns upon that practice as it wants the results to be objective.

Today, there are people who claim to be experts in Google search results, (Search Engine Optimization specialist) and many of them make a "nice" living at their trade. This however crosses a fine line between your website, and your website "googled" to rank higher in search results.

But that brings about a more thoughtful question which is: if you work so hard to get your business to the #1 ranking in a search result for a specific "keyword", what happens when Google changes the algorithm, and you no longer rank anywhere? What happens to the companies that became overnight stars because of the #1 ranking, when the high ranking disappears? Does that company have other marketing strategies? Or does that company just wilt and die? Companies have sued Google after their sites disappear from the top of the Google search results. None of them have won. If they did, it would be headline news.

Which brings me to a more compelling question. Many companies will hire Search Engine Optimization (SEO) consultants to help with the search results rankings of their internet sites. There's nothing wrong with that. However, most companies do not know which practices are good, and which practices are bad. Let's face it, if the companies knew the landscape of SEO, they would not need to hire such consultants. Since the search results formula is not known, SEO consultant should not (although many do) guarantee results. If you asked me to stack 5 boxes, one on top of the other, I can perform that job and I can guarantee a positive result. If you ask a SEO consultant to rank an internet site in the top 5 for "health insurance," can said consultant guarantee results? And when they can't, and resort to using "unlawful" practices? Companies can choose to hire SEO consultants and not bother as to what methods are implemented. Good, Bad, whatever, are they ever going to catch me? Everyone else is doing it, right?

So for the sake of our discussion, let's say that your SEO consultant used bad practices to "lift" your internet site to the top of the search results (does JC Penny mean anything to you?). And let's say that someone reported your internet site to a Google Webspam Assassin. The Assassin finds that your site is using "bad" methods and will then remove your site from the Google search results. If you're lucky, your site will drop like a rock in the the results. If you're not lucky, your site will disappear into a "black hole", never to be seen again in search results. Either way, your business will "hurt" as that traffic is no longer getting to your internet site. Worse, that traffic is now going to a competitor who very likely used acceptable practices. A double whammy. Let's say you stop the "bad" practices of your consultant. When will Google "reverse" the damage done to the search results? Today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year? Do we really know?

And now what? What is your recourse? You can't "call" Google and complain to customer service. You can take'm to court, but that's never worked. After all, nobody has the "right" to be listed in the top of the Google search results. There no higher authority that you can call and say "Google was mean to me and removed me from the search results." Now what do you do? I'll tell you: Think before you do!!!

Gold Watch

work 40 years for the same company. retire to a party with a gold watch. those were the days. layoffs were not common. neither did employees get fired, unless they did something "really" stupid. both of my in-laws worked for the same company for their whole lives.

but today, in 2011, you are not likely to find anyone who will work for a company for 20 years, never mind a lifetime. heck, if i look back at all the companies i worked for, most of them are gone. let's see:

* 1987 - financial services company (out of business)

* 88-93 - instrument controls (sold/broken up into different units)

* 1994 - bank (acquired by another bank ... shocker)

* 95-96 - instrument controls (still in business, but under different ownership)

* 96-00 - financial services (still in business)

* 2000 - dot com (trimmed to 200 employees, acquired by a consulting company)

* 2001 - dot com (out of business)

* 02-05 - higher education (still in business)

as you can see, i never had a chance of working 40 years at the same company. looking back at all the companies i worked for, there's only 2 that i would consider spending my whole life there.

in a recent study of s&p500 companies, the life expectancy of a company dropped from 75 years, in 1937, to 15.

the point here is: our "business" environment changes constantly, and so do the jobs. people who were qualified to "file" and "type" on a typewriter no longer have the skill set to edit documents, send email or organize spreadsheets. most have not re-trained themselves to the modern skills, and often will find themselves at the unemployment line. if i look back at the jobs that i had at each company, and think of what that job would consist of today, i realize that if i was still working at that job, i would have had to "re-train" myself. in the 50's an engineer had a job/skill for life. a computer programmer in 2011 had to re-learn the programming landscape of 20 years ago.

more importantly, the people running these companies must also change how the manage the business and the people, and that's not happening. the pace and complexity of the work of today is a challenge for "old" managers without modern skills.

Darwin was right. only the strong survive.

Pats on pace to score 500 points

The Pats have scored 480 points this year, with one game remaining at home vs the Miami Dolphins. Averaging 32 points per game, they are likely to break the 500 point mark for the season. However, such rare feat is not often rewarded with a Super Bowl win. Actually, only 3 of the 5 teams listed below competed in the Super Bowl, and only one won.

Since 2002, that's only been done 3 times.

The Pats hold the record with 589 points in 2007 (Giants win Super Bowl)

The Saints scored 510 points in 2009 (Saints win Super Bowl)

The Colts scored 522 points in 2004 (Pats win Super Bowl)

The next best seasons after the Pats are:

The Vikings scored 556 points in 1998 (Broncos win Super Bowl)

The Redskins scored 541 points in 1983 (Raiders win Super Bowl)

New England Patriots Fans

After 4 weeks the Pats were 3-1, but traded Randy Moss to the Vikings. The fans were in an uproar. "Randy stretched the field", and now the Pats would not be able to win another game, that's what it sounded like. Not to mention that the Pats now had the Ravens, Chargers and Minnesota on the schedule, and the "Pats would be lucky to be 4-3 at the end of this run". Certainly the Favre to Moss combination would surely kill the Pats.

Well, the Pats survived, and won all 3 games to a record of 6-1.

Then they played a horrible game vs the Browns and lost.

But next on the schedule are the Steelers and the Colts. Once again, the Pats are done. Two tough games versus superior opponents, where Roethlisberger and Manning will pick apart the Pats young D. Interestingly, the Pats won both games.

By now the Pats are 8-2, but with a young defense that's giving up a lot of yards, ranked at the bottom of the league. "That's going to be a problem," chime the naysayers. Besides, the Jets and Bears are on the schedule and they have a though D. They'll shut down this offense made up of castoffs like Welker, Branch, Woodhead, Green-Ellis, et all, and their offense will run circles around this young defense. Well the Jets and Bears scored a combined 10 points, where the Pats pilled up 81 points.

At this point the Pats are 11-2, and have won games vs the Chargers, Vikings, Ravens, Jets, Pittsburgh, Dolphins and the Bears. All top 10 Defenses. In those 7 games they've averaged 33 points.

Now the calls to WEEI are coming in, and this is what I hear. "The Pats are peaking too early." "They'll have nothing left by the time the playoffs arrive." I'm also waiting for the ... "they're running up the score" ... calls.

The only person we should listen to on all things football, is the HC of the NEP, Mr. BB. (I know that's ironic because he doesn't really tell us anything. At his press conferences, he always tells us that the team they're facing 'this' week is the best team in the league) He is mostly responsible for getting this young D playing at this level, which is to win games. He started with a very vanilla scheme on D, and has slowly added responsibilities. The O is humming along like finely tuned Rolls Royce.

And keep in mind. The Pats have two first, two second and two third picks in the 2011 NFL Draft. Imagine. 6 picks in the first 100. He's not likely to keep all, but NFL Draft 2011 will be like Christmas to the HC of the NEP, Mr. BB. Imagine. Adding another 3-4 players (likely to be quality starters) to this team.

In the words of Maurice Vaughn ... "Stupid Boston Fans"

Lower what you owe the IRS

there are commercials on TV for people who owe the IRS thousands of dollars, and these companies claim to be able to lower the amount that you have to pay.

think about if for a second ... ... ... ... pay less to the IRS then you have to ... isn't that "illegal".

i know that you "settle" with the IRS, but the bottom line is that we "all" have to pay taxes. some more then others, but i pay my taxes, and if someone isn't paying their share, that means that i will eventually have to pay more, to make up the difference for those who don't pay any (Wesley Snipes) .... "Hey WSnip, if you had called this company, you would not be going to jail"

anyway, i can't see how one can advertise for a service that's just so "UnAmerican"

can you imagine a commercial in Iran ... "Is the government harassing you? Give us a call. We have some connections" ... NOT !!!

Microsoft

as many of you know, microsoft, fresh out of launching vista (funny how a company without a vision names a product "vista") approximately 2 years ago, has already release a beta of windows 7 ... this must be great ... or it is ... as many of us sit here and ponder a move to "windows 7", many of us are still chuging along on windows xp ... many think vista is not ready for prime time, or just not worth the significant cost and are holding back a change ... however, here i sit as vista is becoming stable for the masses, and microsoft is off building another operating system ... "hey mr. balmer, how about fixing the system i paid $400 for, the one still full of quicks and bugs" ... microsoft never ceases to amaze me ... you gotta love the capitalistic attitude at microsoft .... now if only they were as good at writing an operating system as they are at wringing every penny from their clients

Football League

Imagine. The World is going through economic turmoil, and the NFL is "aggresively" looking for new sources of income. The NFL is a $7 billion dollar industry. That's a B, and that's not a mistake. The NFL now requires each team to have security detail follow certain players around, and has deemed certain areas off limits to players. Big brother is watching, and his name is Roger Goodell. Capitalism. Gotta love it.