SEOMoz rocks, but is it breaking Google's webmaster guidelines when it comes to check rankings?

[vinodchaudhary]

Hi all,

The Google's webmaster guideline in question reads...

"Don't use unauthorized computer programs to submit pages, check rankings, etc. Such programs consume computing resources and violate our Terms of Service. Google does not recommend the use of products such as WebPosition Gold that send automatic or programmatic queries to Google."

So, when WebPosition Gold is not recommended then how come SEOMoz is acceptable to check ranks for websites belonging to SEOMoz PRO?

Do Google neglects breaking of few guidelines by good boys?

Thanks in advance.

[bobjones]

Its breaking guidelines but not in order to manipulate a sites rankings. I think this sort of thing might have less of a priority for Google. it's something they can't really control because there will always be ways around this.

Interested to hear an official SEOmoz response to this one though

[NakulGoyal]

I am sure SEOMoz is using Google API to pull the data rather then essentially scraping Google that tools like WebPosition Gold do. I remember the days when people used to love WebPosition Gold...the industry has changed so much since then.....isn't it.

[ShaMenz]

Hi Vinod,

I believe SEOmoz uses the Google API to power tools that utilize Google data.

If you would like more specific information about how the SEOmoz Ranking tool works, you can email the Help Team direct (help at seomoz.org) and I'm sure they will be able to help you out.

Hope that helps,

Sha

[bobjones]

I know Google used to have an API for stuff like this, but that's not been available for a few years now. Perhaps they're still allowing people who had access previously to get into the data?

[randfish]

Hi Vinod - we use APIs for some things (e.g. AdWords data, social shares, some rankings stuff, etc), and direct crawling for others (e.g. Linkscape itself obviously, fetching weekly site crawls, etc). I believe Google's violations primarily apply to software one installs on one's own machine that runs automated queries. We don't do that (as there's nothing to download and install with Moz). I believe this is what got WebPosition called-out on Google's site.

We're in relatively good touch with folks at lots of the major services we use - Google, Twitter, Facebook, Bing, etc. Googlers have asked us to make some changes and we've obliged (e.g. removing PageRank scores from our Mozbar/PRO app).

Hope that helps!

[vinodchaudhary]

Hi Rand,

I never expected to get answer directly from you. This is more than a surprise and kind of awesome feeling. Thanks a million.

Just to let you know.. I got answer to my this question when I was lying in bed. And something you said here. Sometimes we forget small things when we attempt to think something bigger and serious.

Actually I am damn frustrated with failure of my website. Please see my other question at http://www.seomoz.org/q/why-my-website-is-thrown-out-of-ranks-again-and-again

Hope you can figure out something for me. The main problems I have concluded so far about this website are:

(1) domain name... seems an attempt to take advantage in SERPs,

(2) Seems over-optimized

(3) Though i have attempted to write something valuable to users.. but seems failed in that. Just some extra wikipedia & 1-2 more site searches about topic and wrote on my website. I mean... my site is not providing some good amount of extra value to users.

(4) Might be small site, and more affiliate links.

Can you please have a look and show me that right direction. At this moment.. I am planning to get rid of this website and domain, and launch another website with some better mission.

Your little time on my issue will be much appreciated.

Thanks a million once again, Rand. You and your company are awesome. I am your big fan.

Best Regards, Vinod

[vinodchaudhary]

Thanks everybody. Thanks a lot.

I am quite satisfied with Rand's reply. SEOMoz is awesome.

Best Regards, Vinod

[randfish]

Hi Vinod - looked through the other thread. I'd say the advice you got there was really solid. The content of that site is not very unique or valuable, the linking tactics you used were partially spammy, partially just low quality (directories, article links in syndicated directories, etc), and the effort put into the site overall feels subpar.

SEO in fields like pharmaceutical can be incredibly spammy and manipulative, thus looking at the top ranking folks (who usually only last a few days to a few weeks) is actually a terrible idea. Unlike in other spaces, overwhelming quantities of spam links and other manipulative tactics reign and Google appears uninterested in regulating this like they do in other markets. If it were me, I'd try to be one of the few legitimate, non-black-hat sites there, but I recognize that the spammers are likely to keep ranking with the churn-and-burn strategy, so it's up to you.

I do like your idea of starting over with a different type of site - perhaps a topic you're very passionate about that's less spammy?

Cheers,

Rand

[vinodchaudhary]

Thanks a million Rand.

What bigger value a beginner member get from SEOMoz than getting personal replies from the CEO of SEO Moz.

Thank you so much. I'll take your all advices.

Best Regards, Vinod