"Google bombing" is a relatively new term, used to describe a technique bloggers use in order to get other bloggers like themselves to post links to specific web pages or articles that increase their page rank in the Google system. This is done so that when certain keywords are searched, the results will likely show up within the first 50 results. This strategy is used by bloggers when they have an opinion and they want it heard fast. The more links they can get people to post, the closer that article will be to the top of the search results.
With that being said, right before election season, bloggers are working hard to get information about candidates known to the public, whether this strategy is considered "fair" or not. Chris Bowers, the managing editor of political blog
OpenLeft has been
launching Google bombs with the help of his readers by encouraging bloggers to post links to nine news stories about John McCain that could possibly hurt his chances of becoming the next president.
The articles being linked refer to McCain "voting to filibuster a minimum wage hike" and "the Senate passing an expanded GI bill despite opposition from McCain." Within five days, the first story had risen eight slots, making it the 42nd result while the second story had risen 16 slots, making it the 35th result for search term "John McCain."
Bowers is not campaigning for Obama, however he is obviously campaigning against McCain. He plans to have at least three of the nine articles appear within the top 10 search results for "John McCain" by Labor Day.
Strategies such as this one have been used during campaigning in the past. Is this a fair and free way to advertise or should Google do something to keep this under control? After learning about this strategy to make ideas more known, do you trust your results as facts or opinions?
Contributed by cas
