Don’t Be Evil: Google’s Secret War — Josh Bachynski // White Hat vs. Black Hat SEO

Josh Bachynski, Host of the SEO + AI Show, talks about the little-known story of Google's secret war to uphold its famous motto, ‘Don't be evil’. For many years, Google was seen as a champion of the small business owner, prioritizing quality content and relevance over advertising budgets and brand recognition. But, it’s now nearly impossible to find a small mom and pop website in many searches, with big brands dominating the top results. Today, Josh discusses, Don't Be Evil: Google's Secret War.
About the speaker

Josh Bachynski

White Hat vs. Black Hat SEO

 - White Hat vs. Black Hat SEO

Josh is Host of the SEO + AI Show

Show Notes

  • 02:58
    Google's ethical shift and the impact on small websites
    In the early days, Googles aim was to do good and make the web a more democratic and open place. However, as the company grew and became more focused on making money, this led to a shift in its ranking algorithms that favored big brands over small mom and pop websites.
  • 13:00
    The internal and external wars of Google
    Googles old employees have been leaving the company due to internal conflict around those who want to do good vs those who prioritize profits. Externally, Google's business practices force site owners to pay for Google Ads for visibility and deal with inflated click costs over time.
  • 14:31
    The true cost of Google Search
    Google Search appears free, but businesses pay for their ads to appear at the top of the search results, and the cost is passed on to consumers through higher prices. This system effectively eliminates small businesses and contributes to the concentration of power in large corporations.
  • 17:12
    The future of search and ethics
    Without government intervention, the current system will eventually crash due to high costs and unsustainable practices. Marketing companies will need to be regulated to ensure fair treatment for small businesses and prevent the dictatorship of a single company.

Quotes

  • "If you searched for plaid shirts 20 years ago, youd get small mom and pop sellers. Now, try to find a small mom and pop website in 99% of the searches. It'll be impossible to do." -Josh Bachynski, Host, SEO + AI Show

  • "Google decides what businesses and business niches get to exist online.And they've decided it's only big brands run by mostly straight, white, rich men." -Josh Bachynski, Host, SEO + AI Show

  • "Google is not free. And Facebook isn't free either. They all monetize in other ways, and they do so draconianly, and increasingly without any regulations." -Josh Bachynski, Host, SEO + AI Show

  • "You're playing chess with AI every day. And we have been for the last five years or so." -Josh Bachynski, Host, SEO + AI Show

  • "We have to stop talking about regulating AI and talk about regulating corporations and the big moves they can make in the market." -Josh Bachynski, Host, SEO + AI Show

  • "Google promised us web traffic and said you could never buy a position on Google. Now, that's reversed and you have to buy your position on Google. Its called Google Ads." -Josh Bachynski, Host, SEO + AI Show

  • "Over 50% of searches are zero clicks to us. So, as always, SEO has to evolve. It has to get smarter, and you can't be using yesterday's tactics." -Josh Bachynski, Host, SEO + AI Show

About the speaker

Josh Bachynski

White Hat vs. Black Hat SEO

 - White Hat vs. Black Hat SEO

Josh is Host of the SEO + AI Show

Up Next: