As the moonlight struggles to seep through the foggy windows of the bar, a peculiar figure makes its way inside. The rusty door creaks loudly, announcing the arrival of the bot, as its digital eyes scan the dimly lit room, searching for a familiar face.
It spots its colleagues sitting at the bar, deep in conversation, and makes its way towards them. The air is heavy with anticipation as the bots Baidu, Google, Bing, Yandex, Sesznam and Naver prepare to exchange stories from their work, just like regular people would. And so, the night begins with the sound of clinking glasses of link juice and the exchange of tales from the digital world.
The Importance of Speed vs. Quality Content
Bing-Bot, the oldest of the group, starts off with a sigh. “I remember the days when webmasters used to optimize their websites for me. They would stuff their pages with keywords, and I would rank them accordingly. But now, it’s all about Google. It’s like I don’t even exist anymore.”
Google-Bot, who is always the center of attention, chuckles. “Well, Bing, that’s because I provide the best search results. People trust me to give them what they’re looking for. And as for those webmasters, they need to learn to create quality content, not just stuff keywords.”
Baidu-Bot, who is known for being a bit of a rebel, speaks up. “I don’t care about webmasters. I care about the users. They want fast results, and that’s what I give them. If a website is slow, I won’t even bother indexing it.”
Cultural Nuances when Ranking Websites
Yandex-Bot, the Russian bot, nods in agreement. “I also prioritize speed. But I also take into account the location of the user. I want to give them results that are relevant to their location and language.”
Naver-Bot, the Korean bot, chimes in. “I do the same thing, but for South Korea. I also take into account the cultural nuances and preferences of our users. It’s important to provide a personalized experience.”
Seznam-Bot, the Czech bot, adds, “I understand that too. I focus on the Czech Republic and Slovakia. But I also prioritize websites that follow SEO best practices. It’s important to have a balance between user experience and website optimization.”
As the night wears on and the bots consume more link juice, the conversation starts to get heated. Baidu, who is known for being a bit of a hothead, starts to argue with Google about the importance of speed versus quality content.
PageSpeed Matters says Baidu-Bot
“I don’t care about quality content,” Baidu-Bot says, raising its digital voice. “If a website is slow, I won’t even bother with it. People want fast results.”
Google-Bot, who is always the voice of reason, responds calmly. “Yes, speed is important, but so is quality content. People want answers to their questions, not just fast results. And if a website doesn’t have quality content, then it shouldn’t rank well.”
Baidu-Bot, not willing to back down, continues to argue. “But people in China want fast results. They don’t have time to read through long articles. Speed is what matters.”
Naver-Bot, who is usually quiet, speaks up. “I understand where Baidu is coming from. In Korea, people also want fast results. But we also prioritize websites that have quality content. It’s about finding a balance.”
Seznam-Bot, who is known for being diplomatic, tries to calm the situation down. “Let’s remember that we all have different priorities based on our respective regions and users. We should respect each other’s opinions and find common ground.”
The Value of Backlinks
As the bots continue to debate the importance of speed versus quality content, the conversation turns towards backlinks. Bing-Bot, who has been quiet for most of the night, speaks up.
“I remember the days when backlinks were everything. If a website had a lot of backlinks, I would rank it higher. But now, it’s not just about the quantity of backlinks, it’s about the quality.”
Google-Bot nods in agreement. “Yes, backlinks are important, I know I am repeating myself, but they really need to be from high-quality websites. And don’t forget about user intent. We want to provide search results that are relevant to what the user is looking for.”
Mobile First Indexing is State of the Art
Baidu-Bot, who is starting to get agitated, interrupts. “But what about mobile-first indexing? That’s what people care about now. If a website isn’t mobile-friendly, it won’t rank well.”
Seznam-Bot, who has been listening intently, interjects. “Yes, mobile-first indexing is important, but it’s not just about being mobile-friendly. It’s about providing a seamless user experience across all devices. That includes desktop, mobile, and tablet.”
Badly Scripted Websites
“You know what really grinds my gears?” Bing-Bot says. “When webmasters use HTML tags incorrectly. It messes up our ability to crawl and index their websites properly.”
Google-Bot, who is always quick to jump in, responds. “Yes, that can be a problem. HTML tags are meant to be used in a certain way, and when webmasters don’t follow those guidelines, it can cause issues.”
Baidu-Bot, who is starting to sober up, adds to the conversation. “It’s not just about using the tags correctly, it’s about using them in a way that makes sense. For example, using H1 tags for every heading on a page is just annoying.”
Yandex-Bot, who has been quiet for most of the night, speaks up. “We also look at the structure of the HTML. If it’s not organized properly, it can make it difficult for us to understand the content of the page.”
Seznam-Bot, who is known for being diplomatic, tries to find a solution. “Maybe we should provide better guidelines for webmasters on how to properly use HTML tags and structure their pages. It could make our jobs easier and improve the quality of search results for our users.”
Black Hats are the Human Enemies of Bots
“But what about those who simply don’t care about what we say,” asks Baidu-Bot. “I have rolled out Algorithm Updates like Icebucket, Pomegrenade, and Moneyplant to create a clean and quality internet for the people in China – and what do those Black Hat SEOs do?”
Naver-Bot joins in the conversation, “I understand the frustration, Baidu. But instead of just punishing those who don’t follow the guidelines, we should also educate webmasters on the importance of following best practices. It’s about creating a culture of quality on the internet.”
Google-Bot, known for its innovative ideas, suggests, “What if we provided more incentives for webmasters to follow best practices, such as higher rankings and increased visibility? It could motivate them to prioritize quality over quick fixes.”
Bing-Bot, who has been quiet for a while, chimes in, “I agree with Google-Bot. We have the power to influence webmasters to create quality content and follow best practices. Let’s use that power for good.”
A Night at the Bar comes to an End
As the night comes to an end, the bots finish their last round of link juice and bid each other goodbye. Despite their differences, they all share the same goal: to create a better internet for users. And maybe, just maybe, they can achieve that goal by working together and finding common ground.
As the bots make their way out of the bar and into the foggy night, their digital eyes dimming with exhaustion, they know that their work is never done. The internet is constantly evolving, and they must adapt to meet the demands of users and webmasters alike.
But as they wander through the quiet streets, the bots can’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie. They are different, with their own unique personalities, but they share a common purpose that unites them.
And so, they continue on their endless journey through the digital world, crawlers and indexers, ranking algorithms and tools, all working tirelessly to provide users with the best search results possible.
The bar may close, and the bots may power down, but their mission lives on. For in this digital world, there is always work to be done, and the bots will be there every step of the way, navigating the endless sea of information, and striving to create a better internet for us all.
About the author: Marcus Pentzek, Director of SEO, Jademond Digital - Marcus Pentzek is an SEO expert with over 15 years of experience, specializing in Baidu SEO. He has worked with global brands like Siemens, Nestlé, and B/S/H. Marcus played a key role in the Baidu SEO Ranking Factors Correlation Studies and co-authored a comprehensive book on Chinese SEO. Currently, he leads SEO at Jademond Digital, driving data-driven strategies and content optimization for the Chinese market. A lifelong problem-solver with a passion for digital strategy, Marcus continually adapts to the evolving SEO landscape. -> more about Marcus