Google, as we all know by now, is the largest search engine of them all, getting 64% of all U.S. searches, according to Hitwise. Good for them. I’m sure they work hard to provide a good product (relevant search results) to their customers. But at what cost? While Google is focusing on giving the best search results to those seeking answers and solutions online, who gets trampled in the process? I say small businesses.

The internet has made it easier than ever for an “Average Joe” to start a small business and make a living from their home with very little start-up costs or overhead. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and some creativity… or so one would think. This would be true if it were not for one major obstacle: Google.

“What? What’s wrong with Google?” you ask. The problem with Google is that they are a completely myopic when it comes to doing what is best for the online community. Sure, they value those who are seeking information via their Google search results, but what about the other half of the equation? What about those who are working hard to provide that information? What is Google’s responsibility to these individuals? I would argue a great deal more than Google is doing, but Google clearly feels that their responsibility is zero. Wow. Google has decided to crack down on spammers and abusers (and I say good for them again), but far too many small online businesses get destroyed in this process. This is not good at all.

So how is Google stomping on the little guy exactly? Well, one such example is the alleged “Google Sandbox”. Some deny the existence of this dynamic, but most acknowledge its existence to at least some degree. I for one believe I have experienced it personally. The “Google Sandbox” is basically a dynamic where a new domain name is apparently put on some kind of probationary period until they are deemed grown up enough to play with the others. This usually lasts a few months. Wow… I just don’t think it’s a good policy for one giant company to entirely determine what is and isn’t of value to the rest of us and when someone’s information or business idea is ready to come out of “quarantine”.

Another example would be the numerous accounts that I have read about Google “punishing” a domain for some innocuous or accidental “offense” by removing the site from their index and shutting the business down for several months. Is that something that we should be comfortable with? Personally, I am not.

I’m all for Google weeding through the garbage for us and eliminating spam pages that don’t really offer any information, products or services… but why am I still finding such pages on Google’s search results all the time? My site filled with quality information isn’t good enough for public consumption, but pages and pages of nothing but keyword laden links are? Frankly, I am mystified as to the number of people that are in awe of Google’s magical and powerful algorithm. I am not terribly impressed.

Couldn’t such collateral damage be avoided? One would think so, considering how amazing, wise, and powerful Google supposedly is. Why couldn’t they simply emphasize rewarding good content instead of focusing on punishing bad… along with anyone in the vicinity? How about a user based feed back variable, where the visitor ranks the quality of the site?

I for one don’t like the idea that a single company can virtually shut down a business overnight if they so desire. That is just too much power. Google states in it’s submission guidelines that if you are considering doing something to gain better ranking in their search results… don’t. But then they turn around and list of a set of guidelines that they want us to follow… to gain better ranking in their search results. What? I’m sorry, but is it just me or does anyone else see the irony of this?

I am not at all for any kind of government imposed sanctions on Google to solve this problem. I believe that whatever we do to correct this problem, it should be done in the free market through expressed concerns of Google customers. It should appeal to Google’s sense of decency, responsibility and care for the online community. I don’t think Google even realizes that it is doing this to small businesses… but I have seen little to no sign that Google would care if it did as of yet.

Google, I suggest that if you want quality information from those of us who supply it, then you need to start looking out for us little guys a lot more. I would encourage you to cleverly come up with incentives to do good as opposed to focusing purely on punishments for doing “bad”. It would be nice to be rewarded for our hard work and thrown a bone from time to time. Even though Google is much bigger than the vast majority of those of us responsible for the quality content that is available on the internet today, Google needs to understand that we are partners, not adversaries. We are all a part of the online community together.