BBC Pays Google For Internet Marketing

Mick Meaney September 15, 2009 10

By RINF.COM 

It has been discovered that the BBC have been paying Google to place its website at the top of listings for a series of keywords, as part of its internet marketing plan.

The BBC is using £100 million of its £3.5 billion yearly revenue, from TV license fees, to promote itself.

The Corporation said: ”Promoting content like the Mercury Prize online is an effective way to inform the licence fee payers who will want to watch it or read about it. The BBC has an annual budget for marketing and value for money is at the heart of how decisions are made about spending it.”

So how can smaller webmasters and bloggers compete for a high rank in Google without paying for costly adverts?

As regular readers will be aware, I’m an SEO geek so here’s a few ideas, although non webmasters might lose interest around… now:

We all know the importance of using the correct keywords - but many who aim for broader / more general keywords often wonder why their site isn’t doing too well in Google. The trick here is to increase the number of target keywords, maybe move away from the near-impossible two word keyphrase and consider a ‘longtail’ keyword, containing a three or four word keyphrase.

Once your site or blog starts to become more established you can then begin to lose a keyword or two and move towards your original target. An effective method for small businesses is to include your location within the keyword phrase.

That is of course just one thing to consider in your overall SEO strategy, as I’ve said before, there’s at least 60 minor tweaks needed for top rankings, but it is quickly achievable – even if you have zero technical knowledge.

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  • http://www.iconnectgroup.com Amit

    I hope it is good & more informative for us (webmasters/SEO Practitioner). But it show the suspicious behavior of google keyword result (SERP) transparency. By google webmaster central, google show only good SEO practice result in organic search. Means every search engine using same misconception.

  • http://www.digitalpartners.co.nz Van

    Are you referring to natural search results or sponsored results?

    Cause using adwords, any one with a budget can pay to be on top for keyword results.

  • Dan

    The BBC claim it's Adwords but a simple search in Google for the Mercury Prize shows 2 organic listings for the BBC, and no BBC adverts are displayed.

    http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&…

  • Mark D

    You can bet the BBC are now throwing thousands upon thousands at Google Adwords in an attempt to cover their tracks.

    BTW, buying Adwords is only a short term fix for most bloggers as Google always raise the price of keywords that become too effective.

    Seeing how the BBC marketing dept truly know their stuff the choice between natural SEO and paid for listings should be clear. Natural SEO is a cost effective method that can last for many years.

    I say cost effective because the techniques used are super simple and there is rarely the need to pay a high priced SEO pro.

  • http://www.vicaroma.com Victor Aroma

    No way!

    I don't believe this, not Google!

    -Victor Aroma

  • Victor

    The BBC are crooks & liars – what do you expect from a brainwashing outfit.

    I have not paid my TV tax in 10 years – and never will since I learned how corrupt they are! Indeed – I enjoy receiving the letters telling me I am to have a visit from the TV detector van – lol – keep watching BBC – AND:

    Fuck off with your Bastard Bullshit Crap)!

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  • http://www.chatstation3.co.uk Lisabeth Seliga

    Thanks for posting, I very much enjoyed your newest post. I think you should post more often, you obviously have talent for blogging!

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