How Are People Faking Branded Keyword Data?

[baldidiot]

I'm just curious more than anything, not something I'd want to try myself.

I've noticed a bunch of affs faking branded traffic data in keyword tools. Eg: "mysite.com free bets" with 500 searches a month. Obviously fake but curious as to what they're using to do it.

Are they just chucking bots at google to search for the term or does google see through that and are they crowd sourcing real people?

The latter seems a bit expensive, even if it is pennies a click, but you'd think google would be wise to bot manipulation.

[Nicole Goodwin]

Never thought about this question but now it became interesting. As far as I know Google can still be bypassed using bots although I could be wrong.

[nwalker]

I'm just curious more than anything, not something I'd want to try myself.

I've noticed a bunch of affs faking branded traffic data in keyword tools. Eg: "mysite.com free bets" with 500 searches a month. Obviously fake but curious as to what they're using to do it.

Are they just chucking bots at google to search for the term or does google see through that and are they crowd sourcing real people?

The latter seems a bit expensive, even if it is pennies a click, but you'd think google would be wise to bot manipulation.

I've been swamped with loads of live casino related keywords suffixed with xxx.indaxis.com. I don't know who's doing it, but i have literally thousands. It's not just me, other affiliates have mentioned this to me, and the really big ones have investigated and as far as they are concerned say there is on obvious impact to them. Is this what you're referring to?

[baldidiot]

I've been swamped with loads of live casino related keywords suffixed with xxx.indaxis.com. I don't know who's doing it, but i have literally thousands. It's not just me, other affiliates have mentioned this to me, and the really big ones have investigated and as far as they are concerned say there is on obvious impact to them. Is this what you're referring to?

You mean on your stats? No, that's not what I'm talking about. Although I agree that is annoying.

People are effectively searching for "theirsitedomain.com" or "their site name" + "target keyword" - I'm assuming it's so that google thinks people are looking for their brand in relation to the term. It then shows up in google keyword planner and various other keyword tools as having search volume.

So specifically looking to trick google intro thinking people are searching for things that they're not.

I'm guessing it's an evolution of the CTR manipulation idea (where you get people to search for a term and then click through to your site to enhance the CTR). Except that you're also manipulating the actual search data.

[universal4]

How many of the seo wannabe tools do this?

You search for "target keyword" and then maybe you use the compare to "theirsitedomain.com" with those keywords, the query might be structured to hit google for that.

Also, would that produce similar results using the site:"theirsitedomain.com" "target keyword" in google?

I wonder if it is in fact an extension of ctr manipulation in some way

Rick
Universal4

[baldidiot]

The CTR manipulation needs real people though (I think), the bots are pretty easy to spot from what I've read. But is this what they're using?

Eg: Is it just a simple case of using those CTR sites that charge ~5c per search / click? Getting a double whammy of increased CTR and search keyword manipulation.

[wonderpunter]

there are companies that will sell you clicks for whatever you want.. visitor usually in india will searchf ro keyword then click on your site giving you data, it's not that exspensive.

[danielapuestas]

I know the place for that - just send the bots via searchseo. io (remove the space - not an ad, just a tool I've worked with).

Select country - it sends good authentic traffic that goes undetected and is cheap.

[baldidiot]

It really does look like it's that simple - I was half expecting some kind of overly complicated tool or scheme. Almost a little disappointed....

[danielapuestas]

I've also used it to manipulate the auto-suggest on branded queries... plenty of options - up to you to improvise.

[baldidiot]

I've also used it to manipulate the auto-suggest on branded queries... plenty of options - up to you to improvise.

You could have a bit of fun with this - did you mean:

”sky bet… are a bunch of thieving c&*%s”

[danielapuestas]

won't cost more than $300 I guess

You could have a bit of fun with this - did you mean:

”sky bet… are a bunch of thieving c&*%s”

[Springbok]

Seems like a roundabout way to get your site penalized somehow. Interesting that this is a tactic though and one I'll be looking out for now in ahrefs.

[danielapuestas]

Seems like a roundabout way to get your site penalized somehow. Interesting that this is a tactic though and one I'll be looking out for now in ahrefs.

If there is a 100% way to get a penalty - please let me know. I'd direct it all to my competitors. However, no tactic has proven to work that way, has it?

[baldidiot]

If there is a 100% way to get a penalty - please let me know. I'd direct it all to my competitors. However, no tactic has proven to work that way, has it?

Yeah exactly. There was a period of people doing negative seo using toxic links but thankfully google seemed to get wise to it (eventually).

[baldidiot]

Interestingly this seems to have suddenly changed - both google and ahrefs are no longer showing the faked traffic stats. I'm guessing they've figured out what's real and what isn't?

[ChrisPlayAU]

They seem to have redesigned the traffic analysis algorithm, I checked my site and it matches 90%.