Google BowlingI was reading a post yesterday by Jeremy Shoemaker where he was showing off a shirt sent to him that had the Google Bowling Team logo on the back.

I thought this was awesome because I love bowling.  I’m even a big enough nerd that I have my own bowling ball.

So with excitement I searched for Google Bowling Team on Google (of all places).  But what I found surprised me.  I instantly realized that there is more to the term Google Bowling than meets the eye.

What Is Google Bowling?

You’re a blogger, so you probably know about something called SEO (search engine optimization).  A method you employ to help your blog rank better in search engines.

Well, Google Bowling is the exact same thing, except opposite.

Let’s say you’ve literally spent months optimizing your blog like an SEO Ninja and gaining links with the optimal keywords in relation to your niche.  You get excited as you pull up Google and type in your specific keyword.  But soon a frown washes over your face.  With all of the hard work you’ve done, you are only number 6 in Google for your most sought after keyword.

This is where Google Bowling comes into the picture.

You realize there must be something else you can do to get that coveted number 1 spot, so you throw your bag of white hat tactics out the window, in favor of tempting the Gods with secret black hat tactics.

If there was only some way to get those 5 websites or blogs before you to dissappear from Google so you can take over.

That is what Google Bowling is all about.  Knocking down the competition like bowling pins to gain in the search listings.

Google Bowling Techniques

Now that you know what you need to do, you’re probably wondering how to do it.  The ideal situation would be to let your competitors do it to themselves, but there is a reason they’re ranking number 1 through 5 in the first place.  You’re not dealing with idiots.  Google bowling consists of some relatively standard actions that can be taken for best results.

  1. Purchasing Site Wide Links
  2. Creating tons of links having the same exact anchor text
  3. Creating links from “Bad Neighborhoods”
  4. “Sneaky” Redirects AKA Doorway pages
  5. Using Cookie Cutter sites
  6. Keyword Stuffing
  7. Automated Querying of Google

Doing all of these over and over again, while making sure the links are for the same lame keyword, will have a big negative effect on your competition (unless they have a huge presense like Disney or Walmart).  And once your competition is gone, you have complete domination in the Google search listings… unless you get caught.

Why Am I Telling You This?

I’m not telling you how to use Google Bowling in hopes that you’ll actually try it.   In fact, I don’t condone using it at all.  I consider it more evil than black hat seo, and if anyone ever caught you doing it, I’m pretty sure you’d lose your stake in the search engines faster than you can blink.  It might even be more evil than John Chow.

I’m telling you about Google Bowling so you are aware that it exists.  There are people on the internet that use it.  SEO Black Hat is selling Google Bowling as a service.  You should always keep watch to make sure it’s not happening to you.

The best way to monitor your backlinks and make sure you know as soon as it starts happening is to use a backlink checker.  There are many of them that can be found online, but the best one I’ve ever used was the backlink checker in Shoemoney Tools.  It does cost, but if you use the code: steven-sanders when you sign up you save 90% on your first month.

Do you know someone who uses Google Bowling?  Has it ever happend to you?