IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU
Ranking is not about you. You really don’t matter at all. Ranking is entirely impersonal. If Bob can rank, so can you, and so can the other guy. No one at Google knows you, or Bob, or the other guy for that matter. If no one at Google knows you or Bob, you’re on equal footing. Yes, it may be lonely, you have no one to call and complain to, but that also means they won’t be calling you either. So remember, it’s not personal, if they can do it, so can you.
Be indignant and stop obsessing over Google. It will release you from fear and self-doubt. Now you can start making bold, intelligent decisions.
I can murder my competitors because I know that 80% of SEO is about a PROCESS to build content and a PROCESS to build links. I care about building a site whose content is so captivating that Google looks irrelevant if they DON’T rank me highly. The blend of social media and what Dan Thies calls “profitable promotions” proves that this is where things are headed. Now they’re chasing you instead of you chasing them.
Also, consider that Google grew in popularity by word of mouth. The web is just a popularity contest…. build links and produce content and you’ll be fine.
Somebody correct me if I’m wrong.