The little guys could very well become little again.

We use Facebook, Twitter, Google, and some other platforms, but a recent experience with our internet oriented family business has left me a little concerned.

For 20 years, we have operated a web based security camera equipment business.  For 20 years I have fought for keyword optimization, good search results, and developed a reputation befitting the nearly first store of its kind on the internet.

It has always been tough, and others now do the search optimization a little better.  But over that same time I have developed good relationships, and the customer base remains sufficiently strong.

Strong enough in fact to have missed the impact of some serious subversion that was going on for nearly two weeks.

Late in August, I was reviewing visit statistics for CU1.COM, and noticed a sudden drop of about 300 daily visitors starting on August 12. Followup revealed that the website had been completely scrubbed from the Google search engine.  Even using the EXACT domain address as a search term, Google returned only an alternate possibility with it’s “Do you mean ..?” suggestion.

I was able to reach a support person at Google, and explained my concern, and the site appeared later that day as-if it had never had been missing.

Consider that the internet has provided those new ways in which we can communicate.  First we had chat rooms, then the blogs.  At the point of that last, a new investigative phenomenon had been born.  Citizen reporters and pundits.  Big Media had it’s grip broken, and no longer was there a leash on the truth.  When Twitter, facebook, and other social media  venues began and the phenomenon of facebook page likes became a rage, it appeared there was even more opportunity to get ‘the message’ out.

Partly True, until it no longer is.   Really.

READ MORE ►