Should Government Sites Be Indexed Automatically? Options

[JohnMu]

I'd love to have your opinion

Here's a thread in the Google Webmaster groups: http://groups.google.com/group/Google_Webm...81fd3d48defb46/

For a small state gov't. program site directed at a small percentage of the population with few inbound links currently, that can be a problem. So, people who need to find this program must wait for "good" links? Functionality dictates service to citizens? It's a CNAME of a .gov; any other options?

They always say .gov domains are treated the same way as all other domains are - would/should that count for the initial indexing as well?

John

[joedolson]

They always say .gov domains are treated the same way as all other domains are - would/should that count for the initial indexing as well?

I'd say yes. Having .gov site given preference is tantamount to slapping a big target on their websites saying "Free Lunch" for spammers.

If .gov sites could also be given free (and foolproof) security checks to verify against hacking and spamming, sure - give 'em preference. Otherwise, I think you're just opening up for problems.

Besides - would there really be any value to giving them indexing automatically, without links? If ranking is still based significantly on the links into the site, you'd still have the situation where they wouldn't be likely to come up for many searches.


This post has been edited by joedolson: Jun 12 2007, 11:44 AM

[EGOL]

I spent one of my careers as a manager at a government agency... if they want visibility they need to earn it just like anyone else. If they want newspaper or TV or radio exposure they figure it out and pay the freight... why should the web be any different?