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I disagree. If you're concerned about how you're doing on Google, it makes sense to have to go to Google to find out.

• gojomo 16y ago
  Makes sense from what perspective, optimizing for whom? My concern is that compared to referrer-leaking of terms – a standard way to inform webmasters, the same for all search engines – using the Google Webmaster Tools encourages webmasters to develop non-portable Google-specific skills. This cements the leader's position even further. If your top concern is privacy, Google blurring referrers will help. If your top concern is competition in search and analytics, it hurts.
  • BrandonM 16y ago
    > My concern is that compared to referrer-leaking of terms -- a standard way to inform webmasters, the same for all search engines -- using the Google Webmaster Tools encourages webmasters to develop non-portable Google-specific skills. This cements the leader's position even further. What's the point of looking at search engine terms except to optimize for them in some way? The optimization is going to be based on a search engine algorithm, and with Google being the most common search engine that's the one most people are going to optimize for. That was my point: if you're trying to compete in search and analytics, it's not in a vacuum; it's in the context of a specific company's search algorithm. It only makes sense to tweak your performance by referring to that company's website, e.g. Google Webmaster Tools.