Anyone that use Build My Rank get hit by recent Google algo?

[mrtrance]

With the latest Google algo that hit on the 19th, all my sites that were ranking for their main keyword got hit from being on page 1 to pages 2 to 6.

The common thing among all these was that I was using the Clickbump theme on all of thheme where you have the 4 pics on top, title, the 1 336x280 adsense block, and then 500+ word unique content. I also had been using Build My Rank (BMR) as one of the main source of backlinks to these sites for the past 2 months. I also mixed in other types of backlinks, but BMR was utilized alot. Everything was going good and I had sites climb up the SERPs and get page 1 rankings.

Then as of the 19th when I checked on my keywords for all the sites all of them had dropped off page 1. So at this stage I thought it might be due to the whole layout thing, but what concerns me is that I was using BMR service for an offline client as well and after getting them page 1 rankings their keywords dropped off the 1st page as well and they don't use the theme I use for my sites or Adsense?

So is this some sort of penalty for using BMR, is it my theme, both or what? Anyone else using BMR get hit as well or if you used Clickbump and BMR together?

[Maraun]

Change the theme so that it fits the quality guidelines, wait for a few days and see what happens. That's the only option you have.

[theverysmartguy]

Originally Posted by mrtrance

With the latest Google algo that hit on the 19th, all my sites that were ranking for their main keyword got hit from being on page 1 to pages 2 to 6.

The common thing among all these was that I was using the Clickbump theme on all of thheme where you have the 4 pics on top, title, the 1 336x280 adsense block, and then 500+ word unique content. I also had been using Build My Rank (BMR) as one of the main source of backlinks to these sites for the past 2 months. I also mixed in other types of backlinks, but BMR was utilized alot. Everything was going good and I had sites climb up the SERPs and get page 1 rankings.

Then as of the 19th when I checked on my keywords for all the sites all of them had dropped off page 1. So at this stage I thought it might be due to the whole layout thing, but what concerns me is that I was using BMR service for an offline client as well and after getting them page 1 rankings their keywords dropped off the 1st page as well and they don't use the theme I use for my sites or Adsense?

So is this some sort of penalty for using BMR, is it my theme, both or what? Anyone else using BMR get hit as well or if you used Clickbump and BMR together?

On the 19th Google put out a "layout" algo which basically looks at the content to ad ratio above the fold. If all you have is ads above the fold then you will get hit. If you have both ads and content above the fold you will stand a better chance of NOT getting hit. If you only have content above the fold you most likely shouldn't get hit.

And when you get hit its a site wide hit too, not just the pages that are ad heavy, but each page.

You can change your layout to reflect the new quality guidelines, but it will take several weeks to notice a change in your rankings ( Google themselves even said this ).


-- Jeff

[dp40oz]

Its your theme. The latest algo has nothing to do with backlinks. I have 30+ sites, all of which use BMR, all of which are fine.

[bmcgoff]

Google kinda sucks these days...

[retsek]

Yep, nothing to do with backlinks or BMR. Change your theme or set it up properly.

[papamo44]

I dont think google wants us to make money

[lukedidit]

So what exactly is an acceptable ratio for ads now (prefer someone to ref google themselves rather then make a guess).

I have just set up a new site using heatmap theme with 4 adsense windows? Will google get all ****ty about this?

EDIT: I found it and yes typical google they are not to specific:

http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/201...provement.html

[Buyseech]

Originally Posted by papamo44

I dont think google wants us to make money

Google wants to make money, and with MFA and "adsense sites" the traffic customers of Adwords will pay will spiral downwards.

Regarding "above the fold"; you will not get "hit" if you have ads above the fold, but if all you have is a header,top menu,adsense box and 50 words of content to the side of it, then yes, you will get "hit".

I always say dont try to spam/push the adsense all the way to the top to get more CTR. Focus on getting your sites higher in the engines, then you will realize how a few % of CTR doesnt have a wiff, of what each position upgrade (top 10 rankings of course) will get you.

Sincerely, Buyseech

[outwest]

Originally Posted by lukedidit

So what exactly is an acceptable ratio for ads now (prefer someone to ref google themselves rather then make a guess).

I have just set up a new site using heatmap theme with 4 adsense windows? Will google get all ****ty about this?

EDIT: I found it and yes typical google they are not to specific:

Page layout algorithm improvement - Inside Search

4? seems like a lot

[mrtrance]

Originally Posted by dp40oz

Its your theme. The latest algo has nothing to do with backlinks. I have 30+ sites, all of which use BMR, all of which are fine.

So even just having 1 336x280 Adsense unit right after the title and then like 500+ words of content is not good enough for Google?

Something weird that I just noticed is that when I do my searches on my mobile device my rankings are still there, but when I do it on my desktop my sites have really taken a dive. Usually it's the same results whether I search on my mobile device or desktop.

Anyone else seeing the same thing? What can be the explanation for this since I've never seen this happen before?

[retsek]

A good place to start is putting the first ad unit AFTER the your first paragraph of content. Your first paragraph should be 100-200 words. This way you can either center it or left align with the second paragraph.

You can also try right aligning it with first paragraph. But it doesn't do as well as I suggested above.

Another great placement is directly below the content; above the comments section.

This is update is kinda like a ranking signal. If your site is weak and doesn't have much going for it, you'll get hit.

You'll see popular sites with vast backlink profiles and tons of social mentions not being affected by it even though they have 2 or more ads above the fold.

If you're looking for official word from Google you're not going to find it. This is next best thing: http://cdn.seomoz.org/img/upload/Scr...2_05_23-PM.jpg

[Agoge Warrior]

All of my sites have lots of BMR backlinks and none of them have been affected. I don't think it has to do with BMR but with the latest algorithm change where Google is devaluing sites with too many ads above the fold.

[mrtrance]

Originally Posted by Agoge Warrior

All of my sites have lots of BMR backlinks and none of them have been affected. I don't think it has to do with BMR but with the latest algorithm change where Google is devaluing sites with too many ads above the fold.

So hearing from several of you that BMR is not the issue, then why am I noticing is that when I do my searches on my mobile device my rankings are still there, but when I do it on my desktop my sites have really taken a dive. Usually it's the same results whether I search on my mobile device or desktop.

Anyone else seeing the same thing? What can be the explanation for this since I've never seen this happen before?

[mrtrance]

Update: Well I just cleared my browser caches and everything is back to normal. For some reason at one point yesterday I was seeing all my sites had taken a hit, but now when I do my search again all the rankings are back to where they were as before. Weird stuff seems to be going on with Google SERPs.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by mrtrance

Update: Well I just cleared my browser caches and everything is back to normal. For some reason at one point yesterday I was seeing all my sites had taken a hit, but now when I do my search again all the rankings are back to where they were as before. Weird stuff seems to be going on with Google SERPs.

Google updates the SERPs 24/7, you might have been looking at your SERP rankings while Google was doing a server update? Then as you've found out the personalized results messed with what you was seeing in the SERPs.

I always use Google Chrome Incognito browser & don't sign into anything while checking the SERPs, or doing any type of manual SERP research. Works for me.

[iamtheceo]

Ya I was curious since I use the clickbump theme for all my sites and none of them were effected thank god.

[mrtrance]

Originally Posted by iamtheceo

Ya I was curious since I use the clickbump theme for all my sites and none of them were effected thank god.

Ya I was shocked to see all my sites had taken a dive yesterday afternoon since I use Clickbump as well, but when I checked today all is OK. Must have cut a server when Google was doing some sort of update.

[FreeMeal]

What about an Square Ad Block at the start of an article with text wrapped around it? Will that be ok? That's the way I usually do it.

[mrtrance]

Originally Posted by FreeMeal

What about an Square Ad Block at the start of an article with text wrapped around it? Will that be ok? That's the way I usually do it.

Ya I'd like to know answer to that question since right now I just do the 1 336x280 right after the title and then the content after that.

[JeanneLynn]

I put my ads in the right sidebar. Is this going to continue to be allowed? One ad is visible above the fold.

[pbbiet]

Originally Posted by clickbump

Glad to hear your sites are holding their own. Make sure to check out this post when you have a chance > How to optimize your sites for Google’s new “Page Layout Algorithm” update*|*clickbump.com

Thats what i like best about Scott Blanchard. He is so keen to find the improvement in his product that no one else do. Great Post Scott. I have few questions about clickbump but i cant PM hope i will soon reach the post count to PM you.

[grexley]

I did notice that some BMR sites are getting deindexed recently. I put up 31 posts for one site in December. I double checked them this week and found that 4 were no longer indexed in google, including one on a PR6 site. That whole site had been deindexed.

It is possible you lost some important links, and if you haven't been replacing them, that could have hurt your rankings somewhat.

[timbarker]

It might be because your websites are MFA (Made For Adsense). Having tons of ads also affects your rankings especially if those are just new websites.

[jeromie]

Originally Posted by mrtrance

With the latest Google algo that hit on the 19th, all my sites that were ranking for their main keyword got hit from being on page 1 to pages 2 to 6.

The common thing among all these was that I was using the Clickbump theme on all of thheme where you have the 4 pics on top, title, the 1 336x280 adsense block, and then 500+ word unique content. I also had been using Build My Rank (BMR) as one of the main source of backlinks to these sites for the past 2 months. I also mixed in other types of backlinks, but BMR was utilized alot. Everything was going good and I had sites climb up the SERPs and get page 1 rankings.

Then as of the 19th when I checked on my keywords for all the sites all of them had dropped off page 1. So at this stage I thought it might be due to the whole layout thing, but what concerns me is that I was using BMR service for an offline client as well and after getting them page 1 rankings their keywords dropped off the 1st page as well and they don't use the theme I use for my sites or Adsense?

So is this some sort of penalty for using BMR, is it my theme, both or what? Anyone else using BMR get hit as well or if you used Clickbump and BMR together?

The same thing happened to our site as well. The difference with ours is that we have zero advertising on our website, it's an e-commerce site.

I have noticed that if you search for the term and have the region set for our location we are at the top of the search. But when region is switched back to USA we can't be found. If I search via a proxy service we are hit and miss, sometimes our term is there and sometimes it's not.

[TBInternetMarketing]

No I haven't seen any changes at all and I only use BMR.

[mosthost]

Originally Posted by FreeMeal

What about an Square Ad Block at the start of an article with text wrapped around it? Will that be ok? That's the way I usually do it.

That's how I have mine and didn't have a bad effect. Just one 300 width ad wrapped in text.

[bmcgoff]

Has anyone actually split tested (like with the CTR theme or something)?