What did I do to upset Google???!!!

by 42 replies
48
I have a site that's about 6 months old. About a month ago, I started doing some SEO work to promote it for a pretty competitive keyword, which I felt confident I'd be able to rank for.

I setup a linkwheel of about 10 sites, and I've written 7 articles so far which I submitted to another half-dozen sites. The articles are getting decent traffic at GoArticles and EZA (the more popular ones are just about at 100 requests each since being posted 2-3 weeks ago).

I started backlinking a couple of weeks ago through a popular WSO, and have since outsourced to three more WSO's to continue my backlinking efforts. I'm not sure if these new WSO's have begun their work yet. One promotes my site through social bookmarking, another is using XRummer.

My site's been dancing between position 25-30 for the past week or so, which I was very happy with. But this afternoon, my site's been dropped a bit... to position #281!

I have no idea if this is a normal, temporary setback, or if I did something to really piss Google off at me.

Please tell me if you have any idea what might be going on. I'm literally sick over this. I've been working too hard to deal with a major setback right now.

Thanks for any insight.
-Rob
#search engine optimization #google #upset
  • Just an off the wall question...
    If I were to look at all the links pointing to your site, what would I think of the quality of them?
  • Hey Rob,

    Unfortunately you're not going to get any definitive answer. The fact that you're still showing up in G's listings is a good thing. It's not terribly uncommon for this to happen after aggressive backlinking though.

    My "bet" would be that you'll soon (in a matter of weeks possibly) pop back up in the SERPS and in an even better postition than you were before.

    Hang in there!

    Steve
    • [1] reply
    • My site was in position #79 at one time, then out of the top 1000 then to #488, then #390 then #420.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • What I have seen in the past that can be corrected is when you get flagged by google as following "pattern" that they have spotted elsewhere, and have adjusted their algorithm to account for sites that have fallen into this negative pattern. For example, in the past reciprocal linking was a very effective SEO technique, but then google was able to identify larger reciprocal linking schemes and sites would lose rankings. Then they even were able to spot 3 way linking schemes. Then they started going after paid links.

    It's probably too early to say for sure, but if you are penalized in some way it may be a result of buying links. It's one thing to get listed in directories that have an editorial policy, or have signature links on forums. But if you are buying links from people promising a certain number of high pagerank links, that is going to be a little sketchy. It may work really well, or it could result in a penalty.

    What you can do about it is do a better job of making sure your site is popular among real people who then talk about your site and link to it naturally. And you can work harder to produce good content, as well as seek out links that are of higher quality, and more naturally occurring.

    Good luck!
  • The Death of Affiliate Marketing on Google
    • [1] reply
    • I'm promoting my own site, rich in content, unique in my niche and I believe a valuable informational site (it's still very much a work-in-progress, but it's definitely not crap).

      From the article, it sounds like Google is clearing the way for sites like mine.

      My home page is a squeeze page, but the rest of my site is readily accessible. One of my competitors, who's product is simply an e-book and his site appears to consist of a single sales letter, is still sitting pretty at position #2.
      • [1] reply
  • OP: I know just how you feel, and I've also been wondering if I've upset Google. I had two sites doing fairly well, both with a couple pages showing up on the bottom of the first pages of the SERPs. I tried some backlink packets on them (four packets over two months), hoping it would boost them up to the top three. For a couple weeks nothing happened, and then all the pages from both sites dropped to the 400s. :-( That was in early December. I stopped with the link packets and tried adding content, building more links with additional articles, SB, RSS, etc., but the best showing from either site is now something like 248.

    I can't say for sure it was the link packets, but I have to wonder. It's the only thing that was any different. My other sites, which I didn't use the packets on, are still right were they were.
  • I would say stop guessing.. as long as you follow their guidelines... you know google updates their ranking all the time .. so unless you fall from #1 to #1000 or delisted..it does not mean there is penality for your site... maybe google has their New Year update.. maybe one of your high profile inbound link is dropped...uncertainty is part of the game :=)
    • [1] reply
    • If I knew how much uncertainty there was in this game, I probably wouldn't have started playing in the first place. With the money and time I invested in this project, it certainly doesn't feel like a game.

      Every day I seem to be made aware of another way the doors can be shut at any time, for any number of reasons.

      It's become apparent to me that to succeed with a new IM venture (at least with product creation that doesn't involve an IM WSO), you need A LOT of money for promotion, or you're heavily dependent on Google to drive organic traffic.

      I know not to put all my eggs into one basket, but until I start making sales, I can't really afford another basket. And today, it looks like Google decided to delay my progress indefinitely, for a reason no one but Google knows why.

      Tough game. Noobies beware.
  • but keep in mind.. "no risk.. no reward"... a lot of people made a lot of easy money in the early days.. now the game is getting tougher to break into...

    what is the website? I may take a look and see anything obvious..
    • [1] reply
    • The site's the first link in my sig. The link takes you to the squeeze/homepage. If you want to see the site, tack on /home after the domain name. Any insight is sincerely appreciated.

      P.S. I change the name of many of the page titles after this afternoon's events to incorporate my desired keyword. In case you're wondering why so many page titles start with "computer consultant".
  • I won't claim to be an expert on the topic but in my experience it would be wise to stop giving so much focus and money to building back links.

    Just a few quality back links every now and then accompanied with constantly building your sites content will take you a lot further these days. Your content is way more important than the tons of low quality back links your building.

    The staff at Google have been trying to drill this concept in our heads for some time now, they say focus on the user not the bots. Many people may view that as a way to stop us from trying to climb the serps but I view it as a fair warning/heads up.

    As I said that is just my view, many may agree or disagree.
    • [1] reply
    • With so much info and so many conflicting views out there, an aspiring IMer has to pick a direction and go with it. I've been following the advice given in some very popular threads by Terry Kyle and K.Choon. It sounds like very sound advice. I just don't know what the hell went wrong today or how (or if) I'll be able to correct it.

      I really have little choice but to just "stay the course" and pray that Big G looks favorably on me again real soon.
  • it looks all OK to me.. definitely not on site factors...maybe you want your home page to be your real home page.. and let the squeeze page has link from your real home page.. sqeeze page is light in content.. hard to rank well.. just my two cents
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
    • [1] reply
    • According to Google Webmaster Tools:
      "On average, pages in your site take 2.7 seconds to load (updated on Dec 25, 2009). This is faster than 54% of sites"

      I suppose there's room for improvement, but I doubt this is why I've been dropped about 250 positions.

      I'm not sure if the XRumer service even kicked in yet (order was submitted on Monday), but I just went through all 4 pages of the WSO thread and haven't seen any complaints.
      • [2] replies
  • Perry:

    From what I understand, Google 'dances' around a lot. I've heard of people dropping off the face of the earth for a bit for no apparent reason, then bouncing back up, so it's not uncommon what you're seeing.

    Instead of worrying about it, I'd just focus on continuing to do what you're doing, so that when it does bounce back, you're in an even stronger position than before.

    Keep up the good work, google will eventually give you a huge reward.
    • [1] reply
    • That's the plan Floyd. The worry stems from wondering if doing what I've been doing is the cause of the drop and continued action will keep me out of the rankings. Fred certainly seems to think so.

      But Fred, I don't think I need to create another site to test the theory. In Terry's thread referenced above, he created a site, backlinked the heck out of it way, way more than I ever could, and Google didn't flush him. Granted I'm not comparing apples to apples here, but I think the backlinking strategy might not be the issue. Could be... but I hope not.

      I'm going to hope that Google is just dancing with me. I'll let them lead, I'll be a stellar partner (get better links, improve my site), and hopefully in a week or two, they'll sweep me off my feet to the number 1 spot.

      Since we're all guessing here, why not just hope for the best and see what happens.
      • [1] reply
  • You used xrumer to link directly to your money site? That's what did it, man. Xrumer, yes, its a blaack haat tool for those that don't know, should not ever ever be used to backlink directly to money sites. Only to second tier sites like your web 2.0 properties. And then lightly. How do you think Google feels about an influx of 200K backlinks to your money site all of a sudden (I'm not saying you did 200K, just an example)? Wouldn't that be cause for reevaluating whether you deserve to rank high for "computer consultant", a very highly competitive term?

    Also, apart from the requisite pages like about, disclaimer, and privacy policy, where are the links to your other pages?

    See, each page is evaluated on its own. The page in your sig is a *classic* thin-affiliate page according to what Perry wrote. I admit to not reading it all carefully, but where are your links to other things like articles and so forth? How the heck do you expect a squeeze page to rank for "computer consultant" which is -- did I say this already? -- highly competitive? Geez louise.
    • [1] reply
    • Wow dude. Intense.

      xRumer - getting it from here: http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...er-eguide.html
      Seems reliable. No complaints in the thread. Hope it's not a mistake. Campaign hasn't started yet, sot that's not the cause of the drop.

      Squeeze Page - Written by one of WF's most respected copywriters. Under his specific instruction, there should be no links to the site on the squeeze page. I originally wanted nothing to do with a squeeze page and wanted users to go straight to my site where they can see all the good stuff I've got available and register for free. I was advised by countless warriors and my copywriter to not do this, put up a squeeze page only and collect the email addresses. Hit them with an autoresponder and point them to the sales letter.

      As far as ranking for my highly competitive keyword, the top 10 don't all look unbeatable. Check out #5 (was # 2 this morning). Sales page only. No site. Less than 600 backlinks. Things are moving around a lot though. Page 1 looked far less difficult this morning. I was on p.3 and had several articles on pages 3-5.

      My backlinks are going to my web 2.0 properties, my articles, my internal site pages and my squeeze page.

      I'm learning. I'll make some mistakes. I'll correct them and get it right.

      I guess this stuff just comes natural to you. Lucky you. Some of us have to work to figure it out.

      Especially when every expert on this forum knows his way is the right way and the last schmuck who told me how to do it was all wrong. Geez Louise.
      • [1] reply
  • Happens to everyone doing serious SEO. I've had ranking drops so many times, but it always comes back, and often higher than it was. Now when I drop rank significantly, I don't even worry about it because I know it means Google is re-evaluating and is likely to give me a higher new ranking because I've built so many new links. What scares me more now are incrimental drops, like from #1 -> #2 or #3. That means I'm being out SEOed.
    • [2] replies
    • I've learned (the hard way) never to do anything to a site in a state of panic. Think, plan, check the plan - and then change the site.

      I wouldn't compound it with more changes on the site itself at the moment - let the site rest and recover a bit. Sometimes when a site "falls" it is just in a process of being repositioned.
    • Very sound advice, just extremely hard for us SEO freshmen to stay calm when we see sudden drops.

      One of my sites had been on page one of Google UK of the last six months for a very competitive term (544 million results). This morning it disappeared and the last time I looked page 7

      Would this have anything to do with Caffeine?
  • Lets look it at this from a little different angle than just backlinks....lets talk about your competition. It looks like you are targeting the keyword "how to start a small business".

    Do you have any idea how much competition this keyword has? Do you know anything about the sites you are competing against?

    I will post the screenshot below from Market Samurai...quite simply, you are going for an extremely competitive keyword (and likely the other keywords you are targeting).

    Here is what jumps out at me:
    1) Your site is showing a total of 130 backlinks....your competition looks to have an average of 500,000 backlinks. The LEAST number of backlinks in the top 10 is 1250 and the most is 4,330,000. That a ton of backlinks to compete against

    2) Your PR is 0....most of the sites in the top 10 have a PR of 6 or so

    3) Your site is less than a year old....there is not a site in the top 10 UNDER 5 years old while most are 10 years or older.

    4) You have 145 pages indexed in Google...your competitors have in upwards of 200,000 pages indexed

    The point I'm trying to make is that you have chosen a very difficult keyword. IMHO your chances of breaking into the top 10 aren't good.

    So when your site gets bounced around and you are losing in the SERPS, don't automatically think it has something to do with your backlinking strategy. Sometimes, it just tough competition.

    Again, not trying to give you a hard time, just trying to give you a little different perspective than what has already been said.

    I have tried to include the screenshot from Market Samurai with the above data but I'm not sure if you will be able to see it.

    Attachment 3565
  • Aim for quality and not quantity.
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks all for all of the advice and insight.

      It was a difficult weekend. While last week it appeared that like many of you have said, I was doing the Google Dance, on Friday it seemed that Google had somehow penalized me for my selected keyword which I've been trying to rank for (It's not "how to start a small business" negotiator.).

      While I was still indexed and could be found for several long-tail keywords, my site was completely out of the top 1000 for any variation that included my chosen keyword. It honestly seemed that Google said, "we see what you're trying to shoot for, so we're going to place a block on your site for any search that includes your desired term."

      Well, today, my fears are temporarily relieved, as suddenly I'm now back at #23-28 for my desired keyword. Hopefully I'll continue to climb.

      I'm not sure what, if any lesson I should take away from this experience (other than to not panic necessarily). My keyword IS highly competitive, and with my relatively new, low PR site and relatively low number (still less than 200) of low quality backlinks, my current ranking doesn't suck by any means. So I suppose I will continue to backlink using the services that have been recommended to me and are highly regarded by several other warriors.

      I will also continue to develop strong articles and Web2.0 properties. One thing that does appear certain is that I am getting traffic from somewhere and it's not from Google yet. Over the past several weeks since I began promoting my site through article marketing and backlinking, my traffic has been slowly, but steadily building, to an avg. of about 60 unique visitors a day as of last week. Despite being completely removed from the Google rankings, my daily traffic remained pretty constant throughout the weekend, so apparently my non-Google-SEO efforts are resulting in some traffic.

      It's certainly not the 2000 visits a day I'm hoping for, but if I multiply my article and video marketing efforts 10-20 fold, I think I might be able to build a business without relying 100% on Google.

      Thanks again for all your help. And for any aspiring SEOers, if Google suddenly seems to hate you, hopefully my experience can provide you a bit of comfort.

      -Robert
  • Sometimes athletes can overtrain...sometimes this is the case with seo. Find the healthy balance...whatever that may be.
    • [1] reply
    • Hi All,

      Update:

      It's been about three weeks since I came here in a panic. Today, I'm happy to report that as of today, I've made it to Page 1 (position #9 and climbing I believe).

      This was done after a total of about six weeks of article marketing and some moderate backlinking (I have 500+ now being recognized by Google).

      I think this is my first real victory in this, my first IM venture (even though I made my first sale last week, this trumps it).

      Thanks for all your help and advice,
      -Robert
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed

  • 48

    What did I do to upset Google???!!!

    I have a site that's about 6 months old. About a month ago, I started doing some SEO work to promote it for a pretty competitive keyword, which I felt confident I'd be able to rank for. I setup a linkwheel of about 10 sites, and I've written 7 articles so far which I submitted to another half-dozen sites. The articles are getting decent traffic at GoArticles and EZA (the more popular ones are just about at 100 requests each since being posted 2-3 weeks ago).