Hi Carver ~
Please remember that Google Answers Researchers are independent
contractors and not employees of Google. We do not have insider
information about Google's closely-guarded algorithms, and we cannot
tell you whether or not you have been penalized.
Only Google can do that, although they indicate they're not
particularly inclined to do so:
"We will not comment on the individual reasons a page was
removed and we do not offer an exhaustive list of prac-
tices that can cause removal." [From Google's "Other
Reasons Your Site May Note Be Included"]
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html
======================
Google's Guidelines
======================
From Google's Quality Guidelines - Basic principles -
"Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings."
and
"Don't participate in link schemes designed to increase
your site's ranking or PageRank"
-://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html
======================
raysnow.com
======================
I think you can see where I'm going with this. The most obvious reason
you *** MAY *** have been dropped from Google's index is the fact that
there are no less than 62 out of 66 links labeled "Link Partners".
Using Google's link: tool, we find the following:
* 031-NNN-Properties Link Directory - Residential Agents 2
* Florida Mortgage Lender - Link Site - Florida Real Estate
* Florida Home Inspectors Directory - Link Partners
* Virginia Home Inspectors Directory - Link Partners
* Illinois Home Inspectors Directory - Link Partners
* Tennessee Home Inspectors Directory - Link Partners
* Home Inspector Directory - Link Partners
* Alabama Home Inspectors Directory - Link Partners
* Connecticut Home Inspectors Directory - Link Partners
and on down the line for pages of similar links, all carrying
identical information.
- ://www.google.com/search?q=link:+www.raysnow.com&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=0&sa=N&filter=0
Even to the uninitiated, the above appears to be one of those "link
schemes" that Google specifically warns against and is known to
penalize sites for by dropping them from its listing.
=========================
Information About
Google's Recent Crawls
=========================
Webmaster World, a popular source for search engine news and
information, has discussion threads where others are experiencing the
same thing, and most of those instances are for just such link
schemes. They even have a section devoted entirely to what's happening
with Google, "Google News". You can see the latest threads and read
more information here:
- http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/
I suggest you read the information on the more recent changes observed
about Google's more recent crawls plus discussions on link schemes and
PageRank.
======================
How to fix it
======================
My suggestion is that you follow Google's advice, "you might try
'cleaning up' the page and sending a re-inclusion request to
help@google.com. We do not make any guarantees about if or when we
will re-include your site."
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html
By that I mean contacting those link sites, all of them, and removing
your site from them, and then writing to Google, explain what you have
done to remedy the situation and request re-inclusion in its index.
Again, there's no guarantee that it will happen, but I suspect they'll
be receptive if you work to remedy that situation.
=======================
Resources For You
=======================
Google's responsibility is to the searcher who is looking for
information, not to any particular website - if you can produce ***
relevant content *** for the searcher, your site can be included in
those search results.
There is some indication that Google *** may *** (emphasis on the word
"may") be moving away from PageRank and linking because of the ability
of some to manipulate that, much the same as metatags were manipulated
earlier. In fact, there is an article, dated October 10, 2003,
speculating on just this by Andrew Orlowski in The Register. You may
want to read this, as it contains very good information on the subject
of "relevant content".
- http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/33325.html
Here are some important links from Google's Webmaster Information and
Webmaster Guidelines. Although I've covered linking and content, you
should be familiar with the recommendations contained in these pages.
Webmasters who follow the guidelines and avoid Google's "Thou shalt
nots" usually have no problem getting listed.
* How Do I Get My Site Listed on Google?
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/1.html
* My Web Pages Are Not Currently Listed (a good 'primer'
on how and why Google works so well)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html
* PageRank Information (covers both Google's PageRank and
SERPS)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/4.html
* Webmaster Guidelines (contains both the dos and don'ts)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html
* Google Facts & Fiction (can you buy your way to a
high ranking in Google?)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/facts.html
* Search Engine Optimizers (some good advice on what to look
for if you're going to hire a Search Engine Optimizer)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/seo.html
* Frequently Asked Questions (pretty much what it says, but
definitely worth wading through)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/faq.html
I am sure that you are familiar with the above information and links,
but it never hurts to check back occasionally to see if anything
important has changed or been added.
There is also good information from many of the top search engine
optimization experts, such as
* Detlev Johnson, Search Engine Guide
- http://www.searchengineguide.com/detlev/
* Danny Sullivan, Search Engine Watch
- http://www.searchenginewatch.com/
* Jill Whalen, High Rankings
- http://www.highrankings.com/
* Shari Thurow, Web Pro News (and quoted all over the Internet)
- www.webpronews.com/
who all have columns or newsletters to which you can subscribe and
keep abreast of the best way to use good content for better
positioning in search engine results.
As mentioned above Webmaster World - http://www.webmasterworld.com/ -
has discussion boards on most of the search engines. While some of the
discussions are anecdotal and/or questions for information, there is
usually enough discussion to keep abreast of what seems to be
happening.
There is an entire section devoted to Google at:
- http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/
It never hurts to keep track among these discussions, but remember,
trying to optimize for search engines only is like trying to hit a
moving target. You'll notice among the more experienced contributors
to the discussions - plus the SEO experts listed above - that there
really is no substitute for content, relevant links and good HTML.
=======================
Summary
=======================
Only Google knows what's happening, but the obvious evidence is all
those "Link Partners" links are seen as a link scheme.
You can ask by writing to Google at help@google.com, but they probably
won't comment.
The better way to get readmitted would be to drop all those "link
partner" links and ensure you follow Google's recommendations about
relevant rich content. Once you have cleaned it up, write and ask to
be re-included.
Search technologies:
- Google's link: tool for "www.raysnow.com"
- Google search for "www.raysnow.com"
- Google search of sites containing the term "www.raysnow.com"
Good luck to you,
Serenata
Google Answers Researcher |
Clarification of Answer by
serenata-ga
on
12 Oct 2003 19:14 PDT
Hello again Carver ~
I understand what you're saying; however, the fact that Google has
missed such things before doesn't mean that they didn't pick up on it
now.
Since May there have been noticeable numbers of sites dropped each
time there appears to be a major change in Google's algorithms - these
are documented on the Webmaster World discussion boards I mentioned in
my answer.
Sites which were previously well placed in SERPs (search engine
results placement) have suddenly disappeared completely from Google's
index, and very often for engaging in a linking scheme or some other
behavior Google has expressly warned against.
As for other sites you mentioned, I am certain they'll be found out
and no doubt dropped from Google's index, either during this current
crawl or in the next one. It could be a lot sooner, since we've
pointed them out in this very open forum.
Google indexes over 3.3 billion pages. The law of averages says that
some mistakes fall through the cracks. But Google intends for its
search to 'be the best' - and because some people have used linking
farms, schemes, etc., to improve PageRank, they're disappearing by the
scores from Google's index.
Google's crawls are duly noted and commented upon in Webmaster World.
Each successive major change has resulted in more sites with the same
situations as yours being penalized - their site is no longer indexed
by Google.
With the recent changes and acquisitions by search engines, and with
Microsoft announcing its intention to have its own search engine,
competition is heating up to deliver the most relevant sites to search
engine queries. The speculation is that we'll see 'search engine wars'
along the same lines as the browser wars a few years ago. This is
great for customers using search, and not so great for sites that
don't offer relevant content.
As I said, only Google knows for sure. You can contact them at
help@google.com and ask them. I would also be happy to refer you to a
number of reputable Search Engine experts for their opinion, too.
And there's always the option to join Webmaster World (the free
membership is up in the left hand corner) and ask the experts in the
Google News discussion. Do read the rules about using your actual
website, but if you leave your contact information and information in
your profile, usually one of the experts will take a look and give you
their answer.
Thanks for the chance to clarify this for you,
Serenata
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