I will give $20 to the person who can explain the parameters behind
the Google algorithm change. Reciprocal links-BAD OR GOOD?, keyword
phrases, what the hell happened? All I know is not only is my site
jewelrycrossings.com knocked down to off the chart from 37 as of today
with the keyword phrase "silver jewelry" behind such gems as "Cheap
Bali Indonesia Furniture, Handicraft,Sterling Silver Jewelry" number
7, "Unique Christmas decorations, ornaments & Anniversary gifts"
number 17, "[PDF] (1) Visiting Merchant May Schedule" number 131, etc.
BUT another of my sites, www.watchparts.org, which was #1 for months
under
"watch parts" is now off the map, replaced by such wonders as "Price
Watch ® - Street Price Search Engine, #1", "Star Watch UK, #7 a star
watching site", "666 - THE MARK OF THE BEAST?, #15, no idea what that
is", "Rumor Watch: Terrorist Attack on US, #19, come on, these are in
the top twenty and have nothing to do with "watch parts" !!!

Thanks, DR

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Request for Question Clarification by serenata-ga on 27 Nov 2003 20:09 PST

Hello DR ~

Only Google knows "the parameters behind the Google algorithm change",
and they're not going to reveal their algorithm. It presents the
opportunity for some to 'spam' or 'game' the system, and Google's
intent has always been to produce the most 'relevant' results for a
searcher's query.

There is speculation, right or wrong, that Google might be penalizing
sites which are 'over-optimized' or which have 'gamed the system'.

There's an article dated November 25th on Search Engine Guide by Barry
Lloyd, "Been Gazumped by Google? Trying to make Sense of the "Florida"
Update!", in which he explores many of the 'theories' behind this
latest update.

For every "popular" theory he examines, there are another ten which
seem perfectly plausible to the person expounding it. But remember,
that's all they are - theories (again: only Google knows, and they're
not going to tell everyone). At least Lloyd's article has some logic
behind it, which is more than some others seem to have.

You can read it yourself here:
   - http://www.searchengineguide.com/lloyd/2003/1125_bl1.html


In addition to the above, GoogleGuy (an employee of Google who
occasionally posts to the Google News discussion on Webmaster World,
has offered to take a look at any search engine results you feel are
way out of whack by sending an email to webmaster@google.com - with
"Floridaupdate" in the subject line and somewhere in the email. Or you
can use Google's spam report, here:
   - ://www.google.com/contact/spamreport.html


There is compelling evidence to bolster the theory that sites which
were "over-optimized" (which is merely a nice way of saying sites
which gamed the existing system) have dropped way down in search
engine results. The results for both "silver jewelry" and "watch
parts" (for www.watchparts.org), actually support that theory.

Google Answers Researchers are independent contractors. We are not
employees of Google, and we are not privy to any "insider information"
regarding Google's carefully-guarded algorithms.

I can answer the rest of your questions with a reasonable degree of
certainty. But since I cannot "explain the parameters behind the
Google algorithm change", I'll leave it to you if you want me or any
researcher to answer the question or if you wish to address your
questions and comments to Google directly via the methods listed
above.

Best regards,

Serenata
Google Answers Researcher