Thanks for asking, and for promptly responding to my request for additional info.
I've looked over the site, and performed many searches, both on Google
and other search engines. My findings: The actual number of inbound
links currently shown in Google (once the voyagenow.com site is
eliminated from that count) is less than 18,000.
The "barebones" voyagenow.com pages are missing from the Google index.
Back links are also disappearing.
Let's work through a checklist to see if we can narrow down the possible reasons.
------------------
Server Unavailable
------------------
Has your server been down recently? Server problems at an inopportune
moment are the number one reason why sites are dropped from the index.
-----------------------------
Robots.txt or .htaccess Files
-----------------------------
How about your robots.txt and .htaccess files? Have you made changes
recently, or added new redirects? If so, are they correct?
Robots.txt Validator
http://www.searchengineworld.com/cgi-bin/robotcheck.cgi
---------
Redirects
---------
Have you added redirects? Search engines can be confused by redirects.
Be sure to use 301's, rather than 302's. Be cautious about adding a
large number of redirects at one time.
----------
Optimizing
----------
Have you optimized more aggressively recently? Keyword Optimization,
such as changes to META's, Titles, <H's>, density and on-the-page
placement of keywords and keyphrases can lead to problems if perceived
to be over-optimized.
Have you made link structure changes? Overuse of keywords in link text
and alterations to link structure that are for placement only can lead
to penalties.
Keyword densities have changed radically since the Florida Upadate
last November. I hear the number 7% max bandied about.
------------
Interlinking
------------
Do you have sites that link to each other? Sub-domains that link back
and forth? This strategy rides the edge of allowable, and by removing
sites that employ this technique from the index, Google is saying that
the strategy is unwise.
Cloaking
--------
If you're a text based site that's delivering one set of content to
the search engines and visitors see different content, then there is
always the possibility that it's been detected and the site removed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Potential Problems on VoyageNow.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A number of your pages use Wikipedia articles and public domain CIA
World Fact Book content. This is perfectly legal under Wikipedia's and
public domain licenses, however, when Google finds duplicate content
on the Web, its algorithm determines the source among duplicates,
assigning high relevancy to the original, and usually places the
duplicate content quite low in the SERPS, so that Google Search
customers may most easily locate the original information in context,
rather than mirrors or copies.
A number of your pages, including Wikipedia content, could be
considered doorway pages. While many of these content pages can be
considered helpful travel related information for your visitors,
topics such as masturbation, Melchizedek priesthood, and women's
boxing are likely seen as having little relation to travel information
on VoyageNow.com. Doorway pages are on the list of officially
discouraged practices.
Voyagenow.com participates in link exchange programs, which have been
deemed to be solely for the purpose of inflating PageRank. It also has
its own Link Exchange program with reciprocal linking requirements.
Links4Trade is an example. Google is cracking down heavily on pay for
links programs with these most recent filters modification and index
updates.
Unlicensed use of derivative copyrighted images from Google itself (in
your logo graphic).
"WHO MAY PREPARE A DERIVATIVE WORK?
Only the owner of copyright in a work has the right to prepare, or to
authorize someone else to create, a new version of that work. The
owner is generally the author or someone who has obtained rights from
the author."
US Copyright Office | Circular #14 - Derivative Works
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ14.html#derivative
Google's policy is stated in their Google Information for Webmasters.
"We will not comment on the individual reasons a page was removed and
we do not offer an exhaustive list of practices that can cause
removal. However, certain actions such as cloaking, writing text that
can be seen by search engines but not by users, or setting up
pages/links with the sole purpose of fooling search engines may result
in permanent removal from our index."
My Web Pages Are Not Currently Listed
://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html#B1
Moving Forward
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Google isn't out to punish site owners in general, or any site owner
in particular. Google's business plan calls for the best possible
search results for their users. That means they are constantly
updating their methods, filters and algorithms to achieve that goal.
What squeaks by the algorithm today, might not do so tomorrow, next
week, or next month.
New filters seem to be working to eliminate over-optimization. This
isn't just a single item check anymore. It's as if the search engine
filters construct a profile of an over-optimized site, then measure
all other sites against that profile. All the possible permutations
add up, and it might take only a very small change to push a site over
the edge into now forbidden territory.
In order to get "back into" the Google index, you have several choices.
After eliminating the disapproved practices (doorways, linking
schemes, keyword stuffing) from your site, apologize for misdeeds,
promise to walk the straight-n-narrow in the future, and ask for
readmittance of VoyageNow.com. I have no personal experience with
readmitted sites, however, I imagine that such would be watched
closely for an unspecified time period into the future, to make sure
that abuses are not repeated.
Sample letter:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Google,
I am the owner of http://www.voyagenow.com .
I was not aware that participation in Link Exchanges and other
practices employed on my could cause it to be dropped from Google.
I now understand that linking for PageRank, doorway pages, and keyword
stuffing are not acceptable. I apologize for having used these
techniques on my website. I've removed all questionable content and
links from the site. I have removed the site from unsavory linking
programs. I promise not to repeat these mistakes.
I am asking you to please consider reinstating my website,
http://www.voyagenow.com, into the Google Index.
Sincerely,
[ Your Name ]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, there's no guarantee of reinstatement, or any timeframe
to go by. If your site provides great content, created to help your
visitors, rather than to be read by search engines, it'll stand a much
better chance of being forgiven, and selected for readmission.
If not...
If readmission is denied, you'd need to re-work your site as noted
above, eliminating problem elements and links, and rename it,
submitting under a new domain name and IP.
Whichever path is chosen, you'll want to watch the search engine
trends, especially Google's, and make sure the site complies with best
practices. I do realize how competitive the online travel industry can
be. If you're doing all the search engine optimization yourself,
you'll need to be in touch with the pros who follow the search
industry closely. I recommend:
Google Webmaster Guidelines
---------------------------
Google offers a a great deal of information to webmasters. For
anything from frequently asked questions, to robot.txt guidelines, to
how to tame a Googlebot that's spidering too quickly, Google is the
first source. I've listed some of the "need to know" pages below for
handy reference.
Google Information for Webmasters | FAQ
://www.google.com/webmasters/faq.html
Getting Listed
://www.google.com/webmasters/1.html
Ranking Questions
://www.google.com/webmasters/4.html
Design and Content Guidelines
://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html
Quality Guidelines
://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html#quality
Search Engine Optimizers
://www.google.com/webmasters/seo.html
Google User Support Discussion Forum
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=google.public.support.general
Google Philosophy | Ten Things Google Has Found To Be True
://www.google.com/corporate/tenthings.html
Search Engine Watch
-------------------
"The" Search Engine Digest. Buy the premium subscription. Read it. If
you're running a web-based business that depends upon the search
engines you can't afford to do without the premier analysis
information available. The free and subscription sections of the
website offer constantly updated trends and practical information
about all the search engines.
Search Engine Watch
http://searchenginewatch.com/
Webmaster World and Search Engine World
---------------------------------------
Both excellent sites for learning about search engines, and search
engine marketing. Free registration is required for access. Think of
these forums as a gold mine of practical experience from some of the
biggest names in the business. Register, read, use the tools to fine
tune your pages. The Google Guy -- an official Google employee, who
comments on search engine trends -- hangs out at Webmaster World
Google News forum. There you will also find a long, sometimes
contentious discussion (225+ posts and growing) of the most recent
Google PR and Backlink Update. A premium, subscription forum is also
available.
Webmaster World
http://www.webmasterworld.com
Search Engine World | By Webmasters, For Webmasters
http://www.searchengineworld.com/
High Rankings Advisor
---------------------
Subscribe to Jill Whalen's High Rankings Advisor, a free weekly e-mail
newsletter with accurate, timely search engine news and discussions.
The site archives of the Advisor are free also, and offer excellent
web copywriting guidance.
High Rankings Advisor
http://www.highrankings.com/advisor.htm
I hope you find this information helpful in getting your website back
in the listings. If anything is unclear, or should you have questions
about any of the links provided, please, feel free to ask for
clarification.
Best regards,
---larre
Answer Strategy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The information provided is based upon personal and professional
experience as a web designer, working in tandem with search engine
optimization specialists. |
