New index page - reason for removal?

[askjoe]

I had just changed my index(home) page - could this be the reason why my site was removed from google listings. I heard that google searches for pages that it's already indexed, when it doesn't find them they're removed - is this true - if so what should I do?

I need your guys help fast!

[Stefan]

Hi askjoe. I believe the way that it works is that Google will look for the file that it has in the database. If you change the content of the file, and/or the title, then it will give a new serp position based on the new content. It will have still found the file, (e.g index.htm), so it will still have you in the database. I change my index.htm occasionally and have no problem with Google finding it when a bot next comes by.

If you can post details such as the time your home page has been in the index, the changes made (such as file name and/or extension), someone might be able to figure it out. Are you positive that it hasn't just been buried down in the results somewhere since the change?

[MHes]

Hi

Questions:

1) When did your site get first indexed?

If you first put your site up after early January then you have only been listed by the freshbot. You will be in and out until the next update at the end of this month.

Removal of pages from your server do not effect the listings, once you have been indexed, people will just click the listing and find nothing there! Google will update this each month and remove the listing then, if the page no longer exists.

Manual removal of a listing is very very rare during the month.

Give us some more information! :)

[askjoe]

My site was indexed just last week and went offline sometime last night. I've treid every keyword imaginable and went often 10 pages deep. I can almost guarantee my listing has been taking off - I'd really like it if you guys could explain this "freshbot" termn a little further. What is it, what does it do etc?

I really appreciate your help. Anything further you can add would be great.

Thanks

[Stefan]

Do a site search for "freshbot". That's why it's gone. You might also search "everflux". If you can learn how to read your log files it will be a help too. There's a lot of good stuff in the archives here... and welcome to Webmasterworld.

[MHes]

My understanding.......

Freshbot is a spider that wanders around during the month, usually visiting well established sites and finding new pages or sites linked to from these established sites. I think it will give a ranking boost to new content put onto a page if the topic is current news.

It guesses a pr for the site and will list it for a few days. If it keeps finding the new site from different links it will possibly show it for a few more days, or if not, drop it.

However, you get a snap shot of where you're site may rank when the next update happens, although a freshbot listing is often a fraction higher than where it finally is indexed.

The motive is to provide fresh sites a ranking as soon as possible. Also, it keeps current affairs content properly indexed for joe public to find..... e.g. 9/11 which was before freshbot existed and google got heavily slammed for not having any information on this.