But its not for reasons like him, my site actually used to be on second page for usa, now i don't know it has gone way down. I still see people come from different google domains such as gr, it etc.
Is it some sort of new thing by Google?
[edited by: tedster at 10:47 pm (utc) on Dec 2, 2011]
Simsi
10:56 pm on Dec 2, 2011 (gmt 0)
It might be affected by the fact that Google more often alters the results based on your geographic location. So the position you see from where you sit is not likely to be the same position someone in .gr sees it at, even if you both use G.com.
I have a .co.uk that shows from here (the UK) as ranking #4 in G.com for one term, yet when I was in the States last month and checked it, it showed as #42. Came home, #4 still.
Monitoring SERP positions accurately for searchers outside your own jurisdiction (without some sort of tool to do it for you) seems pretty much impossible these days IMO. Unless someone has a decent solution which doesn't involve air miles?
tedster
11:01 pm on Dec 2, 2011 (gmt 0)
my site actually used to be on second page for usa, now i don't know it has gone way down.
Welcome to the forums, kanm. When did you lose the better rankings? There have been so many changes at Google this year that "when" often needs to be answered before you can tackle "why".
kanm
3:19 am on Dec 3, 2011 (gmt 0)
Simsi: I check the visitors through Google analytics and other tracking tools (live and reports based) and there has been no single visit from google .com, all from subdomain for a country especially, gr, it, pl etc. I also have a vpn that i used and the results are same.
tedster: I think i do know why, but not sure if this really is the reason. I just bought a seo backlink package that submitted my site to high PR sites, however, majority of them were all non-US especially the PR9. So i think the guy who i purchased it from has f*cked me up(for the lack of better term) because i am pretty noob when it comes to this.
I am now thinking to wipe the whole domain with 404s so google would remove the pages from index and then start afresh or move the nameservers to different host so google thinks the site changed hands. Because the visitors i am getting now are not my target people :(.
PS: wow, i wasn't expecting a reply really, most webforums are just inactive or noone helps. Nice to see that isn't the case here :)
tedster
3:29 am on Dec 3, 2011 (gmt 0)
It sounds like you've got a good old-fashioned penalty for artificially manipulating backlinks. This is a violation of their webmaster guidelines.
If so, the way out is:
1. Make a good faith attempt to remove all those artificial, purchased backlinks 2. Then use your Webmaster Tools account to submit a "reconsideration request." Tell Google what happened, and what you did to repair the situation.
Your domain may still hold its penalty for a while, but it can be restored. No need to 404 the whole thing yet ;)
kanm
3:50 am on Dec 3, 2011 (gmt 0)
#*$!...i can't remove the backlinks and the guy isn't being helpful (not replying anymore) or doubt he can do it because he used an automated tool called xrumer. I do have the list of backlinks but can't do anything.
I didn't think of it this way, yeah this really is a penalty because i have completely disappeared off the face of Google lol for any and all keywords. The only visits that come are for just one keyword from different google subdomains for countries but not any english speaking country at all!.
A reconsideration request would probably take weeks and there's a chance they may deny. I am going to change the servers start afresh.
PS: thanks for being so helpful. I just have one more question then, where do i get the good backlinks then lol. High PR sites are so strict, its hard to drop a backlink. Unless the site admin itself want to give you one, there's just seems no way.
tedster
4:32 am on Dec 3, 2011 (gmt 0)
We have a Link Development forum [webmasterworld.com] here - lots of good ideas and strategies are being shared. You definitely don't want to risk xrumer schemes. You can start learning by reviewing the Forum Library [webmasterworld.com] where some of the best past discussions are collected.
Understand that Google isn't looking for links that you can just place somewhere under your own power. They are looking for "freely given, editorial links". Essentially that means links that someone ELSE places because they want their visitors or their connections to visit your site. Google sees these links as votes given because they like what your site offers.
Links you can place yourself are like stuffing the ballot box. In the long run, they are often not counted, or they can even bring penalties to your site.
