Is there anybody that hasn't been affected by recent updates?

[gehrlekrona]

I, like a lot of people have been affected by the latest updates by Google. It seems like I have been affected by ALL updates if I go back and look at stats like 2 years ago. From that point it seems like I have lost google visitors but what I am wondering is, is there anybody here that haven't been affected at all or just a little? All I can find is how people like you and me have been negatively affected by the updates but I see in the SERPs other sites that have moved up. Is anyone who ownes these web sites here and just not posting or?
If you haven't been affected, would you mind sharing what you have done or not have done and anything else that can shed a little light. Maybe it is a "business secret" that you don't want to share since we all might learn from it?
Maybe there is a SEO out there reading WW that would like to shed some light?
Here's what I have done so far:
For the first 1-2 years I just sat tight removing a few pages here and there with duplicate texts in some parts.
Looked at my META tags and stripped most of them down to almost nothing.
Removed a lot of internal linking that was unnessesary (spelling?)
Checked my code to see that everything was ok and fixed whatever I needed to.
Downloaded and ran LinkSleuth and found a LOT of errors/dead links/ Page not found so I fixed that
Changed the CSS so the site is totally different and loads a lot faster.

Just a few things and I don't even know if it will help with Google or not. It seems (?!?) to have helped with Bing and Yahoo.

Anyway, I am sure all of us are frantically trying to find THE thing to fix but I think that there are a lot of things we need to "correct" to look good. Mybe try to become a brand? No more small niche sites, or?
SEW: “Regardless, Google favors branded websites, and early reports seem to indicate that those with a good link profile have survived this storm.”

If you haven't been affected, do you have high PR links and/or links from authority sites? If you do have that and have been affected anyway, what else can it be? Anchor texts in links?
Anyone?

[gadget26]

netmeg: Fine. Thanks for all your help. I'll go away now. I've been talked down to enough for one day.

[Planet13]

netmeg: Fine. Thanks for all your help. I'll go away now. I've been talked down to enough for one day.

even though netmeg is the last person on this board who needs someone to stick up for them, I am gonna stick up for her anyway (hopefully I won't embarrass myself too much).

netmeg's advice on this forum has probably been the main reason that I come back to theses boards (along with the advice from a select few others). Peel back the emotion, and everything she says makes sense.

Yeah, I hate being kicked to the curb by google as much as anyone on this board. But the way I see it, I've only got two choices; call my mom up and have her console me and tell me that everything is going to be fine, or get some REAL advice that will help me become impervious to the whims of google.

Doesn't seem like that hard of a choice, really.

[netmeg]

Sorry, gadget26. Good luck to you.

(thanks, planet13)

[Planet13]

I totally sympathize with gadget26 (which I am sure you and everyone else who has posted in this thread does to). And I totally want to see him or her succeed.

But I think that all of us who have been affected have to check our emotions and realize that everyone on this forum who is trying to help is doing so VOLUNTARILY. And for that, I am truly grateful.

Yeah, there are a couple people on these forums who give off the impression that they are mostly here to try and solicit clients, but even those people can't help themselves and often give out constructive advice for free.

It sucks being kicked to the curb by google. But we have to be thankful for EVERYONE who is trying to help, whether we like the message or not.

_{(Besides, nobody is allowed to give attitude to ANYONE who used to hang out with the Ramones.)}

[atlrus]

netmeg:

If someone came up behind you and held a gun to your head and told you you have five seconds to name three compelling reasons why you're better than all your competitors, could you do it?

I don't think Google works on this principle. I wish it were.

[danimalSK]

I've (or my company - where i'm responsible for SEO) recovered from Panda, and has not been hit by Penguin. Basically my strategy was to ignore Google and build up other traffic sources; Facebook, Twitter, iPhone app, Droid app, referrals through widgets, partnerships, affiliates etc. I haven't looked at GWT in months (seriously). Since basically saying "f*ck Google" our traffic has never been better (or more diversified).

Site is pretty big, around 6m UVs / month, 30m+ PVs.

Our business has never been better. Google's dying anyway, it's time to embrace the new platforms / traffic sources.

BTW we also haven't touched +1 with a bargepole. Huge waste of time. Despite Google asking me several times to implement it!

[danimalSK]

Sorry, should have also stated we invested a lot in building a better product / user experience / customer support (i.e. #*$! that users and customers care about). No investment in SEO at all.

[netmeg]

I don't think Google works on this principle. I wish it were.

See I think it does, or at least it's trying to. I'm always running across really great companies with really lousy (or best, really bland, or routine) websites. There's nothing wrong with the company, and there's nothing really wrong with the websites, except they don't adequately point out what makes the company (or website owner or the content) special.

And I'm of the opinion that if you can't convince the users you're special at first glance, you're going to have a hard time convincing Google too. Because the sites look like all the others, and there's no reason to think it's different.

[davedm]

Yes there is - Google.

Pretty much every update in the last two years has been self serving; if not to boost the prominence of their products then to make life hard for those that compete by pushing them down.

[Planet13]

I don't think Google works on this principle. I wish it were.

There was a recent video featuring googler Maile Ohye where she stated that the biggest SEO mistake sites make is not having a unique value proposition. She lists that as "mistake number 1" so it is probably important in google's eyes.

Check the 20 second mark at:

[youtube.com...]

Hope this helps.

[Planet13]

Pretty much every update in the last two years has been self serving; if not to boost the prominence of their products then to make life hard for those that compete by pushing them down.

Yes, they are a profit driven company; it would be foolish for them NOT to be self-serving. And I would be a fool if I didn't try and push my competitors down (by elevating our business).

We have become too entitled upon google to provide "free" traffic to our sites. Now look at us. We are full of bitterness and resentment. We've got no one to blame but ourselves.

[bobsc]

There was a recent video featuring googler Maile Ohye where she stated that the biggest SEO mistake sites make is not having a unique value proposition. She lists that as "mistake number 1" so it is probably important in google's eyes.

I think a UVP is great to have.

However, what's unique about:
Low prices
Free shipping
Great customer service

Are you going to rank higher using these terms?
I doubt it.

[Planet13]

Are you going to rank higher using these terms?
I doubt it.

I think that if you have a compelling UVP you will get more natural links and you will get more mentions / linkless citations in authority sites, which probably will lead to better position in the SERPs.

Also, IF google is taking user metrics into account, then I think that having a compelling UVP will lead to better user metrics, which will also boost position in SERPs.

Are these guaranteed results? Nope.

But since a compelling UVP is good for boosting sales and should be done anyway, I don't see why it shouldn't be a priority.

I think it is also important that the UVP is CLEARLY presented to visitors - both through on page design and off-page branding.

[bobsc]

Also, IF google is taking user metrics into account, then I think that having a compelling UVP will lead to better user metrics, which will also boost position in SERPs.

Having a VP in meta description definitely should help get the click.

[Planet13]

Having a VP in meta description definitely should help get the click.

Great point!

[Scurramunga]

I have a similar experience as planet13. Many user improvements since being hit by the original panda. The better I make the "user experience" and increase the conversion rate, the more my traffic drops.

When I study the sites that outrank me, I'm stunned by how bad many of them are. I have no idea where to go from here.

After reading this and some of the other posts above I felt compelled to post, as I too fit into this category.

I am referring to two websites here which I will dub 'site A' & 'Site B'. Site A is my main website which saw a drop in traffic by around 80% by April. Both sites had overlapping content and were located in separate physical locations.

Early in May, I merged A & B, consolidating, streamlining and de-optimisng to create a more positive user experience and win back rankings. I used proper redirects and followed recommendations made by Matt Cutts etc.

By the beginning of June, traffic began to steadily climb somewhat to about 30% to pre March levels, before plummeting again. Traffic is still declining and will (at this rate) will fall back to where it had fallen in April (or worst)

I am out of ideas and am tired of chasing my tail.

[andrewshim]

I am out of ideas and am tired of chasing my tail.

Panda chewed my tail. Penguin ate it up. There is no more tail to chase. Am going to sit tight for a while to see how the serps pan out. Then a revamp is in the works... but this time... hopefully never... to depend on Goog again.

[Scurramunga]

...but this time... hopefully never... to depend on Goog again

Yes. I guess the emergence of social mediums is a blessing in disguise.