Banned or not listed?

[david27]

A subdirectory that I build was picked up by Google and surprisingly gave top and near top listings.
I created a new website from this subdirectory and submitted to Google - not aware at that time it was not cool to have two very similar sites.

After 3 months the new site has not been indexed.
The Google Bar shows a 4 rating. How do I determine if this new site has been banned or simply ignored?

Also would love help in changing the subdirectory so that it redirects to the new site without penalty (just using html and ftp). Would hate to lose listings in the change across!

Thanks
David

[jdMorgan]

david27,

Welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com]!

You can search for your new site by URL in Google. Type in your new domain name, and Google will give you several useful search options.

Since you say you submitted your site, I'll assume you don't have many incoming links to the new site... And incoming links are what keep a site in Google's index. Many people never submit their sites at all - a few good incoming links is all it takes to get into the search engines that still provide free inclusion.

Using just HTML, there's not a perfect way to redirect to another site. The best method is to have your "old" server generate a 301-Moved Permanently redirect whenever the previous subdirectory is requested, forwarding visitors to the new site.

Lacking the capability to do that, I'd recommend you change all the previous-subdirectory links on your site (and request that links on other sites be updated, too) to point to your new domain. Once those links are updated, then delete the old subdirectory so you won't have a duplicate content issue. You could place HTML meta refresh redirects on a few of the more popular pages if you can't get the majority of external site links updated, I guess...

What you want is lots of incoming links to your pages from highly-ranked, topic-related sites, using good keywords in the link text. Also, a listing in the Open Directory Project is great if you can get it - but don't submit sites that are "under construction" or don't contain unique content to ODP.

I won't host anywhere that won't let me have some control over the server, so I have little experience with meta refresh redirects. Perhaps someone with more experience can fill in the details for you.

HTH,
Jim

[david27]

Thanks a lot Jim for your detailed reply!
I have started to get all old links to redirect to my new domain and am using html redirect code for now. I will contact Hypermart and see if I can use a 301 code.

I still wonder how to tell if a site is banned or simply just not included in Google. My new domain has a Google bar reading of 4 - does this indicate the site is not on Google's black list?

Heres to progress!
David

[rfgdxm1]

You are probably ignored, buried under that "sites similar to the above" that always appears at the end of the SERPs. I presume this is identical or near identical content?

[david27]

Very similar and also ranking top or near for a few competitive keywords. Surprising for a subdirectory with broken links, missing images and almost no exchange links.

Thanks
David