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My main web site was removed from Google for I believe either hidden text or cross linking (and quite rightly so after learning all the No-No`s from the excellent Webmaster World Forum).
Having re-configured (I am sure correctly this time) all pages, backlinks and any hidden text/links I could find on my "banned" site and all client sites that I have access too, I have placed the re-built "banned" site on a new domain name and submitted it to Google. This was completed after correcting any known mistakes and included a "nofollow, noindex" meta tag in all the pages on the "banned" URL.
I have just returned from a very short break to find the new site has started to appeared in Google results quite quickly which is excellent news :-) BUT the original banned site has also reappeared hence - confusion!
I understand from recent postings here that this is possibly due to an "old" database currently being used, but my dilemma is now:
1. Will Gooogle penalise my new site for having a duplicate "OLD" web site (which has since been rebuilt) listed in their database which was removed from their index but is now back again? As far as I can tell it has not been indexed recently hence - incorrect cached pages in their SERP's.
2. I know Google will eventually remove the old URL when next crawled and an update takes place but could I now safely remove the new URL and go back to the original, or would I be advised to leave as is?
As the original had a PR6 (which I`m sure will be reduced once all the back links are reviewed and corrected), and it is correctly listed in Yahoo and Open Directory, the best way for me to proceed would be to use the original URL.
Any expert advice and help would be much appreciated.
Thanks and regards
EW
Not a true techy or seo, so the only advice I can give is
Welcome to Webmasterworld [webmasterworld.com]
btw, excellent 1st post, and I am sure all will be revealed by fellow members.
Shak
EW
EW
I've not used the process, but Google provides a page of instructions on how to 'remove' a 'url' from its index.
I've followed your advice and will wait for next update.
I think the forum moderator can close this posting now.
EW
I was just curious, when you say site was banned, what did you base that on? I hope you didn't base it on just not showing up and went out and made a new URL and all. I hope that's not what all of us who are missing are gonna have to do to get back into this index. I'm hoping it's just a wait until it settles and all these missing sites will show up again.
To answer your question, one of my sites was banned about 4 weeks ago.
I was informed by WW that it had been banned from Google - what for heaven knows - although I did find out with the help of all the info here that I had broken some rules so it deserved to get banned. (serves me right for not knowing all the "rules")
Yes I have built a new site and corrected the mistakes not only on this site but also on my client sites as far as is possible.
The only problem I have encountered so far is some client and 5 of my own small sites which I took off-line over a month ago that might have contributed to the ban are still in the current index as is the banned site which originally disappeared.
As MeditationMan said it will probably go after the next update (and I do hope all the others.
The newly re-configured site has produced IMHO a better site anyway.
As you say lets hope this all settles down as I really don`t feel like spending another 4 weeks checking every page of every web site I have built over the last 4-1/2 years for further changes - I would prefer to continue designing and developing the multitude of sites for the new contracts I currently have in my in-tray in the correct way.
:-)
Regards
EW
I was INFORMED by WW (or at least one so -called authority on the issue) that I was hit by the semi-penalty.
I really get scared when people make guesses and talk in language that suggests they are TRUE FACT. I don't think anybody here in WW could possibly tell you this month what happened to your site. Beware of anyone who acts like they have it all figured out.
I guess if you really were banned, at least you got a jump start on getting back in the index. But how horrible if you weren't banned but are just experiencing the same unstable results of Dominic that many (including myself) are experiencing, and now you've made a new site and have to start all over when you had great PR for the old site.
AthlonInside, are you reading this? This is what I am afraid will happen with the folks you convince have been hit by the semi-penalty.
Everybody, just chill. I know it's hard. I lost 90% of my business this week. Believe me I know how rough it is. But I'm not gonna panic and make a new site and start over based on a half-baked index.
Also, EarWig, couldn't you have just fixed the old site and asked for re-inclusion?
Being a newbie to the forum a while ago I was informed by a member here that my site had been banned as it had also been removed from the Google Directory - how people know this is a little beyond my knowledge.
I received a number of answers from some very helpful people here and noted all the advice.
I came to the conclusion after disseminating the information that it would be in my and my client's best interest to forget the "banned" site and start again.
FYI I found the site was missing from Google around the 1st May 2003.
I`ll take your advice and "chill out" for a while
I am now going to take a glass of ice cold champagne into the garden and watch the sun go down.
:-)
Regards
EW
