block Googlebot to fix domain name penalty?

...then start over in google?

[RoySpencer]

We're still trying to get some sort of domain name penalty lifted. We know it exists, because if we put a copy of a page under a subdomain name (located at the same IP address, linked to from subdomain page with same PR), it ranks #2, versus around #90 under penalized domain.

What would happen if we used robots.txt to exclude Googlebot from the "penalized" site, and had Google remove all pages...wait awhile...then allow Google back in again? Would Google then have "forgotten" about the domain name penalty?

(BTW, the penalty was from stupidity...apparently triggered when we had two names pointed to the same site duing a domain name switch......as of a few weeks ago, there were no longer any pages under the old name in the searchable index any more. We've now removed all 301 redirects in an effort to completely remove any connections between the old and new names).

[walkman]

if it was an honest mistake, email them explaining what happened. You have to be confident enough to have G people going through your site though...

and I don't think Google forgets...unless maybe if you block it for let's say a year and the penalty is a six month one.

[RoySpencer]

well, I submitted a "reinclusion request", and got s response back within hours (!). Google claims the site is not currently penalized. I don't see how this is possible, given the fact that if we move a page to a subdomain, it regains the SERPs position it used to have months ago. Maybe there's some linking reason, since moving it to the subdomain, I had to link to it differently. hmmmm.
Can't wait for the new MSN search to go live.

[canthavejust1]

I have a similar issue. I've been ranked in the top 10 for a couple years now on a certain keyword. Just in the last few months, I was removed for that keyword only. However, I'm still listed in Google, and rank well for several other keywords.

I do feel it's some type of penalty because not only have I moved from top 10, to (anywhere from) 50-70, but I've found other sites ranked much higher than mine that aren't relative at all. The Googlebot picked up some AdSense ads on these other sites using this particular keyword, and the unrelated sites now outrank me.

I can't figure it out.

[Spine]

Exact same boat here. I've written to google to see if a problem with my .htaccess had caused a problem resulting in a penalty for me. They wrote back, assuring me my site was not banned or penalized.

I understand they change the algo constantly, but I can't understand why there are many irrelevant sites listed for certain terms, while my site can't be found for them at all.

I can type in lines of text that are very unique, and I'm nowhere. The site is indexed, has PR and is several years old.

[RoySpencer]

Well, at least others are having the same problem as me...misery loves company.

[canthavejust1]

There is a page on Google where you can request that a website be removed. All they require is an email for contact. Have any of you ever suspected that a competitor has used this against you?

I hope the fresh competition from MSN, and the recently revised Yahoo will give Google a run for their money. Google is a great engine, but their relevency is slipping, and more people everyday are realizing it.

[RoySpencer]

After reading the "Sandboxed sites - Back together?" thread, I'm now convinced we have been sent to the sandbox. The symptoms are the same as what others are reporting.

[The Grizzler]

RoySpencer - Do you use Google Adwords by any chance?

[canthavejust1]

Roy
It sounds like the sandbox refers to new sites. Mine's been listed about 2 years. In fact, it still is, but not for my main keyword. It's gone bye bye.

[b0rdslide]

Could it be that the new pages you add on a subdomain are given a fresh-content boost? Do the sub-domain pages stay at the position or do they fall back after a few days/weeks?

[RoySpencer]

Grizzler...we use Adsense on almost all out pages.
Canthavejust1..our site was renamed a few months ago..Google must be considering it a new site, as we didn't use 301 redirects for a couple of months (due to pure stupidity).