Are we being penalized on google?

[jwwceo]

Our sites have about half the green bar filled in on the google toolbar when we view our sites in a browser. However, in the Google directory the green bar is missing altogether and we are very near the botttom. Our site is currently listing in the 150 range on searches for our main keywords.Is there any way to tell if our site is being penalized and if so, what it is being penalized for?

We have about 6 different spellings for our site that we have registered and when other sites link to us they don't always use the same spelling. Could this lead to us being penalized for having multiple domain spellings for the same site? How can we fix this problem?

[ScottM]

First of all WELCOME!

Welcome to WebmasterWorld. I'm sure you will enjoy reading and participating in all the discussions.

Now, to answer your question(s):

1. "...half the green bar filled.."

That is good. That means no penalty.

2. "...in the Google directory the green bar is missing altogether..."

That just may mean that they haven't updated the category,yet. Or perhaps there was something else going on when Google got their information from the ODP. If it stays that way for another month or so, then I'd look into something else being a problem.

3. "...Could this lead to us being penalized for having multiple domain spellings for the same site..."

Not necessarily, but it's not a good idea. Google doesn't list 'mirror' sites...just the one. So some of those links are not doing your main site any good.

I hope this helps! And again, welcome!

[jdMorgan]

jwwceo,

Welcome to WebmasterWorld!

This thread [webmasterworld.com] (and many others like it) may help you to "standardize" your incoming links by redirecting all traffic to a single domain name. This helps to eliminate the threat of a duplicate-content-on-multiple-domains penalty.

Jim

[jwwceo]

The situation in the directory has been the same for over 6 months. So I don't think it's an issue of them not updating it. Is there any reason why the browser PR would be fine, but non-existent in the directory?

[ciml]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], jwwceo.

I expect that the URL listed in Google search is different from the URL listed in the Google Directory. Maybe a different extension (eg. www.example.com and www.example.co.uk), with and without www, or even www.example.com/index.html

Often, Google merges identical pages into one listing, but this merging isn't used in the Google Directory.

[GoogleGuy]

jwwceo, you're fine. Don't worry. Sometimes matches between the directory and the toolbar are either really strict or take a while, so the PageRank bar in the directory doesn't appear to give you "full credit." Going by the pagerank shown on the toolbar, you're fine.

Lot's of people get a little too worried about PageRank. In your case, as in just about all, things are fine. No need to worry. :)

[jdMorgan]

Nominated for the understatement of the year: :)

Lots of people get a little too worried about PageRank.

I agree, unless it's a page on a long-established site and goes to PR0.

Jim