Google penalty

I lost my page rank, now zero, is there a list of violations?

[nextstep]

After I lost my page rank in Toolbar(grey now) I aksed this forum why. I found I was using linkstoyou, a violation. I have broken my ties with them.

Also had more than 100 links on my links page, I have broken them into categories.

It has been three months now since making these corections, and still no page rank. My concern is I have no idea what else they are viewing as a violation. I will correct it, but only if I know what needs correction.

This loss of rank has not only cost me quality traffic, but in my efforts to continue growth(life after google) I am refused link trade requests with sites that view me as a leper, due to no page rank. Google has marked me as poision.

My niche is tiny, and almost no compitition for my key words. I spend $$ on Ad words, Google does not mind if I am paying.

Is there a way to find out what Google is violating me for?

Thanks for any help that may be offered.

[heini]

Other link exchanges? Guestbooks? FFA links?

[nextstep]

Heini,

I have been a member of other link exchanges a long time ago, so I am still listed on some of their old pages.....
I guess I shoud contact them to be removed?

I have no guest book. I have, however, signed quite a few that are listed in google at the advice of this forum.

I have never been involved with any FFA links.

I am almost ready to start a new URL and site and go from there. Seems a shame after three years on the web.

[cornwall]

Funny people Google - basically you never find out why you have incurred a penalty, though in your case it is clear why.

OK, you have put it right, but Google takes a while to forgive and forget. There was a "general amnesty" at beginning of January, and penalised sites that had truely repented did get a PR back (if you seach the forum site search you can find a post that GoogleGuy made about it)

I do not think any of us really know when and if another general amnesty will occur. Or indeed Google for all I know may have a sin bin policy.

I would doubt that you would get anywhere by taking it up with Google, my feeling is you just have to wait for them to smile on you :)

[aek]

If I were you I'd start over with a new domain and put a note on the old domain saying it has changed. It can take many months for a site to get back it's full page rank.

[Night_Hawk]

My understanding that GG said that Guestbooks is not a penelty, at least at this point of time, maybe it will be in the future.

I have 2 questions regarding this,

1- I lost my page rank (I have a gray bar now), but googlebot and freshbot visiting my site often, and all my pages has crawled this month, i am listed on google but only 20 mpages or so shows up (thanks to freshbot). Do you think i am getting my page rank back this update?

2- How can a site with no page rank next to it in the google directory has a page rank when you click on the link and go to the site? (this is not my site)

Thanks.