301 Almost Killed Us!

[hookah]

Several weeks ago we forwarded 3 new domains to our main domain (http://www.hookahhub.com) all using “Search Engine Safe” 301 redirects.

Within days of adding the 301 redirects dozens of our main keywords completely disappeared from the Google results. We made every adjustment we could think of with little or no affect.

Then strangely for a couple weeks Google would occasionally add a new keyword or re-index an old keyword for 24-48 hours and then this keyword would totally disappear.

This obviously had a dramatic affect on our traffic and sales volume and we therefore invested countless hours investigating the problem.

After posting on several forums, including here http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=313011, it was suggested that perhaps Google had changed its rule on 301 redirects.

We were willing to try anything so we immediately removed all of the domains and the corresponding 301 redirects.

Wow what a remarkable difference that made! Within 48 hours 20+ keywords were re-indexed and ranking well in the Google results. This number has since grown and remained consistent. In fact many of our main keywords have regained their previous ranking.

We can only assume from these dramatic results that the previously "Search Engine Safe" 301 redirect may not be safe anymore.

[google junky]

Very off topic, but I feel a little more educated. I went to wikipedia and read what a Hookah was. Very interesting read.


Back on topic.
I have only heard good things about using a 301 and in saying that, I have never had to use one for a site.

Is it possible that when you did the 301 that you were simply getting settled in for placement?

I have no answer to this. If anything I bumped up the topic for you.

[hookah]

We had been ranking consistently well for several months before this point. This could be a very important development as many, many sites employ the 301 redirect.

[incrediblehelp]

hookah, I highly doubt if you implemented the 301 redirect correctly it had anything to do with your rankings disappearing. Google and Yahoo went through updates during the same time you are talking about implementing these 301 redirects. I think coincidence is to blame here.

[greeneagle]

As we march toward more and more word association, synonynms, LSI and personal profiling...

That term; "hookah" may be interpreted as a "prostitute" and of course "content appropriate for all audiences" probably take on preiminence in public SERP anyway!

You may have a rough road in front of you.

Ken

[jacobwissler]

When is a site over optimized? I went back and re-did my SEO site. Instead of using the phrase "search engine optimization" I alternated with the phrase SEO, and just the word optimization. I looked for other words that have the same meaning, and greatly reduced the use of the phrase search engine optimization.

This resulted in a considerable improvement in SERPS.

[google junky]

Originally Posted by jacobwissler

When is a site over optimized? I went back and re-did my SEO site. Instead of using the phrase "search engine optimization" I alternated with the phrase SEO, and just the word optimization. I looked for other words that have the same meaning, and greatly reduced the use of the phrase search engine optimization.

This resulted in a considerable improvement in SERPS.

Sounds like another factor maybe we don't think about much. Lazy searchers. SEO is much easier(if they know what it is) to type than "search engine optimization"

Just my take on it

[wednesday]

Just a note, too many synonyms or LSA words is next to keyword stuffing. Cheers ;)