Dump my Google penalized site and start over or.. ?

[byronc]

Hi,

I have a web design site that was kicked from 1st/ 2nd on G 1st page to 4th page.

I am considering just redoing the site on another domain (from .com to .net).

I feel that it might be impossible to fix. What do you guys think. Dump or start again?

Its not an affiliate site or blog - just a small web design services site with about 30 pages.

(also pretty ugly - but thats another story)

'deepsand and co. what should I do flush it or try get it back up the rankings?

Thanks
Byron

[SteveGerencser]

It really depends on why it tanked. It could be a transient issue, it could be something easy to fix, or it could be death.

What does your link profile look like? Did you engage in tactics that used to be okay but are now illegal? Is the drop in rank because the sources of your links were devalued or did your site specifically get punished for some transgression?

[bhartzer]

I would also consider how long the site has been around. If you've got a lot a links, then it might make sense to work through the penalty and give it more time (and build more links).

Keep in mind that whenever you move a site, even with a 301 redirect, you're not going to get the full effect of the links.

[Noble123]

First try to back it up in search results by building more quality backlinks and watch for couple of weeks. If any effort still leads to nothing then you can think of moving to another domain.

[d marks]

I would hold off, dropping to the 4th page is not catastrophic. There has been a lot of chatter on the Penguin update and potential future tweaks to their algo, but until they have a formal statement it would be premature to speculate.

[claybutler]

I would also consider how long the site has been around. If you've got a lot a links, then it might make sense to work through the penalty and give it more time (and build more links).

Please delete these duplicates. There was a server glitch.



Keep in mind that whenever you move a site, even with a 301 redirect, you're not going to get the full effect of the links.

This is not true. I've done many 301's, even moving entire domains and never experienced any lose in PR or SERPs position. I even had one client change his domain three times in one year ( that's a lot of 301s) and not only did he maintain, he actually jumped to number one for his main keyphrase.

But as pointed out, it depends on the penalty. First, are you really penalized? You should have a notice in your Google Webmaster tool is you are. Having a penalty generally means obliteration from the SERPs and/or index. Losing a 20 places is not a penalty.

Penalties can always be fixed. I've gotten them before and it's not that big of a deal. Fix what's wrong, beg for forgiveness, and do a re-inclusion request.

[alanf]

You should have a notice in your Google Webmaster tool is you are. Having a penalty generally means obliteration from the SERPs and/or index.

Well since Penguin, I have had a client that lost all ranking (no longer detectable) on one single keyword (interestingly webdesign), yet performs on all other keywords - and no notice in webmaster tools. The client told me what they did to loose the ranking - and it was naughty - however the interesting point is that there was no notice, it penalised just one keyword (that I could see - not the whole site) and that clearly Penguin has opened up negative SEO to the whole world. As the client easily did it to himself, then it could be easily done to others - that would be evil. As Google's motto is 'don't be evil' they better do something fast or the internet (at least for Google users) is about to become messy.
(more messy)

[claybutler]

Well since Penguin, I have had a client that lost all ranking (no longer detectable) on one single keyword (interestingly webdesign), yet performs on all other keywords - and no notice in webmaster tools. The client told me what they did to loose the ranking - and it was naughty - however the interesting point is that there was no notice, it penalised just one keyword (that I could see - not the whole site) and that clearly Penguin has opened up negative SEO to the whole world. As the client easily did it to himself, then it could be easily done to others - that would be evil. As Google's motto is 'don't be evil' they better do something fast or the internet (at least for Google users) is about to become messy. (more messy)

I got obliterated as well on one very important keyword that I've been on page one for about 6 years or so (now completely gone from the SERPs). But I didn't do anything wrong and my site and links are clean. Everything else is fine. Just this one page and its main keyword. So I filled out their Penguin re-inclusion request as the drop is unwarranted. Guess we'll see if they agree. The fact that Google (for the very first time as far as I know) has provided a special page for people who feel they have been unjustly hit indicates they they know that Penguin wasn't as successful as they hoped.

[Milo]

A ranking drop is never nice, but you should really think hard about such a drastic change (i.e. new website, new name etc), especially if its not a penalty (which I doubt it is). My preference is certainly .com over .net. How old is your .com? Do you really want to lose the age of the website as well as any positive branding you would have accumulated. Quite simply I would work hard to make necessary SEO changes if needed (that is if you think some are needed). Surely the time it takes to "fix" a site is far less than starting from scratch. Even a new website within your .com would be better. When did this drop happen? You might just need time for G to sort itself out.

You could always have 2 websites (.com and .net) and see which does better, just make sure they are not the same (i.e. duplicate)

Maybe post the sites domain so we can have a look

[LD]

So I filled out their Penguin re-inclusion request as the drop is unwarranted. Guess we'll see if they agree. The fact that Google (for the very first time as far as I know) has provided a special page for people who feel they have been unjustly hit indicates they they know that Penguin wasn't as successful as they hoped.

Clay, please update us with any response you get from G on this, if any. I know many here, including myself, are interested to see if they will follow through.