I dumped text link ads. I nofollowed paid links. I javascripted links that might be mistaken for paid links. I canceled my sponsored review accounts. I switched to a different method of monetization (Scratchback) that serves Google-friendly, nofollowed links. (And btw, Google, that put a huge dent in my revenue, just so you know). Finally, after I cleaned up everything that might possibly make you hate me, I filed a reconsideration request about 5 weeks ago.
And I did all that for...what? Did you give me my PR back? No, you did not. Did you even communicate with me to tell me that you still think I'm naughty for some unknown reason? No, you did not. You simply did nothing. Others knelt down to you and you promptly rewarded them by giving them their PR back. Why have I not been awarded the same mercy? Did I miss something? Did I fail to nofollow something that you felt should be nofollowed? Or do you just dislike SEO Scoop and want me to forever grovel in my pitiful PR-ness?
In all fairness, it really doesn't matter what PR SEO Scoop has. It is meaningless and valueless. Still, I can't help but feel as though I've been slighted or overlooked, whilst all the other poor souls who have begged forgiveness have been noticed and forgiven? Why not me? Just curious, Matt...
Maybe us webmasters should unite and create our own version of adwords/adsense? Something similar to acidads.com?
Matt,
I don’t mean to be a nuisance by any means, but I have still not heard anything from you I need to ask you a few questions about one of our sites that I don’t feel is appropriate discussing in front of the whole world, plus I would like to set a friendly interview up with you, but right now my company has some issues (big issues) that have cause a big headache and if at all possible could you shot me an e-mail and give me a call.
I feel like I’m literally being dodged, but maybe your busy which I wouldn’t doubt that one bit because you seem like you have a lot of responsibility to take care of, but if you could please get a hold me
Thanks Matt
I can point you to two very high profile websites yahoo and 10best that use links to affect their Google Search rank. The terms they use are some of the bigggest in the industry like “Cheap Flights” “Hotels” etc. I can’t believe Googlers do not see it so I can only assume they turn a blind eye for some reason.
Hi Matt
I filed a reinclusion request although my issue is not because of paid links (have never sold in a link 9 years). I mentioned this post in the request because I don’t want to post our site in a public forum.
I would be ever so grateful if someone looked at the request and told me what caused the site to go from PR7 to PR5.
I hope everyone thanks Matt for his help and work with dealing with these questions. This is by far not his job and he is going above and beyond his responsibilities in fielding questions and complaints.
Also, on the topic of paid links, etc – anyone who knows SEO beyond reading a book should be knowledgeable of what to do and what not do. If you do something that every good SEO knows could get you penalized you should be prepared for the consequences.
Google is the big dog in search and if you dont like their rules get out of their yard and head on over to Yahoo, MSN, Ask, etc.
It is great that Matt Cutts joined this conversation.
My own opinion is… it takes time to pass Pagerank after site was punished. During last update popular sites like StatCounter got their deserved Pagerank back after they fixed all mistakes. For smaller websites it will defenetly take 1-3 updates.
I don’t see why people stress it out.
1. SEOs should not care about PageRank (unless they care about the [quote] toolbar Pagerank[/quote] which is just a bogus representation of the true pagerank):
Google officially confirmed to Search Engine Land that we were taking stronger action on this issue, including decreasing the toolbar PageRank of sites selling links that pass PageRank
2. SEOs should continue selling paid and FOLLOW-ed links – as long as they are smart enough not to EVER mention the link is for advertising or monetary purposes. Do NOT mention it anywhere on your site, nor next to the link, including TOS or About Us page. Do not even create “Advertise with us” page. Those interested will find your email to inquire about advertising. Forget about “Sponsored by” or similar wording. Then you’ll be fine. Because Google will then not have a hard proof you’re actually being paid for outside FOLLOW-ed link.
Be smart, you are not guilty unless you admit or mention you are guilty. You need to forget about honesty and truthfulness on the Internet because otherwise your only chance to exist would be to advertise on Adwords. Google will not be able to play the devil’s advocate if you don’t help them. They won’t teach you what your parents tried to teach you about honesty and truthfulness, but hey = “Do not do evil.”
Matt,
Need your help.
No response after re-inclusion request
regards
Anisa
Wow, I think I just read through nearly all the 100 of these replies – what a roller coaster. Two quick points before I get on to the unrelated reason I’m here this evening. 1) Google local results are now much more prominent on local search – great move – hits the business directory monopoly on local search right where it hurts 2) rel nofollow – I hate it – it allows the business directories to charge for taking rel nofollow off links – the opposite of what rel nofollow was supposed to be about i.e links without rel nofollow now have a monetary value and are therefore paid links or treated as such.. Can we please say goodbye to rel nofollow.
Anyway, finally the reason I stopped by was to ask – Donna, did you really endorse this?
the link back here from them doesn’t work and I was suspicious. Maybe its been removed as a pacifying Google measure but I just thought I’d check.
Chris, I did preview that and say that about it. I removed the link you put in the comment because that was a link that wasn’t supposed to be shared as it was for members only. But the answer to your question is yes, although I’m not sure “endorse” is the right word. But the quote was accurate.
that is pure blackhat and people wonder why they get their PR taken out?
Come on.
No it’s not. Not at all. Could someone take that method and use it in a blackhat way? I suppose, just like someone could turn blog commenting into a blackhat tactic. But blog commenting in a normal, natural way, is not blackhat. And that method mentioned in and of itself is not blackhat.
And the next person who includes that link here is going to get a whuppin!
I would have to say that this post is in my all time top 10 blog posts. I have been preparing for a reconsideration and trying to guess what could be wrong with my site. I fear submitting my site to Google and then getting no feedback because I will effective have to abandon the site after investing hundred and hundreds of hours. I sure with Google could give reconsideration feedback into the reason for a failure: duplicate content, paid links, lack of links. I allow people to add content to my site so should I flush all the content to make sure there is no duplicates? Anyway. This information has been very useful.
Thanks, Donna.
Matt if you are still reading this thread – Surely there has to be a way to let webmasters know “we got your request & are ignoring you”.
It is soul destroying when you tell me to submit a reinclusion, I do so, and diddly sqwat happens – the message sits in my “google” message centre laughing at me.
I’m sorry, but I am not an SEO, I have never sold a darn link in my life and we are dedicated professionals who have been working the site for 9 YEARS! To just be ignored is very uncool. Google has consistently been using our site in their SERPS since they started so why ignore us like we are some ….. jeeez, i don’t even know what expression to use here. Sorry, upset, knew the re-inclusion request would be a waste if time.
Hi Donna,
thanks for clearing that up – my main concern was that, since the link wasn’t active, there was an outside chance that someone was using your name without you knowing. Glad to know that its nothing underhand.
Can’t even remember how I came across that web page now – one too many glasses of wine last night.
“Actually I think the real lesson learn is place Matts name in the title of your posts so he see it and then work an angle where he needs to defend this spam team to get action.”
..well said. Donna: The SEO value that you got from this one post is worth more than the bit of cash from any paid links on your site. Good for you. But this whole thing get’s BORING now. Matt: My dishwasher is making a funny noise since yesterday ..can you help?
PS: My blog is advertising free. My content is great. My comment section is do-follow. My PR is zero. I couldn’t care less.
PS: Donna: why do some people here get a no-follow on their name (probably me : ) and some people don’t? Surely there is a logic answer to that.
Thank you Matt for your help !!!!
I filled in a new reinclusion request …
Thx million times …
supaswag, because i employ a plugin that allows me to reward people who are loyal visitors/commenters with dofollow.
A while ago you got kicked out of comments if you left porn links or blatant advertising. These times are kind of over. Nowadays there is a new system to patronize/award people in comment sections: It’s called no-follow tag. I would only use a no-follow on people/sites that I really don’t like. Like the KKK website or Mac Donalds. You make me feel like the KKK, Donna ..that’s not a dazzlin’ feeling. But it’s your site and you should be allowed to do what you want to do.
But wait a minute ..you are NOT allowed to do what you want to do on your site, otherwise this post wouldn’t even exist. Even after Matt gave you back your green Emeralds, you surely don’t like him at all. No-one working in SEO or running a commercial blog likes Matt. Because he makes your job harder. So all of you: Please stop pretending and winging. Thank you.
PS: And please don’t tell me stuff about “If I don’t have a PR, I can’t earn money and my kids will starve”. You all know the deal since a long time: Sell commercial links in an obvious way and you get the boot – sooner or later. I thought you are “SEO Experts” who know it all. Everybody tried (and still tries) to ride the wave as far as possible. Fair enough. But if you fall of the board, don’t cry for mummy. Funny enough, his post is a really bad example because it shows that if (some people) cry, mummy will be there to help. I liked Matt because as from a user’s point of view I want Google to return what’s relevant to my query and not what’s been paid for the most. I totally welcome this anti-capitalist approach. But Mummy Matt didn’t do himself a favor to get personally involved in this discussion. But after all he’s also working on his “Good Cop / Bad Cop” Rockstar image. We all want to be recognized.. especially in SEO. Because it’s basically a quite unglamorous job.
Beside all this I wish you all the best. May you live forever, in song, story, fable and myth and may your life be as sweet as a Peshwari naan bread.