And Google Really Expects to be Taken Seriously!? Really!?
To say I am disappointed is an understatement. Google has lost a hell of lot of credibility with this one. Also I am positive I am not the only affected or the first. Here is what's up.
As you may know (or not) Penguin 2.1 was released on Oct 4th. I was very surprised to not have heard a word about it on here. Usually algo changes are big news here on the chat or blogs. None the less this is an update to Penguin which targets sites spammy in general and even more so those with spammy backlink profiles.
My site consists of 100% original content that I wrote. I have my main blog post (which was on the homepage) which features the product/service and then about 5 other blog posts with other keywords users looking for help would search for.
Every page was ranked and receiving various traffic from not only the main KW but various LSIs. It is apparent Google viewed this as high quality, and it was.
As for back links it had a very white hat profile. Useful Blog comments on related sites, high quality directory submissions and a few articles linking back. That was about it. The content was good so it didn't take much.
So after the update on the 4th my site is anywhere between pages 3-7 for the main KW. What is now number 1, and 2 weeks later doesn't appear to be going anywhere, absolutely pisses me off to no end.
The number 1 site is the biggest pile of garbage you could ever visit. It's as if a computer script built it and I have heard of that happening before. This site has STOLEN (enough so to cause a duplicate content issue) my main homepage content and spun it into an absolute garbage that makes little sense to any human being that would read it.
The site also consists of 2 other spun garbage blog posts, more than likely, stolen from others as well. Also I checked this sites backlink profile on ahrefs and it looks awful so I am absolutely dumbfounded right now.
It appears to me that I am being punished for duplicate content (since this site stole my work). What's amazing and proves how moronic G really is, my site and content was created APRIL 2013 not last month. This work is clearly mine.
I don't understand it at all and it is this kind of BS that really makes you wonder why bother putting up with it and keep at this thing. This was my first successful consistent money making site and I actually budget this income to help me out. I don't make jack as a pilot (eventually I will) currently, but it's pretty unreal if you knew how little pilots make starting out. This money went a hell of a long way on first year pay.
The only good that I can think of to take away is I know with 100% certainty this KW converts. All I have to do is do it all over again if it comes to that with a new site. Ugh.
In moving forward I don't know what to do. I am looking for help and direction here. I have thought of emailing Google but I figure they get tons of "my site is damaged now/this guy stole my content blah blah blah" all damn day and could probably care less.
That's my rant. Any thoughts, suggestions or ideas or anyone willing to share a similar happening please comment below! I really appreciate it.
James
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Hey James. I'm assuming you have Google Authorship in place and the other relevant tools, ie. https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/training/how-to-set-up-google-authorship-verify-with-webmaster-tools-google-analytics ?! Rich. x
Is the copying enough to get them with a DMCA complaint? I've had people steal my content and rank above me, but their site was removed after I informed Google.
They do not take calls. The best you can do is work with what is.
Also, there have been lots of posts about the update, but they did not reference Penguin 2.1
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I can understand your frustration. My advice would be to discuss how to move forward with Kyle. This sort of thing must happen all the time so he will have great advice for you. As for going to Google, whilst it may make you feel better I doubt ( but I could be wrong), that you would ever get any response or satisfaction. Effectively we have no control over what Google does,
Hudson.