If your website disappeared from Google or rankings dropped drastically, here is what you should do.
If you have ever watched your website’s rankings closely, you have at least wondered why your website is changing its position in Google search results and sometimes even disappears. I have experienced this myself, when one day the website is slowly crashing, and the next day it’s nowhere to be found.
Here is how to determine whether the website was deindexed, penalized (Manually or by Algorithm), or is it just a Google Dance or Sandbox.
1. Google Dance
It is when rankings are changing drastically. Like you were on the 2nd page, and then suddenly on the 6th page. This is very common for new sites. This is a normal process, and what is happening is that G is adjusting its index so your site may come back stronger in the next 1-3 days. This is especially common when you are building links to the new site.
Tip here: Do not suddenly stop doing what you were doing, and keep building links at the same pace. This will show G that links are not artificial, and you deserve to be ranked higher.
2. Google Sandbox
This is again for new websites. You have to prove to G that your website is actually worth being in its index and especially anywhere near the first page.
First, you need to check whether your website was even indexed by Google in the first place.
Tip here: Add new, good, good-quality content on a regular basis, at least 1-2 times a week. If you build links, do it at a slow pace, regular basis, and diversify. Eventually website will come out of the Sandbox in about a month. Good quality, high PR backlinks can pull you out of the Sandbox quicker. So if you can get good backlinks, go ahead and get them. This will be helpful.
3. Deindexed
To check whether the website was deindexed, type in Google.com (without quotation marks): “site:website.com”
Do you see your website showing? If no website is deindexed. Meaning it is not in G’s index anymore.
One of the reasons for a website being deindexed or penalized is that Google determined that malicious software is on your website.
4. Penalized site can be penalized manually or Algorithmically
Penalty is when the website is ranking very low or not ranking at all (but still in the index).
Manually – G employee looked and your website and penalized it (for some period of time).
Algorithmically, Googlebot determined that something was wrong with your website and considered it spam. To fix this, you have to stop whatever you did wrong. If it’s on-page (above the fold ads, hidden text, keyword stuffing) – fix it. If it’s off-page (suspicious backlinking in most cases), stop whatever you were doing.
In some cases, when you did just too many things at once and there is no way to determine which backlink harmed you, I suggest stopping everything. You still should add good quality content from time to time, though. And high PR backlinks are always good.
Eventually, your website can come back to where it was. It may take a very long time as 3-4 months. So I suggest you just start working on other sites and don’t rush to put down the penalized one. Especially if you put a lot of work and money into it.
Before you jump to any conclusions, go to the Google webmaster tools (this is if you added your website there, which you should) and check if you have any messages from Google regarding your site.
I hope this post cleared things out a bit. Please ask me any questions, I will be more than glad to answer. Or just say Hi in the comment area below. I really appreciate it!
