Proof of Quota Imposition

1. 54

   paradigm searchposted 8 years ago

   Before the Phantom Panda my monthly traffic was the typical sine wave, pretty much completely governed by day-of-week.
   
   After the Phantom Panda my traffic is pretty much just a straight line, day-of-week effects are now about 80% muted. And of course it's my peak traffic days that have been taken away so as to match my lower traffic days.
   
   To me this is the final proof. What say you?

   replyreport
   1. 32

      Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      There was no 'phantom panda.'  There was a change in the main Google algorithm; Google makes about 500 changes a year to that.
      
      There is no such thing as a Google quota for search engine results or for sending traffic to a site.  There is a limit for domain clustering on page one, but even that has increased lately to allow more webpage results from the same site. People who imagine some sort of quota are having a bad case of sour grapes and should be improving the quality of their content instead of drinking that Kool-Aid.

      replyreport
      1. 54

         paradigm searchposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Well we certainly have one opinion, any others?

         replyreport
      2. 54

         paradigm searchposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Hmmm. The latest HubPages Weekly (and its links) seems to dispute you on several points...

         replyreport
         1. 32

            Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            No, not really.  The Google spokesman confirmed that it wasn't a Panda algorithm change or update.  He said it was "part of a core algorithm update."

            replyreport
            1. 93

               wildernessposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               I'm with Paradigmsearch.  Google simply neglected to mention that the algorithm includes a quota system to prevent google's sites from losing traffic to better ones.

               replyreport
               1. 32

                  Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  I think you and Paradigm make a lovely couple. 

                  replyreport
                  1. 93

                     wildernessposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     Why thank you!  The doomsday clock and the doomsayer - what could be more appropriate?
                     
                     But seriously, watching the traffic figures since the first Panda, it just seems almost a certainty that there is a quota.  Not one enforced by an algorithm, though, but one manually applied whenever HP gets "uppity" with too much traffic.  A slow build to an increased figure, then a sudden drop.  Over and over and over it happens, and I just find it way too much coincidence.

                     replyreport
                     1. 54

                        paradigm searchposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                        The day-of-week sine wave disappearing was the final convincer for me. If there ever was a chart forensic indicator of artificial manipulation, that was it.

                        replyreport
                        1. 32

                           Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                           But, according to Quantcast, HP traffic overall still goes down on the weekends, like always.  That hasn't changed.  (Individual results may vary.)

                           replyreport
                           1. 54

                              paradigm searchposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                              You are right. More cross currents there and wondering if my account is a precursor.. Waiting to see what happens.

                              replyreport
                           2. 95

                              Solarasposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                              I think the world is full of dirty dealings; and Google takes best care of its own. I believe a quota system and many other manipulations occur over at Google.  I am happy to see their market share diminishing. They do a lot of things right, but they are not altruistic. It is a business run for profit, and they will manipulate as they deem necessary to make themselves more profitable.
                              
                              Just look at the BS about copied content, and that Quora, which is loaded with our copied content, is on the rise. What is this about Google "keeping people on their properties, while offering up information that comes from other sites (Foodnetwork for example)."

                              replyreport
                  2. 54

                     paradigm searchposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     Actually, we do get our shotguns and go fox hunting from time to time.

                     replyreport
      3. 60

         Ben Aidooposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         You've said it all, Writer Fox "There is a limit  for domain clustering on page one, but even that has increased lately to allow more webpage results from the same site". Google is playing it safe by putting on page one articles from major media, professional and specialized websites. Faced with this change, I can see why hubbers who cannot increase their Google traffic, regardless of how much effort they make, would say there is a quota.

         replyreport
2. 82

   Mark Ewbieposted 8 years ago

   I am a quota believer.  I don't feel there is anything more - or less - that I can do that will make a shred of difference.

   replyreport
   1. 32

      Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Catch him before he falls.
      
      

      replyreport
3. 32

   Writer Foxposted 8 years ago

   Feast your eyes on this.  Here is a traffic graph for a site which Google loves:
   
   

   replyreport
   1. 54

      paradigm searchposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I have repeatedly instructed Google, Quantcast, Alexa, and others that my website information is not to be made public. I am perturbed.

      replyreport
      1. 32

         Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         You wish!  Those traffic figures are from ComScore analytics. Want to guess the website name?

         replyreport
         1. 78

            colorfuloneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Zazzle! (?)

            replyreport
            1. 32

               Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               Nope. I know the print is very small on the image I posted, but the site gets 453,100,000 views a month.
               
               Here's a clue:  I met the guy who started that site on Sunday.

               replyreport
               1. 95

                  Solarasposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  Alibaba?

                  replyreport
                  1. 32

                     Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     Nope.
                     
                     Here's another clue: Jimbo

                     replyreport
                     1. 78

                        colorfuloneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                        "Jimbo"?  (I am clueless)

                        replyreport
                        1. 32

                           Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                           The website name starts with a W. The guy who founded it is often called Jimbo.

                           replyreport
                           1. 78

                              colorfuloneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                              I do not know, but I just found a free website called "Jimdo".

                              replyreport
                     2. 94

                        PegCole17posted 8 years agoin reply to this

                        Seriously? I recently had good luck when filing a DMCA on two of their websites that were using my hub. I was impressed with the friendly and personal response from them.

                        replyreport
                        1. 32

                           Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                           What site was that?

                           replyreport
                           1. 94

                              PegCole17posted 8 years agoin reply to this

                              ?? Is the b in the above (hinted) name substituted for d? I thought you meant that website.

                              replyreport
                              1. 32

                                 Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                 Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, is known by his nickname: Jimbo (with a B not a D.)
                                 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Wales

                                 replyreport
                     3. 94

                        DrMark1961posted 8 years agoin reply to this

                        I have no idea but am definitely curious. Are you going to let us know?

                        replyreport
               2. 91

                  SheilaMilneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  Isn't it odd that Europe uses it much more than North America?  Roughly twice as much?  Or am I misreading the graph?

                  replyreport
                  1. 32

                     Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     Europe has a greater population than North America: 742.5 million compared to 528.7 million.

                     replyreport
                     1. 91

                        SheilaMilneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                        Not twice as many though

                        replyreport
   2. 93

      wildernessposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Google loves this site?  They have a funny way of showing it, then - world wide traffic increased by only 80% (not even double) in the past 7 years, with an actual loss in the last 3 years.

      replyreport
      1. 32

         Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         This site gets traffic from many sources, not just Google.  But, since I'm viewing all of the analytic statics for the site, I can tell you that it has never taken a hit from a Google algorithm change and Google loves that site. The site gets 453,100,000 unique visitors a month. Double that would mean about one billion uniques a month.  The world only has three billion Internet users!  What are you thinking?

         replyreport
         1. 93

            wildernessposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            I'm thinking that while internet traffic has increased by a factor of more than 10 in 7 years (doubling every year) their traffic hasn't even doubled once.  That's not particularly impressive, and neither is a stagnant rate of growth in the last 3 years.  HP does that well - this actually sounds like something wikipedia might see.  A large number of visitors, but virtually no growth at all.

            replyreport
            1. 32

               Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               You win the prize (except, that there isn't one ). 
               
               The statistics are for http://www.wikipedia.org/.  (Eat your heart out, HP!)

               replyreport
            2. 78

               colorfuloneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               I really think there should have been a PRIZE! 
               ( I will donate $100's worth of SOS pads

               replyreport
         2. 72

            brakel2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Wikipedia failed the mobile test as did many others, as a side note.
            http://tfmainsights.com/wikipedia-bbc-r … ilegeddon/
            
            Yea for Hubpages. I am sure we passed.

            replyreport
4. 77

   LuisEGonzalezposted 8 years ago

   

   replyreport
5. 0

   calculus-geometryposted 8 years ago

   Sorry Writerfox, the Google Quota Theory is a religion and its adherents do not care that Google Quota Theory is implausible and without proof.  High priest Janderson99 is amassing his followers for a crusade. Bow before him and the arbitrary red line drawn on the Alexa traffic graph!

   replyreport
   1. 32

      Writer Foxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      

      replyreport
   2. 53

      janderson99posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Hey! There is nothing fishy about Google Quotas - the proof is in the pudding - the sea is rising and so are temperatures and you can't get over that. The tragedy of the commons rules the internet, like it does for fisheries, which recognised the need for quotas eons ago. There is a real prospect that the Internet will become conscious as GAIA to save Planet Water (Earth is a silly name). Quotas are obvious and real - the stability in traffic heralds control! Google twiddles the knobs.

      replyreport
6. 54

   paradigm searchposted 8 years ago

   Been gazing at my stats again...
   
   Looked at the year-to-date for my account. The before and after is clear as a bell. The consistent, higher level before the sudden drop. The consistent, new lower level after the sudden drop.
   
   Looked at the year-to-date for HubPages. Excepting for the few, unrelated swings; it is the exact same thing for the entire site. However there is a very interesting side note...
   
   Check out US versus global. Almost all of our entire loss is from global. The US loss, though significant, is not nearly as damaging.
   
   We all certainly have our theories as to the cause(s) of all of this...
   
   As for me, I've decided to invoke my philosophy of life concerning the whole matter; the future looks too damned depressing and hopeless. Gonna go find myself a new hobby and revenue source.
   
   If my account does eventually stop making monthly payout, I'll probably turn the freaking ads off as a public service.

   replyreport
7. 54

   paradigm searchposted 8 years ago

   Well, sports fans... Yesterday (May 23, 2015) is my new, first place, lowest traffic day of the year. The infamous HP-traffic-falls-off-cliff-day weekend is now second place. Unless I find myself something else to be preoccupied with, I'm going to hate this summer.

   replyreport
   1. 92

      Jayne Lancerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Same here.

      replyreport
      1. 54

         paradigm searchposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Those were the days my friend
         We thought they'd never end
         We'd sing and dance forever and a day
         We'd live the life we choose
         We'd fight and never lose
         Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

         replyreport
   2. 78

      colorfuloneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      A friend got me started on a site called "sunfrogshirts". You do not have to design shirts to earn money. You can create up to 20 collections of t-shirts (up to 85 shirts in a collection) by other members on the site and earn 35% on sales. That's a very nice commission! 
      
      You would have to go and make your own social shares because there are no social buttons on their site because it is designed to be iframed into your own website.

      replyreport