Do You Think Google Will Start De-Indexing Network Site Articles?

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   eugbugposted 4 weeks ago

   They won't index any of the 40 or so articles I wrote on my blog or even the home page. They say it's low value content. The articles are short, maybe 500 words and some less, but I don't need to go beyond that if I can explain things in few words. If ranking of the network sites falls even further, is the next step that they'll start removing articles from SERPs?

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      Gregory DeVictorposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

      Some time ago, you and I briefly discussed one of Google's previous algorithm updates. It was called "The Page Layout Google Algorithm Update."
      
      Perhaps this particular update is still in effect today.
      
      Here is how RGBWebTech.com describes the update:
      
      "The Page Layout Google Algorithm Update is an update introduced by Google to improve user experience by penalizing websites that have excessive or intrusive ads that obstruct the main content."
      
      Notice that RGB uses the word "websites" and not "web pages" in their description?
      
      I read another description of this algorithm update on another site that states that Google would penalize "web pages" that had a proliferation of ads "above the fold."
      
      When I load my 1974 American nostalgia article (HobbyLark) on my Galaxy smartphone, I see two huge ads, my opening graphic, and about three lines of text "above the fold." Fortunately, a reader can see the caption under the the graphic to learn what the article is about.

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   eugbugposted 4 weeks ago

   Several of my guides have now dropped out of SERPs and are no longer listed. One of them had a featured snippet and 1500 views per day. Now it gets 10 views.

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      OldRosesposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

      We already know that Google doesn't like HubPages or the network sites.  The next logical step is de-indexing.

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      JerryFisherposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

      What a massive disappointment to go from 1500 views to 10. I can relate to that but not 1500 but around a consistent 400 for years now down to the same, about 10 views a day. But it had grown to super authoritarian at about 14,000 words. It was also in the top six guides in Google for years too on its subject and I often refreshed it to make sure it remained there. But then a year ago? I read that Google no longer wanted long authoritarian guides, they only wanted short guides and I guess that's also why you started writing 500 word guides.
      
      As an experiment, about six weeks ago I wrote another guide based on the same subject of the 14,000 word guide without referring to it at all to avoid any duplicity and finished it at 1500 words. Basically an abbreviated guide of the older guide.
      
      About a week later an editor at Hubpages took it over and did a hugely impressive job reediting it. He really took it by the throat and I thought presumably rewrote a lot of it to fit into the latest algorithm.
      
      Taking a look at it today - it has had 4 views in the past week!

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         Kenna McHughposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

         Rewriting and editing an article is a crapshoot. But if you post ads on Google, you're sure to get noticed.

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            JerryFisherposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

            Yeah but it was a fresh article on a subject I know a lot about. I never referred to the old article at all, purposely. Purely an experiment to see whether it was worthwhile writing shorter new articles that hadn't been through the Google index wringer.
            But even better as I said was one of the HP editors spending quite some time rewriting it to what I supposed was tuning in to the latest algo.
            
            It has been absolutely unsuccessful which just means that nagging feeling of whether to keep writing or not proved not to. And because HP did a lengthy re-edit - editing what you have is likely a waste of time too.
            As we've said for a few years now to HP - limit the ads. But we're shouting to the deaf.

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               Kenna McHughposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

               I hear you. Who controls the placement of the ads? HP or Google?

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                  JerryFisherposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

                  I can't imagine Google would have anything to do with them, solely HP. Same with CPM. That must be controlled in a tender type way by HP to the highest daily bidder as it fluctuates so much.

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      chef-de-jourposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

      Eugene, I know where you're coming from and can only say I've experienced similar drops in traffic, as have many over the past 2 years or so, due mainly in my opinion to the disaster that is too many interruptive ads and annoying layout of text etc etc since TAG took over. Google's updates have certainly put holes starboard but let's not say we're sinking just yet.   
      
      Over the years I've gotten to know all my main rivals in the specialist poetry analysis niche, around 5 or 6 top sites, all educational, looking to attract students and fairly serious readers. My articles were going great (as yours were too in your chosen niche by the sounds of it) because I made sure I studied my rivals and  tried to go one better in terms of quality and quantity of detail.
      Like you my figures have plummeted. The rivals have gained ground and as far as I can tell they haven't had to alter much in terms of format. One or two slight design changes here and there, nothing much. My articles began to slip soon after TAG took over. 
      
      What do the rival sites offer that I can't? A continuous read, essential to keep the visitor on the page. Simple. Whereas three or four years ago I would've been Google's No1, 2  or 3-6 I'm now 5,6 or 8-10.
      
      If the ads were halved say, or the majority moved to one side, allowing 20 - 30 lines of solid readable text, likelihood is ranking would improve?
      
      Now there's an idea........

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   theraggededgeposted 4 weeks ago

   The old layout, as per the author view, was perfect imo. It's easy on the eye, ads off to the side, good for inline Amazon links and just looks classy and understated.
   
   I've noticed, though, that I'm having fewer articles copied nowadays. Apparently, it's more difficult for the thieves now.

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      Gregory DeVictorposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

      Interesting. I've had less and less articles copied lately.

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         Kenna McHughposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

         Same here. Does HP control the placement of ads or Google?

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            Gregory DeVictorposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

            Kenna, that's a very good question. I really don't know the correct answer on that one. Maybe someone here does, like Matt. Maybe he can chime in.
            
            What I do remember is that a couple of summers ago, the plagiarism issue was affecting many of us here, and that there were several lengthy threads that were addressing the matter.

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               Kenna McHughposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

               I have my own site. My support guy told me if wanted to lesson the ads I have to contact Google.

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                  theraggededgeposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

                  You can configure Google ads via your Adsense account. At least that's how I do it on my WordPress site.

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                     Kenna McHughposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

                     Okay. Thanks.

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            Gregory DeVictorposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

            By the way, haven't you ever noticed how nice and professional your articles look in "author view?"

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               theraggededgeposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

               That's how they all looked. Very readable, elegant and authoritative. With comments that we could moderate. We also had Adsense. Traffic was great and earnings were commensurate with the effort you were prepared to make. I really miss the old HubPages.

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                  Gregory DeVictorposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

                  When I am working on one of my SEO experiments, I sometimes go to my neighborhood library and work on a third-party computer. Some of the computers there have very large screens, much larger than my 15.6" Chromebook screen at home. Well, looking at one of my HobbyLark articles on a gigantic screen isn't a very appetizing experience. Everything is really magnified.

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               Kenna McHughposted 4 weeks agoin reply to this

               Yes, pleasing to the eye.

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