Thanks, Google :(

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   Mike Rogersposted 13 years ago

   Read the latest forum posts, then checked my traffic stats. New Google algorithm changes have more or less crushed my Hubpages hubs SERPs. Monetization stats also devastated.
   
   At least I won't have to check from work anymore....
   
   Nothing left to check.
   
   Please excuse the sour grapes, it is all that I have in my bowl.
   
   Mike

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   simeonvisserposted 13 years ago

   Let the dust settle before drawing conclusions.

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3. 60

   Mike Rogersposted 13 years ago

   I miss my formerly ferociously efficient Hubpages. There, I said it.
   
   The Google changes clearly demoted the entire site, and in doing so have made my 'crummy but targeted' Amazon pitch pages entirely invisible. Near zero traffic now as my hubs' primary strength was essentially the Google SERPs and my own understanding of how to rank well within in.
   
   Maybe Google is right for doing this, maybe not. I am probably not smart enough to know, but I do know the change has profoundly discouraged my small efforts.
   
   Feels like another case of big business winning out over the little guys and girls....all of my search results are clogged with "big box" type stores with their paid search ads above the organic results just to add insult to injury.
   
   Hubpages feels like my youth: fun while it lasted and remembered fondly, but never coming back.
   
   Mike

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      Carl Citrinposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      As far as Amazon promotion pages are concerned, your dead right unfortunately. We're down to about 30% of previous traffic levels and that traffic seems mostly to consist of browsers, not buyers.
      
      Even our multi product and comparison product pages have been consigned to scrap.
      
      On average, all our targeted search terms have been relegated about 6 pages down the Google returned results (that’s about 60 places).
      
      There was a slight bounce last week where traffic increased to about 50% of pre algo update levels for a couple of days, but no sales resulted from it and it’s back down to 30% now.
      
      Since it’s now been two weeks, I guess we’re not going to see much improvement unless HubPages can appease Google in some way to raise its current standing, or Google has a change of heart. I won’t hold my breath on either count.
      
      Unfortunately, I reckon I’m had enough now. Small time income from the internet is proving too much of flirtatious teenager to invest any long term hopes of a happy marriage on!
      
      Even those with outstanding journalistic content that target Adsense income are having a hard time and I’m sure they haven’t experienced the last “update slap” either.

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   Mike Rogersposted 13 years ago

   I'm with you, Carl. Seems like Hubpages/Google connection was a castle made of sand all along.
   
   Quite discouraging. I fear that small affiliate marketers will go the way of the local hardware store.
   
   Oh well. Time to start looking for offline opportunities. I know when I've been shown the door
   
   Mike

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      KeithTaxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Don't get too depressed: The IRS website was demoted, too.
      
      We just finished swapping in a new server at the office and looking for updates, drivers and other info was difficult. I told the computer guy about Google's crap and we went to Bing and found what we needed. We pulled an all-nighter due to Google. Once Google loses the eyeballs they may not return. As for the IRS, their SERP is #8 for IRS audit help. Yahoo got me the info I needed. Google is right; it is all about relevance. I never thought I'd ever say this, but Yahoo and Bing provide more relevant search.

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   wychicposted 13 years ago

   I've been finding some lack of relevance in the searches too -- maybe if Google loses enough search volume they'll realize their algorithm change isn't necessarily working so well? My traffic is still down to about 40% of what it was, though I'm working on trying to improve my offerings for the new expectations. It's kind of looking like a business gamble right now to put the time and effort into it, but who knows -- maybe it's time to use Yahoo search . I will say that I have a mixture of informative articles and product reviews, and all have taken a substantial hit. Previously, my reviews got some very nicely-targeted traffic and I usually made more in Amazon sales than on eBay and Adsense put together. Now my Adsense earnings are staying about steady, but no sales for either Amazon or eBay yet this month.
   
   Yes, it's a very good thing that I didn't let go of all of my clients, there really aren't any in-person jobs here and neither my husband or I really have offline options. We've been actively working on overhauling our entire business model, and so far have been able to take on a couple of new team members in the effort. If Google turns back into a profitable effort great, but I think they'll find that their smaller advertisers drop like flies in the meantime and a large percentage probably will find opportunities that don't include Google.

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   albcposted 13 years ago

   i saw traffic to my blogs (blogspot) was better than than prior to the algo change.
   
   is this helping you in anyway?

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   Marye Audetposted 13 years ago

   This has happened several times in the 4 years I have been writing hubs. My traffic has dropped about 60% as has my income...however, if it patterns as it always has...and I don't see why it wouldnt...the traffic and income will pick back up in a week or so.
   
   Don't give up yet.

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      wychicposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      It's good to hear from someone who has been actively paying attention to their stats for that long . I'm trying to be patient and am working hard to improve the content in the meantime -- I've been here for three years, but for a long time wasn't paying very close attention to what my hubs were doing, so this is a first for me.

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      Hubman007posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      really?
      
      Has it been as major a drop as this though? Did your traffic drop because of a google change or just seasonal?

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         Marye Audetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This is the biggest drop I have noticed.... but other drops have been significant (more than 10%) and they evened out. It takes a few weeks, that's all. It is not seasonal..I have enough hubs that I am usually not affected by seasonal changes and traffic patterns.

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      BRIAN SLATERposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      just hope your right Marye, there's an awful amount of unhappy hubbers at the moment.

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   KCC Big Countryposted 13 years ago

   I think you have to treat it like the stock market.  It goes up, it goes down.  You lose some, you gain some.  You just have to stay it in for the long haul so that things have time to even out.  If you bail everytime you get scared you'll never have a chance for the recoveries.  Hang tight folks.  Let's write some more quality content!

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   TomC35posted 13 years ago

   I do not like those who try to pin Google as the bad guy.  Whether it personally hurts me as a Hubber, as a person using it as a browser, I think the changes were needed for the majority of people to take them seriously.  There may be some good hubs, Ezine articles, etc, but the reality is that since anyone can put anything on here, there was more bad than good.

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      Pcunixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The people who do this either aren't clued in enoiugh to understand, have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, or are just plain hurt and are lashing out.
      
      I feel sorry for everyone but the middle group.

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