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Google Destroys Rap Genius’ Search Result Rankings As Punishment For SEO Spam

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Re: Google Destroys Rap Genius’ Search Result Rankings As Punishment For SEO Spam

#4

Post by moocowduckquack »

Now RapGenius.com doesn’t appear on the first page of results for a search of “Rap Genius”

Readjusting their rankings is one thing, but that is just google breaking their own service. If people have typed "rap genius" into google, there is a reasonable chance that they might want to get to the thing named "rap genius", which is on page 5 in the search I just did.

And the thing is, that nearly all the rest of the results are not for rap geniuses, which presumably would be another reason for searching the term, but are just blogs and news sites reporting about the company Rap Genius.

edit -

Given that the public are fairly ambivalent about google and so are not likely to take google's side too much in stuff like this, and if you can get your rating fixed afterward by being nice, couldn't a public spat with google like this actually be good publicity, compared to google not making that much of a fuss and merely adjusting their rankings to adjust for the seo tactics used, rather than acting punitively.

If I was looking at this as a marketing droid, all I would see is that google have replaced the position my main site used to take, with loads of articles about my company that then link to my site, which makes it look as though loads of folk are interested in the company while Google are publicly burying the link, which sparks people's curiousity.

Is not that I think gaming the ranking is particularly good business practice, I just don't think this is particularly good tactics on google's part.

Re: Google Destroys Rap Genius’ Search Result Rankings As Punishment For SEO Spam

#5

Post by minimaxir »

NOTE: There is an update not in the original report, apparently RG is working with Google to resolve the issue:

We are working with Google right now to resolve this. They’ve been really great, helping us identify changes we need to make, even on Christmas. We’re working on it as fast as we can, and expect to be back on Google very soon.

It sucks to be off Google for us and for the thousands of our community members who have worked so hard to create what’s often the best search result.

We hope everyone who reads this will take a little time out from their Christmas and head to Rap Genius and sign up so you can contribute your knowledge on your favorite subjects – becoming a member of our community makes the site way more fun. Merry Christmas

Re: Google Destroys Rap Genius’ Search Result Rankings As Punishment For SEO Spam

#7

Post by itsprofitbaron »

minimaxir wrote: post #5

NOTE: There is an update not in the original report, apparently RG is working with Google to resolve the issue: We are working with Google right now to resolve this. They’ve been really great, helping us identify changes we need to make, even on Christmas. We’re working on it as fast as we can, and expect to be back on Google very soon. It sucks to be off Google for us and for the thousands of our community members w…

By working with Google they mean they're going to work with them to identify the links they need to clean up, try and get those links "cleaned up" themselves, submit a disavow file and then get them to reconsider the site as outlined here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6963785

It happens all the time and no disrespect to RapGenius, to companies much bigger than them.

Re: Google Destroys Rap Genius’ Search Result Rankings As Punishment For SEO Spam

#9

Post by llamataboot »

moocowduckquack wrote: post #4

Now RapGenius.com doesn’t appear on the first page of results for a search of “Rap Genius” Readjusting their rankings is one thing, but that is just google breaking their own service. If people have typed "rap genius" into google, there is a reasonable chance that they might want to get to the thing named "rap genius", which is on page 5 in the search I just did. And the thing is, that nearly all the rest of the resu…

No, this is google enforcing a harsh penalty for one site to discourage other people from trying to game search which basically makes us all suffer through content farm links, etc.
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