April 17th, 2012: Have you Been Google Slapped?
Google has laid the SMACK down once again!
I just wanted to keep everyone in the loop. I have talked to many people today and seen some sights personally that have been Google slapped for no reason...
That means, sites that are:
(1) Well designed
(2) 100% unique and valuable content
(3) Not "Over SEO'd"
(4) Do not have disproportionate amounts of back links
(5) Are not part of a blog network
These are great sites with great content and great user value.
So why did Google SLAP them (and perhaps you)?
This could be associated with many things, but likely what happened is that Google has bundled many different updates in a singular algorithmic change and it adversely affected sites that shouldn't have probably been affected.
DO NOT PANIC! Do not do anything rash and careless. Instead, continue doing what you are doing. If you have had your site sandboxed (meaning completely reindexed) and you do not have any errors within Google Webmaster Tools and feel as though you have done nothing wrong, then just keep plugging away.
You will get reindexed.
Here are a couple things that you can do to speed up this process.
(1) Resubmit your Google site map
(2) Get a few quality back links to NEW website content
(3) Continue providing value
(4) Get some social shares
Google is making changes constantly and these painful times are what make you stronger as a marketer...if you have been slapped and don't feel this is right, then chances are doing everything right and Google has slipped up with their latest change.