Looks like I got hit by the Most recent Google Penguin update!

Before that Google did a Panda update which was focused on getting rid of poor content and they also de-indexed a lot of private blog networks. My sites actually started doing better after these updates.

The penguin update on the other hand....ummmmm...not so well.

I have been working on a second website and have been doing some aggressive SEO. I installed a rank tracker plugin and enjoyed seeing my keyword move up the google ranks. As of last week I made it to page one and was #9 for my main keyword. I was getting ready to take that #1 spot.

Then my rank tracker showed that I was no longer in the top 100. I figured surely it was broken...until I did a google search and could not find my page listed for my main keyword.

I thought I was de-indexed, but I am still ranked for some long tailed keywords..so all is not lost.

Seems this recent penguin update is based on unnatural backlinking. Too many backlinks to one or two pages on my website.

Since I was so focused on my second website, I did not get as aggressive (with SEO) with the first website. My daily traffic dropped in half although my rankings held steady. I found that really interesting. Those keywords still have the same monthly searches, so the only thing I can think of is that maybe I am not getting ranked for as many long tailed keywords.

Next Steps
I am going to consider this a minor setback. I'm not de-indexed so all is not lost. I'm actually stiil getting a bit of traffic from long tailed keywords. gonna continue my backlinking strategies but try linking to more pages and posts as opposed to focusing on 1 or 2. Hopefully this will make a difference.

also, going to focus on adding more content to my site. I am starting to figure that even if I do not have a lot of pages ranking #1 in google. The more pages I have, the more traffic I can get for long tail keywords.

Kinda bummed that I was so close to #1 and now I am not even in the top 100 results, but so is life.

Good News
I continue to get more referrals joining up for cashcrate. Still no affiliate sales. Maybe this means CPA offers are my calling when it comes to Internet marketing. 

I joined a few CPA networks and am currently waiting on approval. We shall see how that goes.