Few weeks ago, this site almost disappeared from Google after some sort of penalty. The rankings of all pages dropped way down in Google search results though none of the pages got removed from Google’s index.
The referral traffic from Google dipped instantly across all pages as evident from this Google Analytics screenshot. Further more, this was a site-wide penalty (not a ban) and it was not because of any changes in Google’s ranking formula.
Google can penalizes websites for exchanging links, selling text ads, writing sponsored posts (without nofollow) or using black hat SEO tricks like hidden text but this blog was probably in compliance with all points mentioned in Webmaster Guidelines.
Naturally, penalty is something to worry about because such a drastic dip in traffic can severely hurt the bottom line. I quickly filed a reconsideration request (pledging innocence) using Google Webmaster Tools and also posted the issue in Google Groups.
This worked and Google reversed the penalty - the traffic quickly got to normal levels as all pages were back to their original rankings in the Google search results.
In case you ever face a similar issue with your own ‘honest’ website, the following template may help you get reinstated - it uses fictional data but you may replace that with your own.
My site has been around since February 2008 and I confirm that I haven’t done anything that may violate Google Webmaster Guidelines - there are no paid reviews, text ads, link exchanges, etc.
I do not employ any black hat SEO techniques or use the service of any SEO company to boost the search rankings of my website in Google.
I am really not sure what triggered the penalty but request you to remove it since I follow all Webmaster guidelines. Should you require any additional information, please do let me know.
Good luck. Just make sure that your site is absolutely clean of any violations before you submit a reconsideration request because in that case, your letter to Google will probably get ignore and you’ll never know about it.
Related: Know When Your Website Gets Banned or Penalized in Google
Find this article at: http://www.labnol.org/internet/search/reconsideration-request-template-for-google-penalty/3844/
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
Hi Amit
Thanks for this article. Really helpful. I have one query. How can we know about this issue? I mean do we need to check Google search results regularly or is there any method which can notify us about this penalty issue?
Thanks.
Written by Vishal Gupta on 07.08.08
I too had the same issue on June 8th. All posts published after June 8th were not being indexed, at the same time Home page was indexed. I didnt see any dip in traffic. Few days after it started indexing automatically, but with some delay. Now its back to normal.
Written by Nirmal on 07.08.08
Amit,
My Blog too was severely ‘punished’ for no reason (google search traffic stopped for near 15 days)I know yet, I review Telecom related sites for free on my blog than how could google think they are paid reviews, should we stop link exchanges?
Written by Piyush Kumar on 07.08.08
I think there is some major issue at Google. Even Official Google blog for webmasters has also made link explaining websites to request a reindexing at Google if they have not been or stopped by Google for using black hat Seo tricks.
Written by Manpreet Singh on 07.08.08
Thank you, Amit. In the past months I was always number one with a special keyword on Google. 20k and more users every day. Was very good. I started writing bad articles about Google… no lies, just the truth. Like Analytics is not as good as it seems and stuff like that. I always compared Google to MS and guess what… my Google PR sunk from week to week… too funny…
That was maybe two or three months ago. I started optimizing the web site for LIVE.com and now I get more than 50k from LIVE and around 500! from Google… no need for Google anymore
Written by Me on 07.08.08
I experience the same thing after they change my PR.. and they did not crawl my site for a week , and Thanks god it is now ok.
Written by Dexter on 07.08.08
I will be bit more cautious now :(
Written by AboutOnlineTips on 07.09.08
About how long was it between the time you filed your reconsideration request and the removal of the penalty? My blog appears to have been penalized at the end of last month (for no apparent reason). I filed a reconsideration request on July 15 after reading this and other posts on the subject. I’m wondering when I should start to worry that Google re-reviewed my website and still finds penalty worthy violations.
Written by Bryon Powell on 07.18.08
Hi, I lost my all traffic from Google. Now I have put a reconsideration request. But I want to know that when they will reviewed my reconsideration request. How much time it will take. Email me or Reply here. Waiting for your Quick Reply…:)
Written by Randy on 07.26.08
Hi, Amit It’s almost a month now. They haven’t reconsider my site. Please Reply me What’s the problem..
Thanks in advance
Written by Randy on 08.22.08
I made the reconsideration request in 29/07/2008 and now is almost a month and my site is still not reconsidered yet… :(
Written by Oscar on 08.25.08
Hey Amit, is Google not allowing consideration requests now? I could not see the consideration request link. Please let me know this.
-Dutt
Written by Dutt on 09.19.08
Now I got the Request reconsideration link. Google changed this link position to Web Master tools home page - Left side bar. Now my friend is happy after telling this.
–Dutt :-)
Written by Dutt on 09.19.08