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Playing Chicken with Google

September 3, 2008

Playing Chicken with Google In a previous article I talked about Google Dip, and I've also mention here before that Google will take a site that's ranking well and seemingly just give it a wack to see what happens. I think that this is built into their algorithms to try and throw off Search Engine Optimization (SEO) efforts of people trying to get their sites indexed unnaturally.

What do I mean and why would they do this? If you're focusing on content and providing a web site or blog that gives value to your visitors, the search engines will do a pretty good job of finding and ranking your site. Combine that with the SEO methods that I use and promote on this blog and you can get good rankings.

However, if you're trying to "game" the system and rank well for terms that maybe don't have that much to do with your site, or trying to keep a site ranking well that's not very good, perhaps all ads, poor content or something, then you're more likely to jump and tweak your site anytime your rankings waver.

The Dunking
So by Google randomly, and I will add, temporarily, giving your SERP (Search Engine Result Page) ranking a dunking, maybe they think they can rattle the nerves of those types of sites and cause them to make changes that will, or possibly will, result in their SERP ranking going down permanently. What? Yes. For example: if my site is ranking on the first page for a particular keyword or keyword phrase and has been there for a while, and then all of a sudden, without me changing anything, my ranking drops to 150 or 300, then I'm rattled. I panic. I started ripping out code and changing things. I start altering my linking strategies, etc. But.... It was a head-fake. Had I done nothing, in few days to a week my SERP ranking would probably have returned to near where it was before. But, because I was intent on "gaming" the system, I panicked with a kneejerk reaction and now who knows what will happen.

Proof?
Don't believe me. Below I give you a history report from one of my sites for two different keyword phrases. I'm not going to reveal the site or the phrases because that usually results in people trying to beat my rankings or Google messing with the rankings (maybe). This data comes from my ranking tracking software that I'm developing and have mentioned several times. I had hoped to have it finished in August but it's not ready yet... to many other things going on! Be sure to sign up to my announcement list and when the software is available you'll have a day or two to get it at a reduced price before it officially goes on sale!

The drop is more noticeable with Keyword Phrase 1 than with Keyword Phrase 2, but its there in both. I've been monitoring this particular site for much longer than the data I give here and it's a regular occurrence for the SERP rankings to follow the patterns below. Note that 0's mean the site was not found in the ranks, or, an error occurred.

Keyword Phrase 1
Date: Google Rank, Yahoo Rank, MSN Rank
9/3/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 1, 2
9/2/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 1, 2
8/29/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 1, 2
8/28/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 1, 2
8/26/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 1, 2
8/22/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 1, 2
8/20/2008 12:00:00 AM: 0, 1, 2
8/12/2008 12:00:00 AM: 0, 1, 2
8/11/2008 12:00:00 AM: 152, 1, 1
8/10/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 1, 1
8/8/2008 12:00:00 AM: 4, 1, 1
8/7/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 1, 1
8/5/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 3, 1
8/1/2008 12:00:00 AM: 110, 3, 1
7/31/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 4, 1
7/29/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 4, 1
7/24/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 0, 1
7/23/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 4, 1
7/22/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 4, 1
7/21/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 4, 1
7/12/2008 12:00:00 AM: 0, 0, 1
7/11/2008 12:00:00 AM: 0, 4, 1
7/10/2008 12:00:00 AM: 90, 4, 1
7/8/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 3, 1
7/7/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 4, 1
7/5/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 4, 1
7/3/2008 12:00:00 AM: 4, 4, 1
7/2/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 4, 1
7/1/2008 12:00:00 AM: 4, 2, 1
6/30/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 2, 1
6/29/2008 12:00:00 AM: 4, 2, 1
6/27/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 1, 1
6/26/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 1, 1
6/25/2008 12:00:00 AM: 66, 1, 1
6/24/2008 12:00:00 AM: 70, 2, 1
6/23/2008 12:00:00 AM: 72, 2, 1
6/20/2008 12:00:00 AM: 69, 1, 1
6/19/2008 12:00:00 AM: 71, 1, 1
6/18/2008 12:00:00 AM: 74, 0, 1
6/17/2008 12:00:00 AM: 68, 1, 1
6/16/2008 12:00:00 AM: 69, 1, 1
6/15/2008 12:00:00 AM: 0, 1, 1
6/14/2008 12:00:00 AM: 104, 1, 1
6/12/2008 12:00:00 AM: 96, 1, 1
6/11/2008 12:00:00 AM: 175, 1, 1
6/9/2008 12:00:00 AM: 107, 2, 1
6/6/2008 12:00:00 AM: 159, 1, 1
6/5/2008 12:00:00 AM: 108, 1, 1
6/4/2008 12:00:00 AM: 154, 1, 1
6/3/2008 12:00:00 AM: 158, 1, 1
6/2/2008 12:00:00 AM: 166, 1, 1
6/1/2008 12:00:00 AM: 165, 1, 1
5/31/2008 12:00:00 AM: 171, 1, 1
5/30/2008 12:00:00 AM: 127, 1, 1
5/29/2008 12:00:00 AM: 173, 4, 1
5/27/2008 12:00:00 AM: 129, 2, 1
5/22/2008 12:00:00 AM: 118, 3, 1
5/21/2008 12:00:00 AM: 117, 3, 1
5/20/2008 12:00:00 AM: 107, 3, 1
5/19/2008 12:00:00 AM: 157, 1, 1
5/17/2008 12:00:00 AM: 112, 1, 1
5/15/2008 12:00:00 AM: 689, 2, 1
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM: 40, 4, 1
5/8/2008 12:00:00 AM: 42, 4, 1
5/7/2008 12:00:00 AM: 864, 4, 1
5/5/2008 12:00:00 AM: 15, 3, 1
5/4/2008 12:00:00 AM: 16, 4, 1
5/3/2008 12:00:00 AM: 15, 2, 1
5/2/2008 12:00:00 AM: 15, 2, 1
5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM: 16, 3, 1

Keyword Phrase 2
Date: Google Rank, Yahoo Rank, MSN Rank
9/3/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 7, 9
9/2/2008 12:00:00 AM: 6, 7, 10
8/29/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 7, 8
8/28/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 7, 8
8/26/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 7, 8
8/20/2008 12:00:00 AM: 78, 7, 7
8/12/2008 12:00:00 AM: 65, 7, 6
8/11/2008 12:00:00 AM: 24, 7, 6
8/10/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 7, 5
8/8/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 7, 4
8/7/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 7, 4
8/5/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 6, 4
7/31/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 4, 4
7/29/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 0, 4
7/24/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 0, 2
7/23/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 0, 2
7/22/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 0, 2
7/21/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 4, 2
7/16/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 3, 2
7/12/2008 12:00:00 AM: 16, 3, 2
7/11/2008 12:00:00 AM: 19, 3, 2
7/10/2008 12:00:00 AM: 18, 3, 0
7/8/2008 12:00:00 AM: 3, 3, 2
7/7/2008 12:00:00 AM: 2, 3, 2
7/5/2008 12:00:00 AM: 6, 4, 2
7/3/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 4, 2
7/2/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 4, 4
7/1/2008 12:00:00 AM: 5, 1, 4
6/30/2008 12:00:00 AM: 4, 1, 4
6/29/2008 12:00:00 AM: 4, 1, 4
6/27/2008 12:00:00 AM: 4, 1, 4
6/26/2008 12:00:00 AM: 4, 1, 4
6/25/2008 12:00:00 AM: 125, 1, 4
6/24/2008 12:00:00 AM: 131, 1, 2
6/23/2008 12:00:00 AM: 129, 1, 2
6/20/2008 12:00:00 AM: 116, 1, 2
6/19/2008 12:00:00 AM: 118, 1, 2
6/18/2008 12:00:00 AM: 123, 0, 2
6/17/2008 12:00:00 AM: 110, 1, 2
6/16/2008 12:00:00 AM: 109, 1, 2
6/15/2008 12:00:00 AM: 66, 1, 2
6/14/2008 12:00:00 AM: 14, 1, 2
6/12/2008 12:00:00 AM: 14, 1, 2
6/11/2008 12:00:00 AM: 18, 1, 2
6/9/2008 12:00:00 AM: 13, 1, 2
6/6/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
6/5/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
6/4/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
6/3/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
6/2/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
6/1/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
5/31/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
5/30/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
5/29/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 3, 2
5/27/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
5/22/2008 12:00:00 AM: 11, 1, 2
5/21/2008 12:00:00 AM: 11, 1, 2
5/20/2008 12:00:00 AM: 11, 1, 2
5/19/2008 12:00:00 AM: 11, 1, 2
5/17/2008 12:00:00 AM: 11, 1, 2
5/15/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 2
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM: 11, 1, 1
5/8/2008 12:00:00 AM: 11, 1, 2
5/7/2008 12:00:00 AM: 12, 1, 1
5/5/2008 12:00:00 AM: 9, 1, 1
5/4/2008 12:00:00 AM: 7, 1, 1
5/3/2008 12:00:00 AM: 8, 1, 1
5/2/2008 12:00:00 AM: 8, 3, 1
5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM: 7, 3, 1

Until next time,
Fred

P.S. Remember to sign up to my announcement list and when the software is available you'll have a day or two to get it at a reduced price before it officially goes on sale!

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Comments: 14, TrackBacks: 0.

Posted by Fred on September 3, 2008 | Printer-Friendly

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Comments:

From: Steven Lohrenz

Good to know. I've been doing my own tracking of my sites and every once in a while the rankings go off the ranch and then come back a few days later.
Posted by Steven Lohrenz on September 3, 2008 11:28 AM
From: Seattle Website Design

There is no question that the search engines are always on the lookout for those trying to game the system (and they have to be). That's why all of your SEO has to be on target with your actual site content. Otherwise, you will pay a price regardless of how innocent you thought your "tactics" may have been.
Posted by Seattle Website Design on September 3, 2008 11:35 AM
From: Tracy Robinson

Thanx for the great info. What do you use to track the keywords ranking on a day to day basis?
Posted by Tracy Robinson on September 3, 2008 12:14 PM
From: Search Engine Optimisation UK

if you rely too heavily on links you could fall foul (no pun intended) work on your content instead... if your site deserves good rankings it will normally get them...
Posted by Search Engine Optimisation UK on September 3, 2008 12:38 PM
From Fred...

Tracy - I use the software that I'm going to release as a product very soon...

Comment #4 - Links are very, very important, but without good content they won't help much... however, with good content, links are like a turbo charger... that's why I recommend 3WayLinks.
Posted by Fred Black on September 3, 2008 4:46 PM
From: Dr. Michael Beck | Chiropractic Marketing

This is the first I have heard of this, but it's good to know. Fred, are you the only one to notice this "google dip"?
Posted by Dr. Michael Beck | Chiropractic Marketing on September 5, 2008 12:28 AM
From: Elizabeth Potts Weinstein

Interesting, I've never heard of this issue ... but I also don't track all of my keywords in such detail. Has anyone else mentioned this? I bet a lot of people will be interested in software that does this tracking for you!

~ ElizabethPW
Posted by Elizabeth Potts Weinstein on September 9, 2008 10:08 PM
From: Katrin Amber

Very interesting experiment. Both phrases went down after the big drop. And both didn't came at same place, few places down even.
Posted by Katrin Amber on September 10, 2008 3:14 PM
From: Nesher

Thank you very much for submitting your article to the 7th Edition of the "Bringing more traffic to your blog" Blog Carnival. The edition was published today: http://blogging4good.blogspot.com/2008/09/bringing-more-traffic-to-your-blog.html

Have a good weekend!

Posted by Nesher on September 12, 2008 2:03 PM
From: Ranjan

It's really true, if you want good page rank and position in major search, you have to write good content for your website/blog, and most important thing good contents are also provide returning visitor as well as new visitor.
Very nice article thanks.

Posted by Ranjan on September 15, 2008 5:38 AM
From: Veerendra Nayak

Hey that's really cool info you have shared, I had never come across such kinda stuff before..thanx a lot buddy!
Posted by Veerendra Nayak on September 22, 2008 6:10 AM
From: Chelsa

Hi,
I did not know of this till I visited this blog and this is pretty interesting news about google dip.
Posted by Chelsa on October 3, 2008 2:39 AM
From: Woody Smith

Site rankings are very important to some blogs. Some even hire to promote their sites and increase their Google page ranking. Thank you for pointing out that providing a web site or blog that gives value to visitors will do good to one's sites ranking.
Posted by Woody Smith on September 9, 2011 4:25 AM
From: Dr Robert Doebler

I did not know Google does this to sites.I believe that with good content you will always attract genuine visits to your site. Even if the rankings go down they are sure to come up soon.
Posted by Dr Robert Doebler on September 27, 2011 1:43 PM