I haven't done much SEO yet ... however, I've been ranking 2/3 page on the term "christian forums" and "christian social network" ... I was thinking about working to improve those rankings.... In any case, I've notice my site moves in and out of the index when I search for those terms - which I accept as normal. However, I can no longer find my site ranking on those terms - been about 4/5 days. Is this normal, or is something wrong? Any suggestions, thanks. *The page I am referring to is this: http://www.true2ourselves.com/
I would start by building more backlinks with those phrases as your anchor text, build them on relevant sites related to religon and christianity, this should help stablize your positioning in the index and increase it.
Thanks -- I have been building backlinks. I'm just wondering if the fact that I am no longer ranking on those two terms (about 5 days) if that means I am being penelized... I was ranking on those terms for months.
My suggestion would also try to find more christian site directories and submit to those as well. These backlinks would be relevant, and free! As far as the being penalized, don't sweat it. Rankings fluctuate all the time. You need a bit more time to find out if something is going on.
If you're doing active link building make sure you vary your link text. Don't use "christian forums" for every back link. Add some words and mix it up. i.e. "forums for the christian community", etc. Also look at your site stats and see what other terms you are getting hits for. Track and link build for some of them as well. That will give you a better feel for when something has gone wrong on your site.
Continue to build links to those pages on other relevant pages that have good PR and use different variations of those keyword phrases in your anchor text.
have quality links to your site, like link trades with the same niche as your site, directory submission, blog creation...