What would the chances be of getting a legit response from Google if I were to email them and ask directly if my site has received some sort of penalty leading to its dropping like a rock for all my key words in the last month? Next question, would anybody even know an email addy that I would use to contact them? It cant hurt to ask them right?
well the way i see it the worst that can happen is a non-reply. would you know oof an email addy for reinclusion, or should i be emailing a different department?
Ive contacted them twice and theyve replied twice. Here is the link to their contact page: http://www.google.co.uk/contact/ From there you can visit lots of sub-pages to find the appropriate e-mail.
I'd look at bit closer to home first, are you saying you have no idea why your dropping as that is usually not the case. If your doing anything untoward or dodgy then rectify your site first, then approach google and confess your sins, that would speed up your recovery.
I can't find any general contact form, you always have to pick things and there are no "other" options.
My friend who got falsely banned had his account restored. It took around 4 months of constant emailing and sending letters/proof to Google, but in the end it paid off. So yes, Google doesn't just throw away all emails/letters. They actually look at them if they have the time to. You have nothing to lose, so go for it.
As far as I can tell, we have done nothing to warrant a penalty, if in fact that is what we have gotten... Only time will tell...