Beware of Google's URL removal console

I thought I would warn everyone about a problem I had with Google's URL removal console. I referenced a perfectly valid robots.txt and they when way beyond what I had asked. My robots.txt file included a reference:

www.mysite.com/directory1/index.html

I use keyword1.html as the landing page, so that shouldn't have been a problem. They took the above as a request to delete every page in directory1. This happened with two of my directories and now 1/3 of my website has disappeared from Google.

Apparently Google's URL removal console isn't anywhere near ready for prime time. I thought I would take the time to warn everyone that your results with Google's URL removal console could go well beyond what you had asked for and what you had intended.

 

How many days since you noticed changes from your site? Sounds interesting.

 

The pages were gone within hours.

 

HI Same My Problem.

I also Use subdirectory structure like www.site.com/directory/directory.php


i just check in google site:www.site.com, but my whole page which i manage with directory struture not showing my pages



thanks

 

bhavin,

I am sorry to hear Google's URL removal tool did a number on you too. I suspect it was originally an internal tool used to blow away spam sites. I am sure they weren't very concerned about being careful about which pages are removed. Unfortunately, now they have unleased this beast on the unsuspecting webmasters of the world.

I am curious, did you use the robots.txt tool or did you go after the one specific page with meta tags. For me, it was the robots.txt tool that got me into trouble.

 

RomanticGuy:

I started a thread with Google via Google Groups.

If you have a moment, please join that thread and post your experience.

Thanks!

 

Thanks for the heads up on your thread with Google. I have added my 2 cents. Hopefully they will listen and make some changes.