As I've mentioned in a few other threads in the main Google forum here at Digital Point, some of my sites got a Google SERPs penalty exactly one week ago. I was told that interlinking the affected sites (which are all hosted on the same server) could be a possible reason for the penalty. I've now removed the interlinking, but I just think it's weird that some of my other sites (which were also interlinked and hosted on the same server) aren't affected by the penalty. It could be a coincidence but I just found out that most of the affected sites are using AdSense, while none of the unaffected sites are using AdSense. On the sites using AdSense the AdSense code is integratet in the content like this: [content] [AdSense code] [content] I far as I know this is perfectly legal according to the terms of Google AdSense, but I was wondering whether this use of AdSense could be the reason for my penalty in the SERPs? Maybe this use of AdSense makes Google think that my site look like a scraper site or some other site designed just to display ads (it's not)? What do you think?
It just bad look, or an outside factor that you don't no about. Usually the best option is to to stop worrying about dropping a rank or a couple of places or worrying that today you only made 10cents less that yesterday. You should work on your content and have fun. If you are having fun and enjoying what you are doing then the payout will come later, when people like what you do you will get the rewards. Just my ideas.
Ok, you all seem to agree on this. Is it possible that this could be one of many factors Google uses to determine which sites are just made to display ads?
Usually I don't worry about rankings dropping a couple of places. But in this case it's pretty clear that the affected sites got a sitewide penalty. All rankings (which where mostly #1-#10) have dropped more than 40 places. It's not just normal fluxtuations.
Interlinking the sites hosted on same IP can cause penalty and is not recommended. I dont think that adsense causes SERP problems. That would be like google punishes his self.
Sometimes I like to put a link in a newly created content page that points to one of my own relevant website pages. Does that count an interlinking?
Well if the "newly created content page" is a site on 1 domain and linking to 2nd domain, hosted on same IP then yes.
Ofcause they don't intend to penalize their own product, but that kind Adsense code placing is a bit similar to way scraper sites are placing their adsense code. So maybe Google see this kind of adsense code placing as an indication of the site being a scraper site or something.
nah, I dont think Adsense affects SERP and I dont see any point in this. I might be wrong on but I dont think it affects SERP.