How do I know if I am being Penalized by Google

Hi

I was wondering if someone could let me know how I find out if I am being penalised by Google & Yahoo. My website is www.findagap.com.

I am trying to optimize for the word: 'gap year'

We were gradually climbing up to page 3 on google and page 1 on yahoo until recently where we are about position 60'ish

Any help would be appreacietd.

Cheers,

Andy

 

If your in the index, then your not penalised. The algo's are changing constantly, with fine tuning going on all the time. Did you make any changes to your site? as it is weird that both Y & G have dropped you down t the same time.

 

You have 846 pages listed in the Google index, and 109 links acknowledged, so IMO you are not banned, and likely not penalized either.

For the search term gap year travel programs (used in several of your page titles) you are ranking #2 in google, so if you are not happy on other search terms you should look at how you are optimized for them.

 

From Webmaster Forums (Sat July 10, 2004):

 

Google search for Traffic-power.com

Mind you they are using the no index no follow meta tag on thier pages, but it does go to show that generalizations can often lead to misunderstandings.

 

Wasn't that a "special case"? a rare manual edit?

 

I believe all bans are manual.

 

gap year is like car rental unspecific I doubt serious traffic can be syphoned from this. It's rather "gap year WHAT?"

M

 

Hmmm... you might want to let John Scott know...

 

Simply search your in google if your url comes in serach results then you are not banned

 

I agree, when you use the site:yoursite.com and then you are there you are not penalized...