Ok, so I've been ranked #11 for a very popular keyword, and today I see that for that keyword I'm not even in the top 1000 results, but I am still in their index. I noticed, that the indexing for my home page is a database error page. Two days ago I was having a problem so the main page gave a database error, and that's all that was on the page. This is what MSN has just put into their index as of today. Could this be the reason, and I just need to wait for MSNbot to go back and reindex it again? Also, I used a 301 redirect for index.php to go to www.domain.com. Could this be a potential reason as well? Is it possible that MSN had my index.php ranked well, but for some reason www.domain.com did not rank, and now index.php 301 redirects to www.domain.com? Do either of these explanations make sense?
I would not worry just yet. MSN has been reindexing a lot these days. My site has been bouncing from the top 10, disappear and then reappear within a week. I am not sure about the database error. Unless it was preventing your page from coming up, I really don't think that was your issue.
MSN has ben doing alot of jumping around in recent times. I would wait it out, you will most likely be back in there in about 1 week. You could possibly build some more backlinks to your site if you like, submit an article or two. But chances are you will be back in tehre soon anyhow. Brad
So, if I was ranked #11 a few days ago, I should be able to get back there? Is there any chance something like an error on my index page when MSN happened to index the page, could have messed things up long term? Also, what about the 301 redirect from index.php to www.domain.com. Could this possibly mess anything up? Ex: www.domain.com/index.php was ranked #11, but not www.domain.com Now index.php redirects to www.domain.com Now its no longer #11, does that make sense?
Oh okay, I am not too sure on exactly how MSN handles 301 re-directs. It will certainly be interesting to see. I presume you have only just done the 301 re-direct. It may take them a little while to pick it all back up. Brad
So, if I take out the 301 redirect, should my original ranking return (if this indeed was the cause)? Or, could this have royally screwed me?