Comments on: Rolling with the Punches and Looking for Positives in the Negatives http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/ Make Money Online Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:34:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: dt http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1965405 dt Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:38:31 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1965405 Hi Darren, This my PR dropped from 5 to 3 happen at a very tough time at work for me. It did not help as I once wrote that "blogging keeps me sane" in this insane world. I'm one of these small bloggers and not a SEO expert. As a result it was a huge shock and disappointment as my blog Design Sojourn, like many other bloggers, had a lot of work put into it. After reading a lot of posts, including this one, it has put a lot of perspective back into the situation. I have found that PR had only affected my advertising dollars not traffic nor search result. However I can empathize for sites that main source of income is PR related advertising. Thanks for this and please keep in touch. dt Hi Darren,

This my PR dropped from 5 to 3 happen at a very tough time at work for me.

It did not help as I once wrote that “blogging keeps me sane” in this insane world.

I’m one of these small bloggers and not a SEO expert. As a result it was a huge shock and disappointment as my blog Design Sojourn, like many other bloggers, had a lot of work put into it.

After reading a lot of posts, including this one, it has put a lot of perspective back into the situation. I have found that PR had only affected my advertising dollars not traffic nor search result.

However I can empathize for sites that main source of income is PR related advertising.

Thanks for this and please keep in touch.
dt

]]> By: John http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1964407 John Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:15:37 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1964407 Was expecting a PR 5 and got a PR 3 (from a PR 4)... Dang.. but my blogging site clearcutblogging.com went from 0 - 3 after about 2 months of blogging on it... such confusion. It will take a few days to really understand the ramifications of it all... Was expecting a PR 5 and got a PR 3 (from a PR 4)… Dang.. but my blogging site clearcutblogging.com went from 0 – 3 after about 2 months of blogging on it… such confusion. It will take a few days to really understand the ramifications of it all…

]]> By: Robert MacEwan http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1952103 Robert MacEwan Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:22:38 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1952103 This wave of change especially hurts the smaller bloggers like myself. We've not a savvy when it comes to SEO and legitimate companies offering SEO services. So along comes the Google Spider to swipe my PR6 without explanation or suggestions. Sure, we can turn to professional blogger sites to help us understand what went wrong, but at the end of the day we're still left confused. Thanks for letting me vent. This wave of change especially hurts the smaller bloggers like myself. We’ve not a savvy when it comes to SEO and legitimate companies offering SEO services. So along comes the Google Spider to swipe my PR6 without explanation or suggestions.

Sure, we can turn to professional blogger sites to help us understand what went wrong, but at the end of the day we’re still left confused.

Thanks for letting me vent.

]]> By: Shawn Williamson http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1938301 Shawn Williamson Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:54:49 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1938301 My page rank can only go up. With a new blog, I'm entering the game late, so the new rules don't affect me yet. I've really enjoyed your site! My page rank can only go up. With a new blog, I’m entering the game late, so the new rules don’t affect me yet.

I’ve really enjoyed your site!

]]> By: Ignatia http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1936909 Ignatia Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:08:27 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1936909 Today I started on rethinking my blog (with anguish because it is a confrontational exercise). Your ideas are very enlighting and your words motivate as well. Whatever the page ranking means... isn't it all about the value and the human impact of a blog? On that scale you definitely rock. Today I started on rethinking my blog (with anguish because it is a confrontational exercise). Your ideas are very enlighting and your words motivate as well.
Whatever the page ranking means… isn’t it all about the value and the human impact of a blog? On that scale you definitely rock.

]]> By: FreeFromBroke http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1936834 FreeFromBroke Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:39:54 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1936834 Can't say my page rank changed much (it could only get better anyway). For a blog isn't one of the primary rules to have good content? If that's the case then any ranking system is secondary to it's success. I can see why there's a lot of rumbling out there but what Google really did was fire everyone up to talk to each other which in the end really helps us all. Can’t say my page rank changed much (it could only get better anyway). For a blog isn’t one of the primary rules to have good content? If that’s the case then any ranking system is secondary to it’s success. I can see why there’s a lot of rumbling out there but what Google really did was fire everyone up to talk to each other which in the end really helps us all.

]]> By: sam http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1936247 sam Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:57:43 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1936247 am well aware about the nest thing that wil happen but no matter what happen am always positive that the best will always happen to me i enjoy the good work you are doing keep it up am well aware about the nest thing that wil happen but no matter what happen am always positive that the best will always happen to me
i enjoy the good work you are doing keep it up

]]> By: Max Powers at http://ConsumerFight.com http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1936019 Max Powers at http://ConsumerFight.com Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:35:08 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1936019 Wow, this is the hottest topic since I first came to this site in September. The opinions and observations are very interesting and informative. Like Darren, I too drive my family crazy with my optimistic attitude. I consider another day above ground is a good day. Wow, this is the hottest topic since I first came to this site in September. The opinions and observations are very interesting and informative. Like Darren, I too drive my family crazy with my optimistic attitude.

I consider another day above ground is a good day.

]]> By: Steven Bradley http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1935517 Steven Bradley Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:52:23 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1935517 I'm glad to see you in good spirits Darren. And I agree with your take on optimism. I can only imagine what would happen if Google stopped showing ProBlogger as often in search results. There would be a lot less quality blogs for one thing. I’m glad to see you in good spirits Darren. And I agree with your take on optimism. I can only imagine what would happen if Google stopped showing ProBlogger as often in search results. There would be a lot less quality blogs for one thing.

]]> By: Moyo http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1935166 Moyo Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:43:19 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1935166 I like Armen's take on things (a few comments before mine), but as we're seeing, PR is a quick way to compare one site to another, it's a badge of pride for those with high PRs and it's a nice piece of bait with which we attract advertisers. It takes quite a while to go up even 1 step in PR, so right now people are feeling like they're in marathon, and have just been told that they have to re-run the last 13 miles because too many spectators handed them water to drink during the race (something you didn't know you could be penalized for) ... that's the analogy that comes to my mind. As for me ... I'm wondering if anyone else is in my situation: My homepage went DOWN from PR4 to PR0, but all my other pages went UP from PR4 to PR5 ... so I'm feeling pure ambivalence right now. ---- Great work by the way Darren, lessons I've learned here extend past just traditional blogs I like Armen’s take on things (a few comments before mine), but as we’re seeing, PR is a quick way to compare one site to another, it’s a badge of pride for those with high PRs and it’s a nice piece of bait with which we attract advertisers.

It takes quite a while to go up even 1 step in PR, so right now people are feeling like they’re in marathon, and have just been told that they have to re-run the last 13 miles because too many spectators handed them water to drink during the race (something you didn’t know you could be penalized for)

… that’s the analogy that comes to my mind.

As for me … I’m wondering if anyone else is in my situation:

My homepage went DOWN from PR4 to PR0, but all my other pages went UP from PR4 to PR5 … so I’m feeling pure ambivalence right now.
—-
Great work by the way Darren, lessons I’ve learned here extend past just traditional blogs

]]> By: Vincent Chow http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1935028 Vincent Chow Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:53:19 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1935028 While smaller blogs that are also slapped by Google receive no links nor traffic. Only big blogs are mentioned. While smaller blogs that are also slapped by Google receive no links nor traffic. Only big blogs are mentioned.

]]> By: Elisa http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1934540 Elisa Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:45:21 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1934540 Darren, It's bewildering. While I do agree with Rahul (above) that people shouldn't get caught up in the nonsense of the number of hits to their site: people depend on an understanding of these rankings. My guess is that Google is shaking things up, just to shake them up because they don't want people to be able to manipulate the system and a little churning now and again shouldn't destroy any quality sites. Web publishing isn't a place to stake your money right now. I just read this article on <em><a href="http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=466&doc_id=136923" rel="nofollow"> internet evolution - it argues that if TechCrunch is heralded as the best example of profitable Web publishing, then we might all be screwed. </a></em> Appreciate the outlook, Darren. It's nice to read a blog that isn't just trying to throw witty punches at someone else. Darren,

It’s bewildering.

While I do agree with Rahul (above) that people shouldn’t get caught up in the nonsense of the number of hits to their site: people depend on an understanding of these rankings.

My guess is that Google is shaking things up, just to shake them up because they don’t want people to be able to manipulate the system and a little churning now and again shouldn’t destroy any quality sites.

Web publishing isn’t a place to stake your money right now. I just read this article on internet evolution – it argues that if TechCrunch is heralded as the best example of profitable Web publishing, then we might all be screwed.

Appreciate the outlook, Darren. It’s nice to read a blog that isn’t just trying to throw witty punches at someone else.

]]> By: Armen http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1934252 Armen Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:40:07 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1934252 Darren - I was going to email this to you, but, I thought I should share it with everyone. I think we all should 'bite our tongues' (so to speak) in our thoughts about Google. I mean, think about it people. What have Google ever done <i>against</i> us, really? Although they offer a service, they are a business at the end of the day. I don't know about you, but if it was left to Yahoo and MSN search engines, I would barely receive any organic traffic. Google are doing something, and as they are a business, they are not answerable to those who use their <i>free</i> service. Let's just 'sit tight' and see what shall be revealed from the Googleplex hereafter. Darren – I was going to email this to you, but, I thought I should share it with everyone.

I think we all should ‘bite our tongues’ (so to speak) in our thoughts about Google. I mean, think about it people. What have Google ever done against us, really? Although they offer a service, they are a business at the end of the day. I don’t know about you, but if it was left to Yahoo and MSN search engines, I would barely receive any organic traffic.

Google are doing something, and as they are a business, they are not answerable to those who use their free service. Let’s just ’sit tight’ and see what shall be revealed from the Googleplex hereafter.

]]> By: Jake http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1934053 Jake Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:52:47 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1934053 Darren -- I have talked about this the past few weeks on my site. Who this hurts is the little guy. This hurts the single mom trying to make money with her little site so her kids can have new clothes. Big guys like you and John Chow etc.. get press out of it. The little guy doesn't. They just lost all their visitors. Google has struck all the little guys of the world. It is pitiful. Darren –
I have talked about this the past few weeks on my site. Who this hurts is the little guy. This hurts the single mom trying to make money with her little site so her kids can have new clothes.

Big guys like you and John Chow etc.. get press out of it. The little guy doesn’t. They just lost all their visitors.

Google has struck all the little guys of the world.

It is pitiful.

]]> By: Davak http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1933996 Davak Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:39:10 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1933996 I predicted the ironic climb for penalized blogs earlier today... http://blogs.tech-recipes.com/davak/2007/10/25/blogs-can-even-seo-a-google-penalty/ All the doom and gloom amazes me. It's a little green stripe in a toolbar. When somebody shows me stats that the "PR" drop has done anything to SERPS or stats, then I will be impressed. I predicted the ironic climb for penalized blogs earlier today…

http://blogs.tech-recipes.com/davak/2007/10/25/blogs-can-even-seo-a-google-penalty/

All the doom and gloom amazes me. It’s a little green stripe in a toolbar. When somebody shows me stats that the “PR” drop has done anything to SERPS or stats, then I will be impressed.

]]> By: Tayrak http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1933942 Tayrak Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:24:24 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1933942 I'm extremely new to all of this and I have a web site and not a blog, though there isn't that much difference in my mind, but there have been a few things I've noticed while I've been bumping around. I could be wrong. The quality of google ads has dropped dramatically, getting relevant ads on your site is a real battle, even folks who have been around for awhile have noticed good ads exchanged for ads that bring nothing to their sites. One reason may be that google has lowered its standards and is taking any advertiser out there. That would seem like bad business to me, the alternative is that advertisers have moved away from google ads in favor of affilite or paid ads. Why? The other problem, and it goes in a circle, is there is a lot, a whole lot, of you click mine I'll click yours going on. The same goes for submitted articles and such to digg etc. There are also a lot of junk sites getting good hits and clicks, and how is that happening? Take a guess. It undermines the entire industry and it's got to bust somewhere. As an advertiser if I'm going PPC and I'm not getting much in the way of click throughs I'm going to move on to something that gives me a better turn around for my money. It's that simple. If I spend money I expect to make money, if I don't I cut and run and find a better way. I don't think google is hitting good sites to punish them, they probably know you'll ride this out, that's how you made it this far in the first place. As for the weaker ones, they likely won't fair as well and that may well be the plan. Every industry I've ever been involved in has to purge every so often, looks like this might be it for google. They've made a lot of money in adverts and you can bet they intend to keep doing it. Maybe this is a gamble but if they're already losing they have nothing further to lose by dropping a load of losing sites and everything to gain by getting rid of the glut. I’m extremely new to all of this and I have a web site and not a blog, though there isn’t that much difference in my mind, but there have been a few things I’ve noticed while I’ve been bumping around. I could be wrong. The quality of google ads has dropped dramatically, getting relevant ads on your site is a real battle, even folks who have been around for awhile have noticed good ads exchanged for ads that bring nothing to their sites. One reason may be that google has lowered its standards and is taking any advertiser out there. That would seem like bad business to me, the alternative is that advertisers have moved away from google ads in favor of affilite or paid ads. Why? The other problem, and it goes in a circle, is there is a lot, a whole lot, of you click mine I’ll click yours going on. The same goes for submitted articles and such to digg etc. There are also a lot of junk sites getting good hits and clicks, and how is that happening? Take a guess. It undermines the entire industry and it’s got to bust somewhere. As an advertiser if I’m going PPC and I’m not getting much in the way of click throughs I’m going to move on to something that gives me a better turn around for my money. It’s that simple. If I spend money I expect to make money, if I don’t I cut and run and find a better way.
I don’t think google is hitting good sites to punish them, they probably know you’ll ride this out, that’s how you made it this far in the first place. As for the weaker ones, they likely won’t fair as well and that may well be the plan.
Every industry I’ve ever been involved in has to purge every so often, looks like this might be it for google. They’ve made a lot of money in adverts and you can bet they intend to keep doing it. Maybe this is a gamble but if they’re already losing they have nothing further to lose by dropping a load of losing sites and everything to gain by getting rid of the glut.

]]> By: Phil http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1933927 Phil Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:20:45 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1933927 But wait, I still don't know what has gone wrong here? You're not getting less traffic from searches (PR is only a small factor in Google's ranking these days, it's mostly for weighting your outbound links), you don't sell text link ads so aren't affected by a lower price for them and you are already a hugely successful blog that is powerful both on it's own and as part of a massive and important network. It's reasonably easy for you to say "Don't get depressed, get motivated" when all the motivation you need is to post about this and get more traffic. I'm sorry if I'm the one being negative here Darren, I'm actually a big fan of this blog, but you and all the other bloggers that are raking in the big money will not be affected by this and you are the guys moaning about it. It's all very well making a positive and upbeat post about it now, but there was nothing downbeat in the first place and you could very well have ignored it and carried on. Personally, the sooner my feed reader is clean of posts about the "penalties" Google has placed upon you and the other poor bloggers who are "suffering" because of it, the better. But wait, I still don’t know what has gone wrong here? You’re not getting less traffic from searches (PR is only a small factor in Google’s ranking these days, it’s mostly for weighting your outbound links), you don’t sell text link ads so aren’t affected by a lower price for them and you are already a hugely successful blog that is powerful both on it’s own and as part of a massive and important network.

It’s reasonably easy for you to say “Don’t get depressed, get motivated” when all the motivation you need is to post about this and get more traffic.

I’m sorry if I’m the one being negative here Darren, I’m actually a big fan of this blog, but you and all the other bloggers that are raking in the big money will not be affected by this and you are the guys moaning about it. It’s all very well making a positive and upbeat post about it now, but there was nothing downbeat in the first place and you could very well have ignored it and carried on.

Personally, the sooner my feed reader is clean of posts about the “penalties” Google has placed upon you and the other poor bloggers who are “suffering” because of it, the better.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1933565 Jeremy Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:30:51 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1933565 Yeah, I hope that it's not just bloggers who rebound from this but the online industry as a whole. Hopefully PR will go the way of the Dinosaur and we can actually start valuing links a little better in the future. Yeah, I hope that it’s not just bloggers who rebound from this but the online industry as a whole. Hopefully PR will go the way of the Dinosaur and we can actually start valuing links a little better in the future.

]]> By: Markus http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1933562 Markus Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:30:32 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1933562 Thank you very much for this great motivating post! I bet google will say something one day :) Thank you very much for this great motivating post! I bet google will say something one day :)

]]> By: Darren Rowse http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/comment-page-1/#comment-1933508 Darren Rowse Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:18:21 +0000 http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/10/26/rolling-with-the-punches-and-looking-for-positives-in-the-negatives/#comment-1933508 Bill - welcome to ProBlogger's commenting community :-) when will it be over? your guess is as good as mine. The last 36 hours has certainly been a joke. I'm not sure what Google really achieved but considering the emails that I've received in the last 12 hours (just clearing my inbox now after waking up) the general reaction from people that I am in contact with is that Google's probably come out of this worse than they went into it. They've peeved off a lot of people, confused a lot of others and disillusioned some more. And above all they've made page rank even more irrelevant in the eyes of many. Not sure what they were trying to do - but unless this is some crazy way to make everyone ignore page rank it's not worked :-) Bill – welcome to ProBlogger’s commenting community :-)

when will it be over? your guess is as good as mine. The last 36 hours has certainly been a joke. I’m not sure what Google really achieved but considering the emails that I’ve received in the last 12 hours (just clearing my inbox now after waking up) the general reaction from people that I am in contact with is that Google’s probably come out of this worse than they went into it. They’ve peeved off a lot of people, confused a lot of others and disillusioned some more. And above all they’ve made page rank even more irrelevant in the eyes of many. Not sure what they were trying to do – but unless this is some crazy way to make everyone ignore page rank it’s not worked :-)

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