On the very day that Eklaboo! turned 1, I learned that the domain has been penalized by Mr. Googlebot and the PR went from 4 to 0. I was upset more to myself because I knew this would happen and “I” just let it. You may have read from blogs to blogs of the same issue. Yes, it happened to me, to my friends, to other bloggers and perhaps even to you. Thankfully, my other domains are spared haha!

If you’re lucky enough to still have your PRs up and running, be thankful but… there’s a big but… be watchful, Googlebot is coming to you soon. So don’t just watch. More so if you’re the type who blog to make a living. What I missed to realize before was that I’m hosting friends with paid posts (because I told all of them there’s money in blogging herherherher!) and I didn’t tell them Google’s golden PR rules. My carelessness took my domain PR down. So I’m not going to make the same mistake again.

Here are some of the many ways to maintain your ranking or at least avoid getting penalized:

Number 1. Never Disclose that you’re being paid for your posts.

Check your categories, post content and titles if they are leaving clues or obvious marks. Google has algorithms to track words such as “sponsored, paid, ads, advertising, etc” So it’s never wise to put those not so pretty words as links anywhere on your domain. Try using “rants”, “chismis” and NEVER put all the SPs in one category. Why not classify them based on what the link/site is about. A Disclosure Policy page was an “in” thing for quite sometime now. If you’ve pledged to disclose those SPs as paid, you’re dead. Other than losing your ranking, advertisers won’t come to you. So might as well edit your DP pages or delete it totally (you’re using a generic so over-used template anyway).

Number 2. Avoid PPC ads.

Never ever take paid link ads for Porn, Pills and Casino sites unless you want to forget your PR and work for them full time - c”,) - Stick to link ads that are closer to your blog’s heart.

Number 3. Don’t run PPP scripts.

PPP and Google are not friends anymore. Widgets for other programs on sidebars or anywhere around the site should be fine - minus the disclosure keywords of course.

Number 4. Link up with the living

Getting as much backward links is still a plus - the very reason why Mr.G penalizes those who try to play around it. So link up with blogs whose PRs are still alive.

Number 5. Do not copy content and NEVER let yours be copied

They call it Google bowling. When your content is found on a number of pages Internet-wide, you may be in for a big G trouble.

Number 6. Invest on getting your own domain.

Do not rely on free hosted blogs because once the main domain is penalized so will be your subdomain. Also, some webmasters of free blogs (unless you know the host personally, like a friend or family) deliberately delete blogs that are deemed spammy before the entire domain gets infested with paid posts. If you don’t want your blogs missing the next day, then pay for your own. Domains are getting more and more affordable these days.

Those were just the basic but very essential ones that I know. I’m pretty sure a lot of you who come by this blog know I’m with BTOP. So let me note that I’m sharing here personal (not to mention limited) knowledge. Those points are not official BTOP stuff. Just trying to help.

Posted: March 10th, 2008 under Blogging.
Comments: 5