Real Estate Forums

HHI Golf Guy · 05-09-2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasMack

Yahoo IMHO has led the way in the last 2 years in combating link spam. While they don’t have a perfect record by any measure they have taken aggressive steps in “the War on Spam”.

You're absolutely right - Yahoo has been very aggressive at penalizing sites that they think are part of link networks.

In part, that's why I spend so much time with on-page optimization and site themes - I think the importance on page SEO will increase as SE's find a way to beat link spam.

SEOWolf · 05-09-2007, 11:30 AM

After considerable thought and spot checking my link partners I have decided to delete all my link pages on Las Vegas Nevada Real Estate - Las Vegas MLS Listings

I have sent a mass email out to all of my partners (copied below). I’m sure that many have changed their email addresses and won’t get the notice so I am also posting to this thread.

Quote:

Subject: We Are Deleting All Link Pages (Please Read)

Hi,

Due to recent Search Engine issues concerning reciprocal links we have decided to remove all of our link pages on Las Vegas Nevada Real Estate - Las Vegas MLS Listings.

You can read about this issue in the Pro Real Estate Network Forum at Reciprocal Link Pages Dead?

We are currently setting up a Referral Article Directory at Las Vegas Real Estate Referral Partners | RE/MAX in an effort to continue to link to our better link partners. We won’t be able to accept any new articles for a couple of days while we complete the setup but will have it up soon.

I apologize for any inconvenience and wish you all the very best.

Sincerely,

~VegasMack

I am NOT advocating all of our Members follow suit. I leave that to the discretion of our Members and yield any advising to the likes of HHI Golf Guy and Jim Messenger.

Since this domain is still under a 900 filter penalty by Google I felt that I and my partners had absolutely nothing to lose by this decision.

I do intend to continue using a directory that HHI Golf Guy recommended I set up on a sub-domain for real estate article exchanges.

I am looking at all of my sites and my client sites on an individual basis.

If I do delete any more link pages I will post the domain to this thread.

~VegasMack

bmegowan · 05-09-2007, 04:20 PM

I am an AA site that have removed all of my links to other AA sites. I get great results from Google, but show up nowhere with Yahoo. Does anyone know how I can get Yahoo to reinstate my site if I was penalized before?

JimMessenger · 05-10-2007, 11:32 AM

Hey folks,

Let me make this very clear. Either delete your reciprocal links pages or don't complain if/when Google deletes you!

As Mack stated above, we warned everyone of this last September. Since Mack started this post some of you are still trying to find a way "around" the issue.

As of last night there have been more developments on the "Google hates your link spam" issue. Many non-AA sites have been nuked as well.

Again, don't complain if you don't comply...

Jim

P.S. The strong tone is for your benefit.

SEOWolf · 05-10-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimMessenger

As of last night there have been more developments on the "Google hates your link spam" issue. Many non-AA site have been nuked as well.

I have been notified that a good many REW client and Member sites got hit yesterday.

In doing some research that does seem to be accurate.

I did come across an AA site in Phoenix that is ranked #1 for the term “Phoenix real estate” in Google. And this site does have state pages in a reciprocal directory that is run on web based automated software. Many “No Nos” if current thinking prevails.

I did note that his links directory was in a sub-domain as HHI Golf Guy has suggested.

So it will be interested to see if this AA site in Phoenix gets hit or if it stands. This site is worth watching as it will tell us a lot about what is going on IMHO.

~VegasMack

bmegowan · 05-10-2007, 06:19 PM

My real estate site (you can google "Maureen Megowan" since I can't seem to put my URL into this reply) is an AA site, and we are on the first page of results for "Palos Verdes Real Estate" and #1 for "Palos Verdes Estates Homes for sale". Several months ago, I converted all of my former State Directory link pages to State Relocation information pages, and eliminated all realtor to realtor reciprocal links. I have also eliminated all of the original "canned " content that came with the original AA site template. I would hope that with all of that that Google would not include me in a blanket AA elimination. I have a huge amount of original content(far more than 99% of other real estate agent websites). I get excellent search engine results for Google, but am not on the map for Yahoo. I may have gotten put on the Yahoo AA blacklist back when I had a lot of reciprocal links. Does any one know how to contact Yahoo to somehow get taken off of their blacklist, or if they just continue to spyder my site, will I eventually get back in Yahoo's good graces?

San Diego Real Estate · 05-10-2007, 06:55 PM

I'm curious how are all the AA sites are doing now with all these recent changes in the wind?

SEOWolf · 05-10-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by San Diego Real Estate

I'm curious how are all the AA sites are doing now with all these recent changes in the wind?

Most are not doing well Al.

~VegasMack

SEOWolf · 05-10-2007, 07:45 PM

I just got off of the phone on a lengthy consult with Jim Messenger.

Jim is adamant about deleting all the state reciprocal pages. He makes many compelling arguments. One of the best was the disappearance of mslasvegasrealestate.com yesterday from Google’s #2 slot for the term “Las Vegas real estate”. This site has even gone into the #1 position a couple of times this week when greatlasvegashomes.com disappeared and then reappeared multiple times.

Jim’s observations of the mslasvegasrealestate.com site is that while the site owner has pulled down all of her state reciprocal pages it has only been recently. Looking at her site in cache and the WayBack Machine confirms this. While her SEO guy did prune most of the links last year (another controversy in the REW Forum) it did not save her.

My observation is that while she is not currently a REW Client her site is often mentioned on the REW Forum which I believe is now under Google scrutiny and a good source to look for potential offending sites for Google’s on going “Hand Job”. Too many REW Members got hit for it to be a coincidence now.

Jim agrees and like me just isn’t sure why the facilitating site hasn’t been hit yet. “It is ironic that the users are penalized while the facilitator goes unscathed.” Jim said.

He also pointed to his Blog post of last year about this issue. He was at the SES Conference. He asked the Search Engine panel with Google, Yahoo, MSN Live and Ask.com representatives in attendants specifically “Do you feel that the popular REALTOR® state reciprocal pages are spam”. The Director Search Relevance for Ask.com Kaushal Kurapati responded in the affirmative and that it just added 50 plus pages of spam to the index per Agent. The other SE panel members AND Matt Cutts nodded in agreement. To read Jim’s entire Blog Post go here!

Now I don’t know Greg Boser (AKA WebGuerrilla) other than by reputation but I do know Jim Messenger. Several of our Members have PM and called me questioning Greg Boser’s motives. I don’t have any answers about that. I can state that Jim Messenger’s motives are NOT in question. He is a Consultant to this Forum as a personal favor and values his growing reputation as a “White Hat SEO Expert”. He would not do anything or give any advice that would jeopardize that reputation.

Jim will be out of pocket for a few days but will check this thread on his return he said.

~VegasMack

San Diego Real Estate · 05-10-2007, 07:58 PM

Mack a lot of great information as usual....Thanks again for keep everyone posted....wow... lot's of changes for all it appears...It will be very interesting to see how things turn out...