Rankings Drop Week Beginning 19 May

[gavinr]

Hi All

I have experienced quite a significant rankings drop since week commencing 19 May.

I have heard there has been a Panda roll out recently was it around that time?

Thanks

Gavin

[DragonSearch]

Yes, Panda began rolling out at this time. You should check out Moz's Google Algorithm Change History page for a full list of updates. It's great!

[David-Kley]

Panda 4.0 was released on May 20th.

"After many smaller, almost monthly “refreshes”, the fourth Panda update seems to be a major one. However, according to the rumor mill, this update is more “soft and gentle” than previous ones, and will supposedly serve as a basis for future adjustments to the algorithm."

You can also see the Matt Cutts official twitter post here

[gavinr]

Thanks both

Just been reading about the nature of the update and bit surprised our rankings have fallen based on the panda update. I'm thinking it may have more to do with the pay day loans update as we still have some spammy links floating about from a few years ago which I can't remove.

Thanks
Gavin

[TimHolmes]

If you have done all you can to request the links are removed - why not try out the disavow tool on those that simply won't budge... just make sure you detailt to google that you have tried every effort to have them removed.

[gavinr]

Hi Tim

I submitted one disavow doc last year during the time we were trying to remove a google penalty. It was removed after the removal of links and the submission of the disavow doc. However I think there are many more spammy links out there so your right another disavow doc would probably be best.

Does Google look unfavourably on too many disavow submissions?

Thanks
Gavin

[David-Kley]

No, as that is what the tool is there for, to remove links you dont want. Some ecom stores have submitted thousands of disavow submissions. Don't worry about that.

Have you tried using MOZ's open site explorer? Sometimes when you submit to a spammy directory, they will auto add your link to their affiliate and sister sites, therefore you will have additional links you didn't even know existed.

[benjaminmarcinc]

That recently happened to me with press releases, i submitted a press releases and 20 other website picked it up and most of the sites were spammy.

[gavinr]

Thanks David

I havent used the open site explorer. I will give use it now though as I suspect we have many spammy links on websites we have had no contact with. Thanks for the advice.

Gavin

[BlueprintMarketing]

If you don't mind me asking what was the nature of the press release and who did you release it through?