Wanted: Website Review Toy Site dump or continue?

[macnpaul]

This site, Wish List Toys was doing okay up until October 30/31 2010 when all the longtail traffic from google.co.uk dried up.

Now it only ranks for the site name and the odd random phrase like "dave talking monkey" Where previously it was ranking very well for many of the products featured.

I know other people had sites affected around the same time which makes me think it was affected by an algo change rather than a penalty, the only slightly risky thing I did was a link exchange - there was a link on the blog roll of an established site with a similar theme (not one of my sites) which I had removed a while ago.

I realise that the site is in need of more backlinks but I'm wary of investing time if the domain is penalised in some way. Since the ranking problems I've tidied the site up a bit and added some more content.

Aside from dumping the site I suppose I have two options -

1. Continue to add content and build some decent backlinks in the hope that it will be ranking better by Christmas 2011.

2. Move the site to a new domain, build backlinks and add content.

Which would you do?

Any other thoughts on the site (design, structure, seo) would be welcomed

Paul

 

[doodlebug]

New domain seems a good idea, maybe buy an aged one ?

Not bad site so don't throw it away, definitely change the logo

Ranking isn't easy even with a keyword generic, I think you should add more fresh content and keep an eye out for up and coming must have toys in 2011 and write about them.

Good luck

 

[peacock]

What a shame, it's a nice site.

Seems very harsh.

Is the content unique ?
Is the site ranking for it's own name ?

I would have thought that moving the same site to a new domain was just as likley to cause it's own problems ? - same content etc wouldn't it be obvious to the search engine.

How about forgetting about SEO for a while, find other sources of traffic. Maybe I'm being too idealistic, but you might just find that if you do that successfully then the SEO sorts itself out.

 

[macnpaul]

Thanks for the replies doodlebug & peacock.

Yes the content is all unique and the site does still rank for it's name and a few random longtail phrases.

Don't think there's anything wrong with the content or the general structure, thinking it's either a lack of links or a penalty for a link exchange.

Wary of starting again from scratch or creating sites with a similar format if the same thing is going to happen again.

 

[figleaf007]

Hi

I'm not convinced you suffered any penalty, like you say the google algo made a tweak and you (among others) suffered. But you've got a pagerank 3, nice looking site there, so starting again would seem crazy to me.

I'd look at adding fresh content and more content onto the home page - gove google a reason to think 'hey, this site seems busy, it's not sitting there like some dormant affiliate site waiting for the odd commission'. Keep plugging away at it, you'll be back....

 

[wb]

There doesn't look to be many links pointing at the homepage, have you been focussing on building links for product pages?

It's a nice site, didn't recognise the theme until I looked at the source did you customise it yourself?

 

[Blossom]

I'm not convinced you suffered any penalty, like you say the google algo made a tweak and you (among others) suffered. But you've got a pagerank 3, nice looking site there, so starting again would seem crazy to me.

I'd look at adding fresh content and more content onto the home page - gove google a reason to think 'hey, this site seems busy, it's not sitting there like some dormant affiliate site waiting for the odd commission'. Keep plugging away at it, you'll be back....

Exactly what I was going to say. No way is Google going to penalise you for 1 link exchange. Plenty of sites that like each other have reciprocal links.

Fresh content and new backlinks are the most important things. Have a look at the internal pages which have dropped and see what you can add to them in terms of content, product description improvements, reviews etc.

Then make sure you build up links to them as well as your index page. If you're worried, choose 1 or 2 pages to build up links across so you don't feel like you're wasting time.

It's possible also that a site which was linking to you (and helping your position in the SERPs) may have disappeared/removed your link etc. which has had an impact.

 

[mibut]

Product links all point to easycontentunits, google probably seeing your site as thin affiliate.

 

[macnpaul]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

There doesn't look to be many links pointing at the homepage, have you been focussing on building links for product pages?

It's a nice site, didn't recognise the theme until I looked at the source did you customise it yourself?

No link building was the next stage (neglected so far), yes I customised the theme myself.

Product links all point to easycontentunits, google probably seeing your site as thin affiliate.

Doesn't the fact that I have price comparisons add more value than having a single link to a retailer?

Or is it the fact that each link goes to easycontentunits.com first and then redirects?

 

[mibut]

Doesn't the fact that I have price comparisons add more value than having a single link to a retailer?

Or is it the fact that each link goes to easycontentunits.com first and then redirects?

Doen't matter whether links are straight to retailer or easycontentunits, they are affiliate links.
Without having different content and/or "cloaking" the links, google will not like your site.
By the way, your links actualy have a no follow in them but easycontentunits url shows up in the script that runs them.
Looking at easycontents site, there is a paid version which gets rid of the javascript and uses php.

 

[macnpaul]

Doen't matter whether links are straight to retailer or easycontentunits, they are affiliate links.
Without having different content and/or "cloaking" the links, google will not like your site.

Thanks mibut.

Think cloaking is possible with ECU which I'll look at for future sites. Curious to know what you mean by different content, compared to most affiliate sites and merchant sites I didn't think it was that bad.

 

[mibut]

Just looked a little closer at your site and you are right, your content is quite good.
My mistake, assumed it was just standard blurb.

 

[Retired_member41]

As a business I personally think you are missing the point and just dont get it.

So dump it and do something you have an interest in or have a clear vision about.

The good news is it looks like you are willing to learn, and faster than me by the look of it, so your new venture should be great.

 

[macnpaul]

As a business I personally think you are missing the point and just dont get it.

So dump it and do something you have an interest in or have a clear vision about.

The good news is it looks like you are willing to learn, and faster than me by the look of it, so your new venture should be great.

Re missing the point - care to explain more (products/subject design/structure content/seo) please?

This is an area I have an interest in and have had decent results with similar style (but smaller) sites. Maybe I am missing the point but lots of product style affiliate sites have a similar setup. The plan for this site was to rank for long tail product names, then target toy types, and then more generic terms like preschool toys etc.

I'm sure my next venture will do well but I'm wary of making any obvious mistakes I might have made with this site - so if anyone spots any please let me know

 

[crazihos]

I think its links mate, have you checked your link profile?

Out of around 164 links (including insite links) I can only find about 10 live ones, everything else is has either vanished or is now no-follow.

Edit:

Also just noticed one of your better links is from easycontentunits, if you've got all your pages linking back to them from your content units that may look a little odd in G's eyes.

 

[macnpaul]

I think its links mate, have you checked your link profile?

Out of around 164 links (including insite links) I can only find about 10 live ones, everything else is has either vanished or is now no-follow.

Edit:

Also just noticed one of your better links is from easycontentunits, if you've got all your pages linking back to them from your content units that may look a little odd in G's eyes.

Thanks crazihos, really need to spend more time building links for all my sites, hadn't thought about the link from easycontentunits.