Google Traffic Drops, Affiliate Links and Duplicate Content
Fluctuations in search results happen all the time; the web is constantly evolving and so are the Google search results. Google algorithms are constantly evolving.
When an affiliate has reduced search traffic or loses ranking, two of the 1st things they think of are that either duplicate content issues or affiliate links are responsible.
The Official Google Webmaster blog today goes into those 2 issues as well as architectural issues that can have an effect on traffic and rankings.
Traffic drops and site architecture issues
Myth number 1: Duplicate content causes drops in traffic!
Webmasters often wonder if the duplicates on their site can have a negative effect on their site’s traffic. As mentioned in our guidelines, unless this duplication is intended to manipulate Google and/or users, the duplication is not a violation of our Webmaster Guidelines. The second part of my presentation illustrates in greater detail how to deal with duplicate content using canonicalization.Myth number 2: Affiliate programs cause drops in traffic!
Original and compelling content is crucial for a good user experience. If your website participates in affiliate programs, it’s essential to consider whether the same content is available in many other places on the web. Affiliate sites with little or no original and compelling content are not likely to rank well in Google search results, but including affiliate links within the context of original and compelling content isn’t in itself the sort of thing that leads to traffic drops.
Continue reading: Traffic drops and site architecture issues
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#1 Tim Parsons wrote on Monday, June 29th, 2009:
It’s good to know that Google doesn’t have it in for affiliates. My sites always provide original compelling content so I will be OK. The recent Google changes that favor authority sites is seeming to help me.
#2 Linda Buquet wrote on Monday, June 29th, 2009:
Hi Tim, good to hear! Google is all for the user experience so as long as affiliates are building for the user too, then everyone wins!
#3 Joe wrote on Monday, June 29th, 2009:
So did google say what actually does cause a drop in traffic?
#4 NorthRockSEO wrote on Monday, June 29th, 2009:
I could not believe people actually thought that affiliate programs were causing drops in traffic.
I still believe that the biggest drops, and getting banned for that matter, are related to link farms and the like. This has always been googles sticking point and with good reason. While I do feel a bit bad for people just starting out who get sucked into such programs a bit of “buyer beware” needs to be used in these situations.
#5 Introspective wrote on Monday, June 29th, 2009:
Should I stop publish my articles on article directories? I used to publish my articles, but now I wander should I stop doing this, because the risk of duplicate content penalty.
#6 Joe wrote on Monday, June 29th, 2009:
I am a n00b but I’d recommend just writing content for your own sites rather than writing content for acticles to be submitted to other sites for back links.