It Looks Like Google Just Laid the Smackdown on Squidoo

By
Real Estate Agent with Better Homes & Gardens Mason McDuffie Real Estate

 Bad news for Squidoo

It looks like Google has penalized Seth Godin's venture because of excessive spamming. 

From yesterday's TechCrunch post.

"The reports indicate that some Squidoo pages have seen a 75% drop in traffic, and in other cases have either been removed from high ranking positions on Google, or removed all together." 

I'm sure the folks at Squidoo saw this coming and recently began new spam fighting initiative to attempt to avoid this move by Google, but it looks like it might be a case of too little, too late.

While it seems like a stiff penalty.  I think this move will force Squidoo to clean up their lenses and will ultimately help in the long run.

If anybody has any input on the ramifications of this move by Google, I'd love to hear them.

Comments (7)

Ron Fuhrer
Nazareth,Easton, Bethlehem - Prudential Patt, White - Nazareth, PA
Lehigh Valley PA Homes
Thanks for sharing, I just made my first lens last week and cant find it on google. Maybe this is why!
Jul 11, 2007 07:50 AM
Provadus Home Loans
Provadus Home Loans - Marietta, GA
Technology bringing you home.

I am sure we have not heard the last of Squidoo.  I am curious to see how they counter it, I know they will.

Jul 11, 2007 07:59 AM
Kimberly Grant
Exit Leon Crawford Realty - Huntsville, AL
Real Estate Agent - Huntsville Alabama

This is interesting.  I heard so many people talk about the success and traffic they received from Squidoo that I set up a page.  I think it has had MAYBE three views since its been up.  Maybe this is why...

Jul 11, 2007 08:05 AM
Andy Kaufman
Better Homes & Gardens Mason McDuffie Real Estate - Berkeley, CA
East Bay Sales & Investments

Jill & Ron- No problem.

Open Home Mortgage- I agree.  It looks like they're finally taking aggressive action though.  

Kimberly- I'm sure that it's part of the reason. 

Jul 11, 2007 08:17 AM
Leon Austin
Mobile Notary Services - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Mobile Notary

Andy, I'm glad you posted this. I have been sitting on the fence with regards to Squidoo. I had been hesitant to post anything. I think I'll wait a while longer to see if this gets resolved.

 

Jul 12, 2007 12:11 AM
Susan DeRosas
Medford, MA
For those having problems getting your Lens published, Squidoo now requires that you have at least 3 modules set up on the page!  I found this out the hard way by contacting their support team.  You would think that there would be a website system message to tell you this, but no!
Jul 19, 2007 08:51 AM
Jeff Blackwell
Easy Living Solutions Realty - Gilbert, AZ
My Sales Training lens got caught up in that recent "slap" and couldn't be found in Google's index without serious effort for the past two weeks. Luckily that lens resurfaced today. :)
Jul 25, 2007 12:57 PM