Last weekend my websites Pagerank went from a long standing PR-7 crashing down to a PR-0. It was not a gradual decline, 7 one minute-- 0 the next. I’ve heard the update can cause this to happen but it has been almost a week now and I figured I would see some action by now. My keywords have remained steady with maybe a little decline but nothing drastic. (My unacceptable 2nd page keyword position is another story.)

My question is how can I find out for sure that this is the result of a Google update and not a Google penalty. I want to ensure without doubt that I have not committed an unintentional Google penalty. I think I should have the right to confirm this as a fact from Google.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I have a clients site who did the same exact thing except it was PR 6 to PR 0. I am trying to find out if there is some penalty as well. The SERPs have remained about the same, but not as good as several months ago. :eek:

I am seeing pages with no backlinks reported using the link: query with PR6. Similarly, I am seeing pages with hundreds of links showing PR0. I am looking at one site for each of these cases closely. Both belong to competitors and neither does anything suspect aside from poor web site design. The SERPs haven't changed much either.

It's easy to tell someone else not to panic. So here goes: Don't panic! ;)

Seriously though, if you know you have quality backlinks, you don't have much to worry about. IMO, what Google is showing us right now is part of a larger strategy to stop manipulation of PR and profiteering thereof.

Sounds great but if they are trying to fix things then why is a search with "miserable failure" still bringing up George Bush's biography as #1 on Google. ;)

:D

Just remember that there is a vast difference between what actually is and what they show us on the toolbar and with the link: query. As long as your sites are holding their positions in the SERPs, things really are not as bad as they may seem. :)

Nicely put. Thank you. :)

The Bush Biography is comning up for "miserable failure" due to Google bombing. Read BBC News Story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3298443.stm) for more details.

I am aware of that. The question is is this what G is trying to fix in this new update / algo adjustment? :confused:

Don't know...but will let you know if I hear anything

Danny has an excellent posting regarding this here (http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=700):