Contest site (please really review it)

[skitzzo]

Guys, the site (or more accurately, the blog) I made for the Redscowl Bluesingsky contest has had bots from the big 3 on it hours after I launched it but has as of this posting, only been indexed by MSN. Now, I am actually more intrigued by this than I am by the idea of winning the contest (although if I can learn a lot and do that too I wouldn't mind ). Anyway, I'd like you guys to take a look at my site redscowl-bluesingsky.org and see if you can find any reason it wouldn't be indexed. My theory is that I was pinging too many services for each new post. Have you guys had any experiences like that? If not, can we find any other reason for the lack of indexing? I think I am going to go back to the WordPress default ping location and see if that helps out. I'll wait for a few responses before doing that though.

Please note, I am not trying to promote my contest site, rather I am trying to learn something from it. Notice I dont even link to it in this thread...

[Wit]

I have a funny feeling that wordpress and google don't really match. There's no hate, but there's no love either if you know that I mean.

Also keep in mind that Google has probably noticed the RB contest by now. I bet they are tweaking the results (and/or a keyword-related algo) right as we speak...

</tinfoil>

I've already said too much......

[toddieg]

looks oddly similar to my site

[skitzzo]

Originally Posted by Wit

I have a funny feeling that wordpress and google don't really match. There's no hate, but there's no love either if you know that I mean.

Also keep in mind that Google has probably noticed the RB contest by now. I bet they are tweaking the results (and/or a keyword-related algo) right as we speak...

</tinfoil>

I've already said too much......

Yeah, I think your route may have been the better one to take... When is this contest over? I could always wait a bit longer and then start over using that method if I really feel I need to.

[wimbledon]

Now I don't know if this could have anything to do with it but I notice that the language declaration is de for German and there is a German URL attributed to the designer within the HTML. Is the site hosted in Germany? The robots attribute is set to "index" so that should be ok. I don't know if robots notice the "revisit-after" attribute but notice it is set to 3 days. Google.de does not have you listed in any of the search options there. Most of the other contestants have just the competition key phrase in the page title and I notice your title contains the actual URL - I don't know how editable page titles are in blogs.

[wimbledon]

Sorry, Just realised that the designer credit I mentioned is just for the blog template you have used in Word Press.

[Andrewaclt]

Originally Posted by Wit

I have a funny feeling that wordpress and google don't really match.

I agree, just running a blog doesn't get you any benefit in and of itself. However, a blog is easier to update without having to code anything additional. You're also able to get backlinks quicker with very little effort. (Pings...).

I think the biggest problem with some of the sites, including R-B.org is that they are nothing short of spam sites. Why would anybody want to read the crap on some of those pages? You guys are SEOing for bots while I'm building something I myself would enjoy reading in the hope that people will link back to me. WH sites should be for people not bots.

I've probably said too much already, but that's okay because I still have several tricks up my sleeve yet

I'm curious as to how many uniques you guys have seen, I've seen ~250 since the third when I finally showed up on the Google SERPS. Have any of you been able to match that?

Originally Posted by skitzzo

My theory is that I was pinging too many services for each new post.

I honestly doubt you're pinging more services than me

[skitzzo]

Well... while I would normally agree with the "Design for people not bots" argument, I dont think it really applies to my question. First of all I was trying to figure out what has caused the lag time in terms of indexing. That involves the bots unless the contest has drawn a human review of all sites (I doubt). So, my question is not answered by simply saying target real people.

Second of all...

Originally Posted by Andrewaclt

I think the biggest problem with some of the sites, including R-B.org is that they are nothing short of spam sites.

How do you figure that? The phrase is a made up phrase! While you might not have meant to offend, I'd be careful when calling other members' sites spam. I personally enjoy reading at least three of the sites that have gone up in this contest. I think the content of many of the sites is original and entertaining being as how we are all targeting a made up phrase. Most of the sites in the contest are using WH tactics and are simply being creative. That's not spam.

[Andrewaclt]

Originally Posted by skitzzo

So, my question is not answered by simply saying target real people.

Google is all about backlinks, no? Posting for real people is a way to get free backlinks.

Originally Posted by skitzzo

Second of all... How do you figure that? The phrase is a made up phrase! While you might not have meant to offend, I'd be careful when calling other members' sites spam.

My appologizes, I did not mean to offened, and while I enjoy looking over your site because it is creative, in addition to the other blogs, I can't help but wonder what an outsider thinks when they see the site. If you had no idea what redscowl bluesingsky is, what would you think when you saw your own site? They are either going to be intrigued by your posts or simply think "crap" and move on. Of course this happens to all sites, but I'd try to minimize that chance as much as possible.

So in terms of getting additional backlinks, writing for a particular niche is important. At least that's my take on the whole SEO thing, I don't know much...am just trying to help. Again, no offense intended.

I would try to post everyday and perhaps make a static page explaining what the site is about.

[skitzzo]

Originally Posted by Andrewaclt

Google is all about backlinks, no? Posting for real people is a way to get free backlinks.


My appologizes, I did not mean to offened, and while I enjoy looking over your site because it is creative, in addition to the other blogs, I can't help but wonder what an outsider thinks when they see the site. If you had no idea what redscowl bluesingsky is, what would you think when you saw your own site? They are either going to be intrigued by your posts or simply think "crap" and move on. Of course this happens to all sites, but I'd try to minimize that chance as much as possible.

So in terms of getting additional backlinks, writing for a particular niche is important. At least that's my take on the whole SEO thing, I don't know much...am just trying to help. Again, no offense intended.

I would try to post everyday and perhaps make a static page explaining what the site is about.

I might have been a bit crabby on my earlier response. Certainly your point about creating some static pages is not a bad idea. I think 99% of the time the things you have said would be 100% correct but in terms of getting indexed, I don't think those things really apply. Getting links is the way to get indexed but I have more than enough links required to get indexed.

Now, in terms of winning the competition, you are probably correct and I should make my site a bit more marketable in order to gain spontaneous links from people, not just the ones I create.