> > Thanks Robbo. As mentioned, we are not great at SEO but I am
> > learning.
> > The problems you mentioned are noted, but the fact of the matter is
> > that we ranked extremely well as is for the important keywords we were
> > concerned with. At the moment, I am spending my time investigating the
> > problem and trying to come to some sort of solution. I will however
> > look into these issues once the main problem is solved.

> > Just to reitirate, we ranked in the top 5 for phrases such as 'garden
> > furniture' 'teak garden furniture' 'teak sets' 'dining furniture' etc
> > for over a year and a half now. Solidly.

> > I understand that some descriptions are less than adequate from a seo
> > point of view, but we designed the site with the user/buyer in mind. I
> > will look into this further when the penalty is lifted.

> > p.s thanks for the compliment about the pictures. Cheered me up a
> > bit. :-)

> > On Feb 22, 12:03 pm, Robbo wrote:

> > > Shai

> > > I cannot add anything useful about dealing with proxy hijacks, but I
> > > can see some issues on your site itself.

> > > In the main menu, you have mainly links like this:http://www.farawayfurniture.co.uk/shop/shop.php?c1=Benches

> > > Wouldn't it be better to use mod_rewrite in the .htaccess so that the
> > > published URL would be something like:http://www.farawayfurniture.co.uk/benches/

> > > Another issue is the absence of keywords from some URLs, eg: the page
> > > of detailed information on your "Bali Bench" is:http://www.farawayfurniture.co.uk/shop/shop.php?action=full&id=28

> > > Wouldn't it be better to have a URL something like:http://www.farawayfurniture.co.uk/bali-bench-details/

> > > Yet another issue is serving the SAME content in response to requests
> > > for different URLs, eghttp://www.farawayfurniture.co.uk/shop/shop.php?c1=Benches
> > > andhttp://www.farawayfurniture.co.uk/shop/shop.php?page=1&c1=Benches

> > > I also think that the details provided for some of the products are
> > > very inadequate from an SEO point of view.

> > > For example, have a look at the TEXT (ignoring the excellent photos)
> > > on this page:http://www.farawayfurniture.co.uk/shop/shop.php?action=full&id=28

> > > There is no mention of "wood", "wooden", "garden", "outdoor",
> > > "furniture".

> > > Phrases like "it is sure to become a topic of conversation amongst
> > > your friends and family" may read well as marketing blurb but they are
> > > irrelevant for search engine indexing of page content related to what
> > > people might actually be searching for.

> > > "benches" are used in all sorts of places indoors and outdoors;
> > > churches, homes, offices; public spaces (eg parks, shopping centres/
> > > malls, etc).  Benches can be upholstered or not.  Benches can be made
> > > of wood, cast/wrought iron, aluminium, plastic/PVS, etc. The word
> > > "bench" is used in other contexts too: work bench, tool bench, court/
> > > jury bench, etc.

> > > That "Bali bench" you are selling is, I think, specifically for
> > > domestic use, outside in the back garden. Take away the words "bench"
> > > and "teak" and the page leaves a great mystery: what are you selling!

> > > On a minor note, even the product dimensions are presented in a way
> > > that creates an obstacle: "Size: L150cm x W73cm x H86cm".  Are you
> > > sure that your product will be found if I search for [teak garden
> > > bench 150 cm] ?

> > > Finally, I see that you have a "Forum".  Do you moderate all posts?
> > > Are you confident that you have ways of preventing spam, obscenities,
> > > and substantially irrelevant material from getting published and
> > > indexed thus potentially damaging your site's profile?

> > > Robbo

> > > On Feb 22, 7:36 am, ShyBoy wrote:

> > > > We are a small family business and we have just been dropped from the
> > > > serps due to a proxy hijack (I think that's the term). We have blocked
> > > > the IP for now while I look at ways of preventing this happening again
> > > > in the future. (Not techy at all)

> > > > When you searched on Google for a bunch of text on our page, his site
> > > > appeared and upon clicking on the link, it forwarded us to our site,
> > > > through a proxy site.

> > > > This is the proxy site.http://www.tylerschnaidt.com/blocked/nph-index.pl

> > > > It seems to feast on sites as every day it grows by around 3000.

> > > >http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site%3Awww.tylerschnaidt.com&btn...

> > > > It seems that the proxy version of our page was re-crawled last night,
> > > > and, due to the IP ban, was de-indexed. Unfortunately, our ranking is
> > > > still stuck between the 40 - 60 mark for all keywords, phrases and
> > > > even our domain name. We used to rank really well and now we are at
> > > > the bottom of the pond. We have (what we think) is a good site which
> > > > we worked on for hours and hours every night to get just the way we
> > > > wanted it.

> > > >www.farawayfurniture.co.uk

> > > > I have filed a re-inclusion form and a spam report when it first
> > > > dropped us from serps.

> > > > We have had the penalty for over 11 days now and it is really
> > > > affecting our business. We just can't afford to miss out on the
> > > > beginning of the spring season here in the UK. This is our only source
> > > > of income and as such this is causing my wife and me great stress and
> > > > sleepless nights. This is extremely serious for us, but we feel as if
> > > > Google has let us down as we have not even had an automated response
> > > > to say they are looking into it. We feel helpless and distraught. Why
> > > > does it take so long for Google to act on these people who literally
> > > > ruin honest people's lives? Why is there no-one to talk to even via
> > > > email?

> > > > Does anyone have any advice on this? The SEO guy we used for advice
> > > > ran out of ideas.

> > > > Sorry for the rant,
> > > > Shai- Hide quoted text -

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