Remember a few weeks ago, when I was so happy that my PR had gone from zero to three?
Well…
In the PPP system I saw that I’m categorized as a PR-2. It said 3 before, but now it says 2.
At first I thought it was a mistake, until I checked the datacenters. Apparently I HAVE been downgraded to a 2 (even though for the time being my sidebar widget still says 3).
There’s plenty of talk going around that Google has been penalizing blogs that do paid ads. The PPP boards are full of people who’ve had the PR drop on their PPP blogs.
And now it appears I have been hit as well.
Here’s how I know it was related to PPP ads:
I have four blogs: Jannaverse, Jannagraphics, Jantrails, and Jantics.
The PR dropped ONLY on the blogs where I do PPP ads. It didn’t drop on Jannagraphics (PR-3) or Jannaverse (PR-4). But it DID drop on both Jantics and Jantrails (both PR-2 now).
It used to be that PR was determined solely by an algorithm. Well, either they’ve changed the algorithm to detect paid ads, or they’re specifically going in and de-ranking individual blogs. Again, this has happened to hundreds of other people in exactly the same way. It can’t be a coincidence.
This annoys the crap out of me.
I know, I know, a 2 is better than a zero, but that’s not really the point.
For those of you who don’t know, a lower PR affects the type of PPP opportunities I’m allowed to take. So this drop will directly affect my income.
I am fighting mad.
.
Comments 6
Where to I find my PR?
Posted 13 Nov 2007 at 5:42 pm ¶sigh…I have read about this everywhere…but don’t really pay attention to any of it…
Posted 13 Nov 2007 at 8:23 pm ¶GoingLikeSixty: There are tons of places on the Internet where you can check your PR. Here’s one of them:
http://ppp.customtools.urltrends.com/
Katherine: I HAVE to care, because it affects my income.
Posted 14 Nov 2007 at 3:31 am ¶My anti-spam word here was “odor”
How appropriate, because this STINKS.
From what I understand, it is still an algorithm — HOWEVER, those little “tiny url” things we often have to add at the bottom of PPP posts??? Word in the ‘sphere is that they send Google Spiders (those things that track our links) AWAY from our blogs.
Some people have suggested going back and removing all of those little blank box tiny urls AFTER you get paid for the post. I’m not sure if that violates PPP terms of service or not.
That being said, however, it does seem very strange that all previously PR3 & PR4 blogs are now ALL PR2 — and that good PPP opps don’t start until PR3. Weird coincidence? I dunno…
I feel guilty that previously as an unranked PR I had no ads, so now The Mo Show Blog is a PR3, and I can get good opps. I feel kind of guilty taking them, even though I need the $$$ as desperately as you. But I figure, better me than some rich haus frau who’s just PPPing for shits & giggles, right?
I’ve also heard that PPP is looking into dropping PR, and going with their own system, similar to Smorty’s, where you are rewarded for posts approved. Hopefully there is some truth to that!
Posted 14 Nov 2007 at 12:01 pm ¶Thank you. I thought it had to be an official “Google” deal.
Posted 15 Nov 2007 at 10:32 am ¶I appreciate the guidance.
Morgen: I wish I was a rich haus frau….
GoingLikeSixty: The system was originated by Google, but can be checked via plenty of sites.
Posted 16 Nov 2007 at 3:59 am ¶Post a Comment