Google Webmaster Chat – Google opens up

Thoughts on the strength of DMOZ? If you can get a DMOZ link it’s helpful, but there’s no special “DMOZ boost” or anything like that. – Matt Cutts

Google’s Webmaster chat is a blitz of information from Google. The web ex interface is displaying different demonstrations, while the Question and Answer section is wit with several hundred rapid fire questions that are answered by a variety of Googlers. You should keep your eyes and ears out for the next one as there are OODLES of information given out in the course of an hour.

I think a very helpful presentation came from Jonathan Simon a Googler from Webmaster Chat: He was talking about different items that can cause you to drop in rankings

• Duplicate content: rule of thumb – 1 url and only 1 url for each page
• syndication without credits back to you
• Having your site scraped and your content showing on spam sites
• Server issues can impact site, if the server is down when Google bot rolls round, you can have trouble
  
• Major configuration changes
• Competition Improved their site or linking
• Change in search trends
• Any changes that violate guidelines by you or your marketers

He was of course kind enough to recommend some courses of action to take when your rankings dip.

1. File a Reconsideration
2. Post to Webmaster help Chat
3. Add fresh unique content
4. Develop Tools, mashups, gadgets, subscribed links
5. Make sure your site is Geo- targeted * Go to your webmaster tools, then go to the tools section. Then add your business to Local business center

Again, if you can get into the next webmaster chat- it is really worth your time!