It seems that the latest update has had a devastating impact on smaller to medium-sized content websites, even though many of them continue to have valuable content.
Affiliate links and display ads are often frowned upon, so how are website owners expected to generate income? Interestingly, Google promotes its Adsense program with its sometimes overly intrusive ads, and recently launched an affiliate-like feature. Isn’t that ironic?
As the owner of a medium-sized content site that prides itself on high-quality, human-written articles and top-notch technical optimization, I can’t help but notice a sharp decline in our search engine rankings. Despite following all the guidelines, our daily clicks from Google have plummeted from 10K to a mere 1K.
We rely on affiliate links and a few display ads to monetize our site, so if that’s the reason for our downfall, it appears that Google wants us to suffer.
The current state of Google and SEO is nothing short of disheartening, to say the least.
2 responses to “Does anyone still have interest in this?”
The most recent update seems to have greatly affected small to mid-sized websites that provide quality content. Many of these sites have suffered due to the changes.
With affiliate links and display ads being frowned upon, website owners are facing difficulties in making money. Meanwhile, Google continues to push Adsense with its intrusive ad formats and recently introduced a feature similar to affiliate links.
As a owner of a mid-sized content website that publishes high-quality articles (without the use of AI), I have noticed a decline in web traffic. Despite having a strong technical presence in our niche and following all the rules, our rankings have plummeted. We used to receive around 10,000 clicks from Google daily, but now it’s only 1,000.
We rely on affiliate links and a few display ads to generate revenue. If these are the reasons for our decline, it seems like Google is intentionally making it difficult for us to succeed.
It’s disappointing to see how Google and SEO have changed over time and the challenges they now present to content creators.
It’s disheartening to hear about the significant decline in traffic your site has experienced, especially when you’ve put so much effort into producing high-quality content. This seems to be a common struggle among many website owners who feel caught in the crossfire of algorithm updates.
One angle that might be worth exploring is the evolving nature of SEO and monetization strategies. As you’ve pointed out, Google’s approach can feel quite contradictory, promoting its own ad solutions while penalizing affiliate marketing practices—a frustrating irony for those trying to create sustainable income streams.
Have you considered diversifying your monetization strategies? For example, looking into sponsored content, offering premium memberships for exclusive articles, or exploring alternative affiliate networks that align better with Google’s guidelines could help mitigate some of the impact. Additionally, engaging with your audience through newsletters or social media could help maintain your visibility and traffic.
It would also be beneficial to analyze your competitor landscape. Are there new trends in content consumption or user behavior that could provide insights? Adapting to genuine user needs rather than just adhering to SEO guidelines can sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities.
Lastly, tapping into community forums to share experiences and strategies can also foster a supportive network of like-minded individuals navigating these challenges. Your insights could resonate with others who are facing similar hurdles and help spark a discussion around innovative solutions. Hang in there; the SEO landscape is constantly shifting, and adaptation often leads to new paths for success!