Website Vanished from Google After Linking to Play Store
I have an app on the Play Store, and I decided to create a website that serves as its web version. Initially, my site was gaining good traction and indexing well. However, I realized that the domain listed for my app on the Play Store was just a Blogger page, so I updated it to my own website URL. Within 24 hours, I noticed a significant drop in impressions.
To address this, I quickly reverted the link, and while impressions stabilized, they didn’t start to increase again as they had before. After a few days, I concluded that the Play Store link likely wasn’t the issue, so I updated it once more. This time, within 24 hours, my site completely vanished from search results. Even searching with the exact domain yields no results.
2 responses to “Website disappeared from Google’s index post-Google Play Store backlink”
It sounds like you’re facing a challenging situation with your site’s visibility in Google search results after updating the backlink on the Google Play Store. Here are a few things to consider that might help you troubleshoot and recover your rankings:
Backlink Quality: When you updated the link to your own site from the Play Store, it’s possible that Google scrutinized the change more than you anticipated. Ensure that your site has high-quality content and adheres to Google’s webmaster guidelines. If Google perceives any suspicious activity, it could affect your rankings.
Indexing Issues: Check whether your site is indexed by Google. You can do this by performing a “site:yourdomain.com” search. If your site doesn’t appear, it may not be indexed. You can submit your URL for indexing through Google Search Console.
Manual Actions: Log into your Google Search Console account and look for any messages about manual actions. If your site is penalized for any reason, you’ll want to address that directly.
Technical SEO Audit: Conduct a technical SEO audit of your site. Look for issues such as crawl errors, missing meta tags, slow loading times, or mobile usability problems that could hinder your visibility.
Content Quality: Review your site’s content to ensure it provides value. Google prioritizes sites with high-quality, relevant content. If your content aligns well with what your audience is looking for, it could help improve your rankings.
Backlink Strategy: If you’re growing your backlink profile, focus on acquiring quality backlinks from reputable sources. Avoid spammy or low-quality links, as these can negatively impact your site’s authority.
Patience and Monitoring: After making changes, it can take time for Google to re-index and assess your site. Keep monitoring your traffic and rankings over the next few weeks.
If you’ve exhausted these options and your site’s visibility is still low, consider seeking help from an SEO professional who can analyze your specific situation in greater detail.
It’s really unfortunate to hear about your website’s disappearance from Google’s index. This can be a frustrating experience, especially after putting in the effort to link your Play Store app to a dedicated site. It’s possible that Google’s algorithm flagged your site due to the sudden changes in linking or perceived spammy behavior, which can happen when making quick URL updates or if they detect discrepancies in your website’s authority.
Here are a few strategies you might consider to regain your visibility:
1. **Reassess the Backlink Strategy**: If possible, start by ensuring that all your backlinks, including those from the Play Store, point to your main website instead of the Blogger page. Doing this gradually might help signal to Google that your site is authoritative and relevant.
2. **Check Google Search Console**: Make sure to utilize Google Search Console to identify any issues that your site might be facing. Look for crawl errors, manual actions, and any messages from Google that may indicate why your site was penalized.
3. **Submit a Sitemap**: If you haven’t already, submit a sitemap via Google Search Console to help with reindexing your site. This can facilitate Google crawling your site more effectively.
4. **Patience is Key**: Sometimes, recovery can take time. While it’s important to monitor your site’s performance, frequent changes can sometimes exacerbate the situation. Allow some time post-restoration for Google to reassess your site.
5. **Content and SEO Optimization**: Ensure that your