Ranking dropped after implementation of indexing API

[Ronald1411]

After implementing the indexing API, my top-ranking blogs have completely vanished from the search rankings. These blogs used to have keywords that consistently ranked in the top 3 positions and generated sales. Shockingly, they are now nowhere to be found in the top 100 search results. This sudden drop occurred within a single day of adding the indexing API. Previously, my blogs were receiving an average of 15 clicks per day, with 800 to 1000 impressions. While this may not have been a substantial amount, considering the fact that my blog is relatively new, it still managed to generate around $50 in revenue in just a week. However, since the implementation of the indexing API, my blog now only receives around 50 impressions per day, with zero clicks. I'm currently at a loss as to how to resolve this issue, as there doesn't seem to be a manual penalty and the URLs are still indexed. In an attempt to improve the situation, I have updated the content, but it remains to be seen if it will have any positive effect.

 

[madmacc]

According to Google's official documentation (https://developers.google.com/search/apis/indexing-api/v3/quickstart), this API can only be used to job postings and live broadcasts. The good ole big G probably noticed you trying to incorrectly use its services and yoinked your rankings.

 

[Techpreneur]

It's your assumption, and it may or may not be true. Google releases new updates every week or so. So, the last update could be the reason for the sudden rank drop. If it's a bug, Google will rectify it as soon as possible, and you'll regain the rankings. You needn't worry if you didn't break any rules. Also, check the top 10 results and see which websites rank for your keywords. If they are poor websites, it's definitely a bug from Google's update, or an update is rolling out. It will become stable after a week. If not, you need to do a lot of analysis to find out what caused this issue. If you want a more detailed answer, share more details via PM. I'll try to help you.

 

[Ronald1411]

According to Google's official documentation (https://developers.google.com/search/apis/indexing-api/v3/quickstart), this API can only be used to job postings and live broadcasts. The good ole big G probably noticed you trying to incorrectly use its services and yoinked your rankings.

How can I fix it? Should I continue publishing new articles, or is it a waste of effort if I do so?

 

[Steptoe]

According to Google's official documentation (https://developers.google.com/search/apis/indexing-api/v3/quickstart), this API can only be used to job postings and live broadcasts. The good ole big G probably noticed you trying to incorrectly use its services and yoinked your rankings.

^ This. The indexing API is only meant to be used for short-lived or time-sensitive content.

 

[terrycody]

Since you say those URLs are still indexed, it maybe just a conincidence.

Use indexing API may causes some side effects, like the URLs drop from the index quickly after indexed, but it should not affect your current URLs.

There are some algo updates recently, so just relax, and churn out more good contents, and see.

 

[Ronald1411]

It's your assumption, and it may or may not be true. Google releases new updates every week or so. So, the last update could be the reason for the sudden rank drop. If it's a bug, Google will rectify it as soon as possible, and you'll regain the rankings. You needn't worry if you didn't break any rules. Also, check the top 10 results and see which websites rank for your keywords. If they are poor websites, it's definitely a bug from Google's update, or an update is rolling out. It will become stable after a week. If not, you need to do a lot of analysis to find out what caused this issue. If you want a more detailed answer, share more details via PM. I'll try to help you.

I appreciate your detailed explanation. As a new member on BHW, I do not have the option to send private messages yet. When I first published the article, there was minimal competition with only 2 to 3 websites targeting the exact keyword. However, as time passed, the keyword became slightly more competitive due to the increased number of sites targeting it. Nevertheless, I maintained my dominance in the top 3 positions for all variations of the keyword and even secured a featured snippet. The ranking order of the sites remained consistent, with the website previously at position 2 moving to position 1, and the one from position 3 shifting to position 2. The sites are equal to mine in terms of authority.

 

[tylero]

What's the update?

 

[Ronald1411]

What's the update?

I let the domain expire, as I believe it was penalized due to too much promotional content, such as "best (product) under $XXX." Currently, I am working on a different niche and have structured the blog to be 20% commercial and 80% informative. Additionally, I will avoid adding too many Amazon links on the same page. Instead, I will link to reviews of the products that contain the Amazon links.

 

[Montage Motion]

That indexing API totally wrecked your site's rankings overnight

 

[tylero]

Could indexing API not the culprit? I have seen so many people complaining about it.

 

[Nikolaos]

After implementing the indexing API, my top-ranking blogs have completely vanished from the search rankings. These blogs used to have keywords that consistently ranked in the top 3 positions and generated sales. Shockingly, they are now nowhere to be found in the top 100 search results. This sudden drop occurred within a single day of adding the indexing API. Previously, my blogs were receiving an average of 15 clicks per day, with 800 to 1000 impressions. While this may not have been a substantial amount, considering the fact that my blog is relatively new, it still managed to generate around $50 in revenue in just a week. However, since the implementation of the indexing API, my blog now only receives around 50 impressions per day, with zero clicks. I'm currently at a loss as to how to resolve this issue, as there doesn't seem to be a manual penalty and the URLs are still indexed. In an attempt to improve the situation, I have updated the content, but it remains to be seen if it will have any positive effect.

Are you sure it's not because of the new update? Many sites were hit and dropped in rankings with the new update.

 

[Ronald1411]

That indexing API totally wrecked your site's rankings overnight

The site was bound to get wrecked because of the new update, however I believe the API index sped up the process, because it enables google to index the site more quickly and more often.

 

[Ronald1411]

Could indexing API not the culprit? I have seen so many people complaining about it.

Yes, I believe the API is the culprit. However, it works well with Python. I used it to index another site with about 50 URLs that were crawled but not indexed. After running the Python script, all the URLs were indexed within 48 hours. I recommend the Python method rather than the instant indexing plugin.

 

[Ronald1411]

Are you sure it's not because of the new update? Many sites were hit and dropped in rankings with the new update.

Yes, I think it's because of stuffing Amazon links and creating too much content just to sell products. The API indexing just sped up the process. However, I've learned from my mistakes and started a new blog, focusing more on informative articles and topical authority. If I manage to rank for a commercial keyword with a good conversion rate and commission, I'll run a PPC campaign on the exact match keyword. I think SEO is not very reliable in 2024, but it can be used to test the money keywords and conversion rate of a page. I might be wrong, but that's how I feel.