Penalised by Google - Should I Redirect to a new domain?

[penn73]

Last month my rankings dropped a couple of pages on Google and am no longer receiving as many visits from Google as I used to. It's coming up to summer which is the time my business naturally picks up yet I can't fix this problem.

I have a crazy idea of redirecting my established site onto a new domain in hopes that the penalty would be removed.

I have tried removing any manipulative links yet my ranking are not coming back.

Anyone had success in redirecting to a new domain?

[EvolveCreative]

I would definitely NOT redirect a domain that received an unnatural link penalty to a new domain that you're starting fresh on. I wouldn't host that new domain on the same C-block either.

If you were running from the cops would you call them and let them know that you cut your hair, changed your clothes and got a new car?

[penn73]

Hi Todd,

Thanks for confirming the redirect will not solve the issue.

I received an unnatural link warning on March 22nd, and the penalty came into effect 2 weeks later even after removing the links.

My blog which is on a different sub domain has had a dramatic increase in SE traffic and I'm now thinking to start fresh on a new site and redirect the blog only.

[EvolveCreative]

It won't help. In fact, the search results are so finicky right now that you could probably redirect your domain to a competitor and get them penalized. Basically, if your rankings dropped on April 23rd - 24th you're probably not coming back any time soon.

It's not all bad though. Look at it as an opportunity to try out new marketing strategies. You could try going through your site and reducing bounce rates, increasing time on page, improving site speed etc, but honestly I'd work on other marketing techniques. Get a video or data visualization campaign going. Try to get some media mentions. Conduct some interviews and give some yourself.

Did you get an unnatural links warning in webmaster tools?

Goodluck