I would look at your Wordpress install first Jack. There is no way this sort of number of pages should be getting generated. Sort that out and you have sorted a huge problem out.

-Andy

Don't forget that Google does give you a way to request re-inclusion - but there is no guarantee they will allow it - for a number of reasons.

You also have to think about what others think about the site and if it has a bad name in your particular marketplace - as Baptiste said, this could take you some time, but like a restaurant that has a new chef after the poor one left, you can get this back again.

Just tread carefully.

Regards,

Andy

Hi Brian,

I have a client working on correcting this issue with his site at the moment. They run a big media site that allows access once paid, but so may of these sites suffer with the same issue and because they allow Google to index the whole text, but only show a portion of it, this means that if you just look at the cached version, you can read it without paying.

In terms of correcting it, I would first have a read on how Google handles subscription sites. You can find that info here. Google prefers the "First click free" model.

There is additional reading on this subject over at Search Engine Land. First Click Free (FCF) is what you want to be looking into in more detail.

I hope this helps a little.

-Andy

Google looks for sites with two types of content: Fresh or Evergreen. Fresh would be something you would expect on a news site or blog, while Evergreen is for something that doesn't change, or changes very infrequently.

If you provide content that is in an industry where specifications / news can change regularly, then it could be of benefit. If not, then don't do this just for the sake of it.

However, as Egol said, if you can improve on what is already there, then this could prove a positive move.

-Andy

I see this daily - the struggle is real!

You have one department arguing that SEO and content is where the good money is spent, and then the UX and designers screaming at them to please change the placement of the CTA button.

The fact of the matter is, both are equally important and I tend to find the best way to resolve these conflicts, is to A/B test and let the numbers speak for themselves. At that point, someone has to concede and should do so gracefully, because they should all be focusing on what is best for the company.

Failing all else, a boxing ring and last man standing gets the budget.

-Andy