Penalty for automated software

i am aware that google frowns on the use of automated rank checkers but has anyone actually experienced a penality for using one? I have recently been using WebCeo every day to check my rankings of my index page for a keyword. Yesterday my index page fell out of the rankings in google only and when i enter a site: query my index page has disappeared from the google index(all other pages are still there). Is this down to the automated searches or some other cockup ive made.

This type of thing happens a fair bit. Mostly the page comes back after a few days. I doub't the software would cause this problem.

It is beleived by many that this problem is caused by a node outage. i.e the computer that has your site information on it for ranking purposes is down for maintenace or something.

I have similar problems with a site. I used RankChecker - add on for firefox. I think my website was punished because i use to often this tool... In this moment i almost don't use this tool (i change time of request to 10 seconds) and i use it about once / week. My position in SERPs are increase in the last week but not very much. I hope this thing will repair soon.

Google said in TOS that automatic queries send to Google can penalize the site...

Google does not say that at all. If you send automated queries then google will require a capthca be entered after a while.

Otherwise why don't you just start checking all your competators ranking 24 hours a day and wipe them out of the SERPs.

Yes totally agree with gazzahk. Google never said like this. I think it may happen bcoz of google updations going on. Wait a while and do some link buiding for your site, it will get same ranking soon.

Google webmaster tools:

"Quality guidelines - basic principles"

"Don't use unauthorized computer programs to submit pages, check rankings, etc. Such programs consume computing resources and violate our Terms of Service. Google does not recommend the use of products such as WebPosition Gold™ that send automatic or programmatic queries to Google."

Where's the part about them penalizing the site that checks rank with automated software? I have 3 different apps ready to let loose on all my client's competitors

Just kidding of course..... But really I'm not.... just kidding again.....

Any violation of TOS can be discovered and penalized by Google. This search engine knows a lot about our methods of optimizing and can detect all these methods.

You can be penalized for any violation of TOS and that method is against TOS.

I have been IP blocked by google before I dont remember what I was doing, but I clicked the "cache" link on a few pages.

After a couple times I got the captcha, and a couple more, I was blocked

Google says it doesn't like it, it didn't say that it could do anything about it.

There is no linkage between the request and the site that your checking so it is impossible for google to identify the site which to penalise.

All WP4 does is say, what the top 100 results for this phrase, how does google knwo which site to penalise even if it knew that it wanted to?

"we strongly encourage you to pay very close attention to the "Quality Guidelines," which outline some of the illicit practices that may lead to a site being removed entirely from the Google index or otherwise penalized."

And Quality guidelines are:

Don't use unauthorized computer programs to submit pages, check rankings, etc. Such programs consume computing resources and violate our Terms of Service. Google does not recommend the use of products such as WebPosition Gold™ that send automatic or programmatic queries to Google.

and

Don't send automated queries to Google.

Just read carefully these guidelines: http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35769



I think Google can see for which site is the query posted because the tool is returning a position for a website.

Firstly I have seen WP4 used for 5 years with no penalties ever.

Secondly what ip you are running the tool from has no linkage to the ip of the site that you are may be checking.

Thirdly if running a tool checking a site coudl get it penalised I run on competitors and google would never know.

Have you got any documented evidence for google actually applying a ban or penalty on an automated keyword check, on a site ever?

I think Google TOS said everything, i don't need any evidence.

For many penalties doesn't appear any message in webmaster tools, so it's very possible that these penalties to appear for this reason.

I think depends on: which tool you use for this purpose, how often do you make the research and for many questions you make the queries. If you are logged in your account it's better for Google. It catch you really fast.

First of all why does Google care? if you use web position to check rankings then what possible reason would google have to do anything other than require captcha for your IP?


Is it against Googles TOS to check your ranks? Does penalizing your site get google the lost resources that is trying to prevent by frowning on automated queries?

This conversation is conspiracy and fear mongering. It should be locked and deleted.

If you read the Guidelines of Google you'll see that automatic queries is against TOS. All these automatic queries load Google servers without reason. This thing is certain if you read Google TOS.