Google EMD: Does It Impact Non EMDs As Well?

Jul 25, 2013 - 8:46 am 49 by

Google EMDWhen Google launched the EMD Update in September 2012, I assumed that it only impacted keyword rich domain names. Specifically, sites that target the keyword phrase in their primary domain.

For example, a site targeting the keyword phrase [cheap flowers] would be impacted only if their domain name was www.cheap-flowers.com or a variation of that.

A WebmasterWorld thread asks if this is not true. Is it possible that the EMD update also impacts non EMD sites but with very exact matched subfolders or file names or both? For example, the flower web site might be www.johnsmith.com but the URL targeting the [cheap flowers] keyword phrase would be www.johnsmith.com/flowers/cheap-flowers.html.

Got that? Why am I even suggesting this is possible?

Last night I saw a case of a site that had a huge drop in Google traffic, like 60-80%, exactly on the date of the EMD announcement. I know there were other updates around that date, but Penguin was way after, Panda was a week or so after. The traffic statistics clearly shows a Google penalty on the date of the EMD update. But the site isn't a pure EMD case.

Have you seen cases of sites being penalized on September 27th/28th that are not classic EMD sites but have very keyword heavily filenames or subfolders?

Does the EMD update impact non EMDs as well?

Update: As Marie points out in the comments, Google released a Panda update during the EMD update. It slipped my mind and I actually did cover it. So I'd assume what I was looking at was not EMD but Panda.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
- YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: July 11, 2025

Jul 11, 2025 - 10:00 am
Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Helpful Content Recoveries With Core Update, AI Mode Expands, Hidden Ad Terms & Fewer Ad Clicks

Jul 11, 2025 - 8:01 am
Google Maps

Google Local & Business Profiles Drops June 25th - Reporting Glitch?

Jul 11, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google

Google Tests Zoom Effect In On Images Within Search Results

Jul 11, 2025 - 7:41 am
Bing Search

Bing Search Image Box Tests Explore Image & Visual Search Buttons

Jul 11, 2025 - 7:31 am
Bing Search

Microsoft Bing Tests Delivery Truck Icon In Search Ads

Jul 11, 2025 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: Now See AdWords Bid Adjustments Reports In Google Analytics