All About Oregon Ducks » IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Our Site Is Invisible On Google

Phil · 9/23/2023 2:17 pm

Shortly after our site started simply typing a search term like "Oregon Ducks forum" would yield our site listed somewhere as the 3-6 site down on the first page. I just noticed today our site is nowhere to be found. Even if you type in the exact URL. This is extremely fishy.

As far as a immediate impact this isn't a big deal However, anyone that has a computer malfunction or simply clears your cache for maintenance will lose this site since we're missing from all searches right now.

PLEASE: Copy and paste the site URL and send this to your personal email or find a safe place besides the device you use now to save the address.

Tech companies are notoriously secretive about how they change and manage search results. This could just be temporary. We count count on it though. Neither can we simply contact Google as millions of websites try to boost their listing and the search engines aren't going to take the time to answer questions and field concerns of this nature.

The big question is why? Could someone have tried to get our site unlisted? Probably not, but we most likely aren't going to be able to find out why. I have several theories, but without any evidence it's really pointless to speculate.

Be on the lookout for more messages. I might ask everyone to send an email to the site help email oliveducks@tutanota.com to include your handle and active email that you check and are hopefully sending the email from. This is to ensure if our site got pulled down without notice we could communicate and set something back up elsewhere. Boardhost that host this site is becoming an inactive zombie site of sorts. Even if the Google search issue didn't come up I was going to bring this up.

Thanks to each and everyone one of you currently posting and past members.

Stayed tuned for more updates. Please reach out if you're very savvy in tech matters of this nature. I know how companies or fan sites try to game the system to get their site higher in the results. I'm not sure if those methods will work if we're somehow blacklisted or something along those lines.

As always, Go Ducks!

Duckball · 9/23/2023 3:17 pm

Check.

I'm the farthest thing from tech savvy so just let me know what you need going forward.

bedupivi · 9/23/2023 4:12 pm

Hi Phil I can access this site from my computer but not my phone. A few months ago I upgraded my phone. I have a Samsung Galaxy 23plus (Android). My older phone could access All About Oregon Ducks but not my new phone. I thought it was my phone, not Google. I'm not tech savvy but will be monitoring the comments here looking for a solution. Hopefully this gets resolved soon. Go Ducks!

DucksReign · 9/23/2023 5:50 pm

I think there are multiple issues going on...I would classify myself as "tech literate" but not a "tech expert."

In no order of importance...

1) There are differences accessing sites with a computer vs mobile phone vs tablet. For example, I cannot make certain changes to my Facebook account with my mobile phone because it is driven by an app...I have to do it with my computer going directly to their website(no app).

We have become very app centric with technology and boardhost does not have an app...so you have to find it the proverbial "old fashion way."(Googling).

2) Boardhost is a FORUM HOST not a WEBSITE per se like FishDuck. We don't publish our own content in terms of articles, videos, photos, etc. So our forum basically has VERY LITTLE exposure to the outside world. We are, as every other group who uses Boardhost, BURIED in a mass of other forums.

I am not sure the numbers are very high for people looking for "just" a forum in which content is only created by the commenters so to speak.

3) The key to come up high in searches is with SEO(Search Engine Optimization) words...in our case it would be Oregon, Ducks, Oregon football, etc...BUT again Boardhost is not a website specific to Oregon sports ...and I know I have seen it on Facebook...the number of Oregon Duck Facebook groups has risen significantly in the last 5 or so years...ditto or so it seems with Duck sports website options via a Google search...in other words, times have changed significantly since this group was created when O-Live closed its commenting platform.

So what can we do?

Honestly it is going to fall on you folks who created the forum in the first place.

First you can start by asking Boardhost how best to maximize exposure of our group. Are we doing everything we can WITHIN THEIR SYSTEM?

Second make the necessary changes in the settings within the Boardhost platform based on their recommendations to maximize our exposure.

Third, below is the link which goes directly to our forum page(I noticed football has only one letter "L"?) so any of us can grow our group by sending this link to people and INVITING them to join.

Speaking of and this might be a question to ask Boardhost...can we change our forum name but retain our historical content, registered users, etc? Why? Because now it is more likely that "olive" is associated with a food than the Oregonian. I know why our name was created initially but maybe it has outlived it's impact? Just a thought.

Hope this helps🙏

https://oliveducksfootbalfans.boardhost.com

Last edited by DucksReign (9/23/2023 5:55 pm)

Phil · 9/23/2023 5:59 pm

DucksReign wrote:
I think there are multiple issues going on...I would classify myself as "tech literate" but not a "tech expert."

In no order of importance...

1) There are differences accessing sites with a computer vs mobile phone vs tablet. For example, I cannot make certain changes to my Facebook account with my mobile phone because it is driven by an app...I have to do it with my computer going directly to their website(no app).

We have become very app centric with technology and boardhost does not have an app...so you have to find it the proverbial "old fashion way."(Googling).

2) Boardhost is a FORUM HOST not a WEBSITE per se like FishDuck. We don't publish our own content in terms of articles, videos, photos, etc. So our forum basically has VERY LITTLE exposure to the outside world.

I am not sure the numbers are very high for people looking for "just" a forum in which content is only created by the commenters so to speak.

3) The key to come up high in searches is with SEO(Search Engine Optimization) words...in our case it would be Oregon, Ducks, Oregon football, etc...BUT again Boardhost is not a website specific to Oregon sports ...and I know I have seen it on Facebook...the number of Oregon Duck Facebook groups has risen significantly in the last 5 or so years...ditto or so it seems with Duck sports website options via a Google search...in other words, times have changed significantly since this group was created when O-Live closed its commenting platform.

So what can we do?

Honestly it is going to fall on you folks who created the forum in the first place.

First you can start by asking Boardhost how best to maximize exposure of our group. Are we doing everything we can WITHIN THEIR SYSTEM?

Second make the necessary changes in the settings within the Boardhost platform based on their recommendations to maximize our exposure.

Third, below is the link which goes directly to our forum page(I noticed football has only one letter "L"?) so any of us can grow our group by sending this link to people and INVITING them to join.

Speaking of and this might be a question to ask Boardhost...can we change our forum name but retain our historical content, registered users, etc? Why? Because now it is more likely that "olive" is associated with a food than the Oregonian. I know why our name was created initially but maybe it has outlived it's impact? Just a thought.

Hope this helps🙏

https://oliveducksfootbalfans.boardhost.com

Thanks DR, I think you're right in the assessment. The one thing though is that I found another Boardhost forum that had almost no activity. I copied their URL and put in a Google search and their page came right up. While our site might be small in numbers there's no reason our site shouldn't show with the URL searched.

I tried messaging Boardhost about keeping out info and switching our name / URL and keeping our old post. They did not respond at that was almost a year ago. Almost no forums they list are active. You have to wonder how it's even worth it on their end to pay for the bandwidth?

I good way to boost your site is to post the site address URL on other sites. Say like your social media on what not.

While we are small it's perplexing that we went from 5th to being invisible?

I'll try to contact Boardhost again and hopefully they'll respond.

I'm busy tonight, but wanted to get back to you and can chat more in detail tomorrow.

Thanks for your detailed response.

Phil · 9/23/2023 6:02 pm

bedupivi wrote:
Hi Phil I can access this site from my computer but not my phone. A few months ago I upgraded my phone. I have a Samsung Galaxy 23plus (Android). My older phone could access All About Oregon Ducks but not my new phone. I thought it was my phone, not Google. I'm not tech savvy but will be monitoring the comments here looking for a solution. Hopefully this gets resolved soon. Go Ducks!

Hey bedupivi, good to see you around.

There's no reason the site shouldn't work on your phone. Try copying and pasting the site address on your computer and then use your email to send it to yourself. Open the email on your phone and copy the address and put it up top in the address bar ass opposed to put it into the search engine.

Let me know if that works. I'm happy to help over private messaging to get the site working on your phone.

DucksReign · 9/23/2023 9:46 pm

"Forums" are trending down more than trending up.

From one article I read on why forums are declining...

"Because of the dominance of social media sites and collective forum/discussion sites such as Reddit, Quora and Facebook, internet users no longer seek forums out of habit… they instead resort to social media to probe for answers from the larger global community for their questions."

I am not on Reddit or Quora but am on Facebook.

Here are examples of Oregon Ducks groups or pages which pop-up on my FB feed even though I don't follow any of them...yet the people who do follow them are in the thousands and thousands...

Oregon Ducks From CS(College Spun) - 35K followers

Oregon Ducks News(Oregonian) - 26K followers

O Positive Ducks - 7.8K followers

Oregon Ducks Football Fans HQ - 25K followers

So this is how say the Oregonian transitioned away from their comments platform...instead they post something on FB under their page(Oregon Ducks News) and then the commenters are Facebook users and not necessarily Oregonian subscribers. Thus it is up to Facebook to monitor the dialogues.

I know lots of people hate FB and social media but I am just noting how the trends have shifted...plus to create a page on FB is free!

So I can create a PRIVATE page / group on FB for Oregon Ducks Sports that requires my approval to join.

I recently went to my high school reunion and we had created a page for it on FB which was restricted only to people in our class.

Then you factor in sites like Trip Advisor or Yelp to name two examples, and that is where people go now...not forums per se. Amazon has its own platform on reviews so they are covered.

I also believe people like news, videos, photos and so forth in addition to simply commenting.

Anyway...FYI

Last edited by DucksReign (9/23/2023 9:47 pm)

Phil · 9/24/2023 10:44 am

DucksReign wrote:
"Forums" are trending down more than trending up.

From one article I read on why forums are declining...

"Because of the dominance of social media sites and collective forum/discussion sites such as Reddit, Quora and Facebook, internet users no longer seek forums out of habit… they instead resort to social media to probe for answers from the larger global community for their questions."

I am not on Reddit or Quora but am on Facebook.

Here are examples of Oregon Ducks groups or pages which pop-up on my FB feed even though I don't follow any of them...yet the people who do follow them are in the thousands and thousands...

Oregon Ducks From CS(College Spun) - 35K followers

Oregon Ducks News(Oregonian) - 26K followers

O Positive Ducks - 7.8K followers

Oregon Ducks Football Fans HQ - 25K followers

So this is how say the Oregonian transitioned away from their comments platform...instead they post something on FB under their page(Oregon Ducks News) and then the commenters are Facebook users and not necessarily Oregonian subscribers. Thus it is up to Facebook to monitor the dialogues.

I know lots of people hate FB and social media but I am just noting how the trends have shifted...plus to create a page on FB is free!

So I can create a PRIVATE page / group on FB for Oregon Ducks Sports that requires my approval to join.

I recently went to my high school reunion and we had created a page for it on FB which was restricted only to people in our class.

Then you factor in sites like Trip Advisor or Yelp to name two examples, and that is where people go now...not forums per se. Amazon has its own platform on reviews so they are covered.

I also believe people like news, videos, photos and so forth in addition to simply commenting.

Anyway...FYI

Social media sites are big and popular among some factions for sure. While social media use is high opinions of being on social media sites are declining.

As far as group discussions of hobby interest forums still dominate.

It's a matter of shift to newer and sleeker platforms. Like you say people like to share photos and videos.

Discord is taking with rapid expansion in recent years. One article I just read stated "As of January 2023, Discord had around 563 million registered users"

I'm in a couple of local community groups and several non-local groups that very by different hobbies. All but 1 group I'm in uses Discord now.

You're an outlier for being interested in using Facebook for our group. It was a hard no from most of the regulars last year when the idea was brought up.

OldMacManaic · 9/24/2023 11:42 am

hey @Phil

contact the techs at Boardhost and see what kind of SEO options they have available. old school <meta> tags with keywords are out, but there's all kinds of plug-ins and third-party applets designed for the less educated folks who populate sales and marketing. bet they have something we could use; might even be a wizard where you enter a string of keywords.

mos def everybody copy the url (https://oliveducksfootbalfans.boardhost.com/index.php) and paste it in a Notepad/gedit .txt doc, or send it to yourself in an email. if I had to guess what it might be I'd still be wandering in the desert.

DucksReign · 9/25/2023 10:35 am

Phil wrote:
You're an outlier for being interested in using Facebook for our group. It was a hard no from most of the regulars last year when the idea was brought up.

I am not suggesting a FB group for this one...just sharing my experiences which have been good. I am in favor of anything that can increase our numbers from more than half-a-dozen "regulars."

Oregon football is a big time NATIONAL brand / topic...it is a bigger topic, in my opinion, than a community group who likes hiking. My perception is Oregon football is bigger than the concept of forums.

I simply don't think we are going to grow our chat here in any measurable number if we are, for whatever reasons, buried in a forum platform. But maybe the status quo is acceptable?

bedupivi · 9/25/2023 10:57 am

Phil
Thought I'd throw in my two cents worth. I also follow the comment section of the Portland Winterhawks. They use Disqus platform. I'm not on any social media sites by choice, so my options are limited.

oldretiredguy · 9/25/2023 11:08 am

bedupivi wrote:
Phil
Thought I'd throw in my two cents worth. I also follow the comment section of the Portland Winterhawks. They use Disqus platform. I'm not on any social media sites by choice, so my options are limited.

I'm in a couple of groups that use disqus, but that would cost money.

bedupivi · 9/25/2023 11:29 am

Phil
Followed your instructions on how to get All About Oregon Ducks on my phone. It worked! Thanks again. It will be great to get this resolved so we can once again focus on our Ducks. And can you believe that basketball season is only six weeks away?! Go Ducks.

Phil · 9/25/2023 11:33 am

bedupivi wrote:
Phil
Followed your instructions on how to get All About Oregon Ducks on my phone. It worked! Thanks again. It will be great to get this resolved so we can once again focus on our Ducks. And can you believe that basketball season is only six weeks away?! Go Ducks.

That's great! I'm glad that worked for you.

No, I can't believe basketball is 6 weeks away!

Phil · 9/25/2023 11:50 am

DucksReign wrote:
Phil wrote:
You're an outlier for being interested in using Facebook for our group. It was a hard no from most of the regulars last year when the idea was brought up.
I am not suggesting a FB group for this one...just sharing my experiences which have been good. I am in favor of anything that can increase our numbers from more than half-a-dozen "regulars."

Oregon football is a big time NATIONAL brand / topic...it is a bigger topic, in my opinion, than a community group who likes hiking. My perception is Oregon football is bigger than the concept of forums.

I simply don't think we are going to grow our chat here in any measurable number if we are, for whatever reasons, buried in a forum platform. But maybe the status quo is acceptable?

You make a good point about is the status quo acceptable? I agree the we're not going to grow the way things stand. What do other people think?

As far as forums go they can certainly work for a interest in a nationwide topic like the Ducks. One of the forums I'm in a super small tech company doing AI self driving research in beta right now. Hardly anyone has ever heard of the company comma.ai. There are 3,000 members on the Discord. Many Discord groups have thousands of active members.

I'm not saying the Discord or similiar site would work without a catalyst of sorts. To attract members it would take exposure elsewhere that could come in a number of forms. For example somebody that already has an existing platform could pull it off. I.E. Rian Winter of 503SportsChat on YouTube could make a Discord or other site and I guarantee it would attract a large crowd. He already has a large following on YouTube something I don't of course.

As of right now the only reason to jump ship to a different platform is to get a better working site and not worry about this platform folding without notice. I'm not sure if others really want to do this?

Speak of other sites I'm wondering why PuddleHuddle didn't work? They had a regular website URL and were visible from Google. Was there not any kind of advertising elsewhere? I'm asking since say we wanted to put up money for disqus or something would anyone else even join just because we had a good looking visible site a much better address?