How can CarAudio.com be better? Please vote!

[RobGMN Premium Member]

They definitely do read/index it, more bots than humans on here. It’s just the listings are now so bar back on page 50, etc. In other searches the site ranks fine, so this goes to show in my opinion, this isn’t a site robot/indexing issue. I’m also sure Google is scrapping the site content for use in their AI. They have to pay Reddit to scrape that site btw. It’s the useful/helpful content update that Google performed last September that turned things around. A lot of sites got hit hard.

With automation being what it is, and roughly 200,000,000 active websites out there, I'd have to think that there is some breakdown in communication between this site and Google's bots.

I have a friend who has a small business (one-man show) and a basic website. It's there just so he can give people an address to go to and see his work, learn about him, etc.. Hasn't updated much in years, is definitely not spending any time promoting for search engines, etc. Yet when I google his company name (without linking the works together to make the url), Google results show the site, and an index of the pages within the site.

Do you think something happened that got CAF black-flagged automatically, or that someone at Google has a vendetta?

I read a little about the HCU, and it seems this site (like most other forums, TBH) is pretty good at separating content by type, keeping the topics on track within the "type", user interaction, providing answers to questions, etc.
I'm not sure why the bots would be upset about specific off-topic areas of the forum in comparison to something like Reddit, which is pretty much 1,000% off-topic once a thread gets started and people reply.
Literally, you can post a picture of a mountain lion in "whatanimalisthis" and someone will respond to it. That response will get 200 followups that are nothing but humorous one or two word hits.

I'm analytical and my brain immediately goes into troubleshooting mode when I hear stuff like this. The truth is out there.

 

[administrator]

With automation being what it is, and roughly 200,000,000 active websites out there, I'd have to think that there is some breakdown in communication between this site and Google's bots.

I have a friend who has a small business (one-man show) and a basic website. It's there just so he can give people an address to go to and see his work, learn about him, etc.. Hasn't updated much in years, is definitely not spending any time promoting for search engines, etc. Yet when I google his company name (without linking the works together to make the url), Google results show the site, and an index of the pages within the site.

Do you think something happened that got CAF black-flagged automatically, or that someone at Google has a vendetta?

I read a little about the HCU, and it seems this site (like most other forums, TBH) is pretty good at separating content by type, keeping the topics on track within the "type", user interaction, providing answers to questions, etc.
I'm not sure why the bots would be upset about specific off-topic areas of the forum in comparison to something like Reddit, which is pretty much 1,000% off-topic once a thread gets started and people reply.
Literally, you can post a picture of a mountain lion in "whatanimalisthis" and someone will respond to it. That response will get 200 followups that are nothing but humorous one or two word hits.

I'm analytical and my brain immediately goes into troubleshooting mode when I hear stuff like this. The truth is out there.

All I know is, the site search listing rankings fell dramatically across the board last September right around when the helpful content update started. From first page to page 50 for example. This is the only info I have. Bots aren’t the problem, it’s how Google classifies the site.

 

[administrator]

Just one of many examples:

Search:

Higher Effiency vs Lower Ohm Load​

On Google this site is on the 3rd to 4th page, even with the newest thread. On Bing, duckduckgo etc, this site is on the 1st, top listing. Google lists all the other car audio forums before this one, with threads that are years old. End of story.

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

Of course. This is just the domain name at Namescon auction a couple months ago. Skip to 2:36:00

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pZt1PcUp0YQ&list=LL&index=20&t=9300s&pp=2AHUSJACAQ%3D%3D

That's crazy.

 

[Deiimos]

Here’s a random thought.

What about going a slight modern route and creating a youtube channel, name like caraudiodotcom or something like that. Technical info would be nice to have on there, the basics of wiring and such, and maybe feature members systems if they can make a video and want to share, or bass test videos, or SPL videos, various stuff like that. Can even do live streams where people can voice chat with each other, but that is getting a bit involved.

I know those topics are covered to death on youtube, but, I see new channels pop up and gain a huge following by regurgitating the same stuff that’s been show for years, so I don’t know.

This also allows you to link back to the forum here. Youtube is part of Google, so perhaps that could help traffic as well.

It certainly isn’t easy these days to get views on youtube.

I guess my point is, I’m on youtube all the time watching stuff, and it is a very big platform with a lot of potential, I also visit some of the links people spam if they have a forum or website and I'm interested. However, it would be a very slow process to build up and probably not worth the effort. To be honest it likely wouldn’t help much and end up being a total waste of time, but was a random thought . I also don't have any content to contribute, which, content would be the hardest part to come up with.

And perhaps there already is one made for the forum here that I simply never noticed.

 

[administrator]

Here’s a random thought.

What about going a slight modern route and creating a youtube channel, name like caraudiodotcom or something like that. Technical info would be nice to have on there, the basics of wiring and such, and maybe feature members systems if they can make a video and want to share, or bass test videos, or SPL videos, various stuff like that. Can even do live streams where people can voice chat with each other, but that is getting a bit involved.

I know those topics are covered to death on youtube, but, I see new channels pop up and gain a huge following by regurgitating the same stuff that’s been show for years, so I don’t know.

This also allows you to link back to the forum here. Youtube is part of Google, so perhaps that could help traffic as well.

It certainly isn’t easy these days to get views on youtube.

I guess my point is, I’m on youtube all the time watching stuff, and it is a very big platform with a lot of potential, I also visit some of the links people spam if they have a forum or website and I'm interested. However, it would be a very slow process to build up and probably not worth the effort. To be honest it likely wouldn’t help much and end up being a total waste of time, but was a random thought . I also don't have any content to contribute, which, content would be the hardest part to come up with.

And perhaps there already is one made for the forum here that I simply never noticed.

That is a good idea. I'm no car audio expert however and not sure how to make that happen. Didn't Steve Meade do something similar? Thanks for all the advice though, it's very frustrating when my hands seem to be tied with Google and getting the organic traffic the site deserves.

 

[Eggs 5,000+ posts]

Interesting, I was about to say create YouTube or an ig account to help bring awareness. The reason why is Steve Meade has youtube channel and SMD forums. Also maybe a sponsor an influencer like Jacob viral or EXO Bruce?

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

That is a good idea. I'm no car audio expert however and not sure how to make that happen. Didn't Steve Meade do something similar? Thanks for all the advice though, it's very frustrating when my hands seem to be tied with Google and getting the organic traffic the site deserves.

Yeah, you could do like social media influencers, Youtube channel, IG, Facebook, twitter/X, etc.

 

[metalheadjoe 10+ year member]

Lets turn it back into a CarAudio board, let the shitposting on feelings and politics slide off into the lounge and disappear. I remember Cstang and Jeffdachef... members who would either demand your respect or flame you while they posted without debate. And quite a few more as well, new members opinions are welcome of course but... to sell it to a noob (new member) is YIKES!
I'm happy to be part of this forum and contribute what I feel I can, others call out the bs usually so thank you as well.

I think sticky/resource page is the way to go. Submit articles to admin to authenticate info.

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

Do link backs still boost the site???

 

[administrator]

Do link backs still boost the site???

Usually they do, but with the way G classifies this site not a lot can help it, unless they decide to change their algorithm. Blows my mind how they don’t consider this site helpful to a user looking for car audio. I know on YouTube when they censor a channel the channel members can fight back to YouTube and usually get the censor removed and all is well. Haven’t heard of that happening with actual sites though.

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

Usually they do, but with the way G classifies this site not a lot can help it, unless they decide to change their algorithm. Blows my mind how they don’t consider this site helpful to a user looking for car audio. I know on YouTube when they censor a channel the channel members can fight back to YouTube and usually get the censor removed and all is well. Haven’t heard of that happening with actual sites though.

I think that's because youtube needs that content to exist. Google OTOH, doesn't need a relatively low traffic forum to exist. As I mentioned earlier, in a lot of cases this site would be more helpful than DIYMA despite the fact that Morel vs Hertz could generate 5 pages on DIYMA vs 5 responses here.

 

[shredder1 10+ year member]

I think that's because youtube needs that content to exist. Google OTOH, doesn't need a relatively low traffic forum to exist. As I mentioned earlier, in a lot of cases this site would be more helpful than DIYMA despite the fact that Morel vs Hertz could generate 5 pages on DIYMA vs 5 responses here.

Maybe slogan the site... idk, something like "basic audio to bangers" and have an "esoteric audio" section for the more "discerning users".

Idk though... that may put a burr under some of those DIYMA guys saddles.

At least the site may appeal more to the younger crowd with a catchy phrase in the title. Especially if people link videos of wind tunnel builds demoing... lol.

 

[administrator]

Maybe slogan the site... idk, something like "basic audio to bangers" and have an "esoteric audio" section for the more "discerning users".

Idk though... that may put a burr under some of those DIYMA guys saddles.

At least the site may appeal more to the younger crowd with a catchy phrase in the title. Especially if people link videos of wind tunnel builds demoing... lol.

I think these days a lot of folks just want a basic upgrade to their stock car audio system. The new generation can’t stay off social media long enough to focus on much more. I’d like the site to appeal to both them and the hardcore.

 

[shredder1 10+ year member]

I think these days a lot of folks just want a basic upgrade to their stock car audio system. The new generation can’t stay off social media long enough to focus on much more. I’d like the site to appeal to both them and the hardcore.

There's so many groups on FB, with an App already installed on their phone its no wonder its become the go-to for most people. Ease of posting photos, vids or just adding to the chitshow. I don't FB anything anymore except messenger to who I contact thru that medium only. Yep... I watched the neighbor kid walk into my mailbox the other day with his face buried in his phone. He actually went down hard too... lol.

I stood the 4x4 back up and tried to straighten it out but just chipped the paint. Oh well... its a rental, balls in their court. I think he was looking at Tiktok