Wonder why search engine ranking took a toll? Perhaps Google took a manual spam action

Not sure, whether your site is still in the Google Index? Perform a site search on Google with your website details (e.g. site:domain.com). If the site does not show up, this indicates that your website gets prohibited for breach of Google webmaster guidelines.

In a case, Google prohibited a website, businesses can request for ‘reconsideration’ after necessary corrections and updates (in accordance with rules and principles of Google) on their website.

After the latest Penguin 2.0 algorithm update, Google has started taking SEVERE actions against all SPAM links on the web, to keep the search engine a ‘less polluted’ and a ‘friendlier’ place for the Internet users.

If your website used to rank earlier and the rankings dropped all of a sudden after the Penguin update, then this is a ‘warning sign’ that Google took manual spam action against your website.

Google Matt Cutts video on Meta Tags

Meta tags to optimize your website for Internet search engines: to own a website is not enough, but to be seen and found out by people should be your primary concern.

This educational video from Matt Cutts (of Google) will help readers comprehend - how much time one should give to Meta tags and the ones that matter.

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Link schemes that Google detests and can land your online business in trouble

Know, what all can negatively impact your online business? Here are a few SEO tips from Web Listings Inc to alert businesses that practice unethical way to improve search engine ranking:

• Do not sell or buy links to increase Page Rank. This includes exchange of money to post or include content that contain links.
• Say no to excessive link exchange (cross-linking) programs with intent to create a win-win situation, for both parties.
• Keep away from automated programs and services and the use of keyword-rich anchor text links during article marketing or guest blog post promotions.

Google forbids sites that manipulate links (incoming/outgoing) by any means. Beware!