First It Was Rap Genius. Is Google Punishing Expedia Now, Too? The big travel site isn't appearing as high in relevant search results as it has in the recent past. Questionable SEO tactics could be to blame.

By Benjamin Kabin

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

It's fairly well known that Google punishes websites that try to game the system in order to get better search rankings, but that doesn't stop some from trying.

Today it appears as if Expedia may have earned the search giant's ire. Links to the $9 billion online travel company that normally appear near the top have been relegated to page three.

While what's causing the pushback is unclear, SEO site Search Engine Land says it appears that Expedia was "participating in paid linking schemes that eventually caught up with them." Google declined to comment on the issue. Expedia told the Wall Street Journal that it also had no comment.

Related: 5 SEO Trends Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know for 2014

Although that sounds like it could be dire, for Expedia it's not, and actually only represents a 1.5 percent drop off in year-over-year traffic and a drop in revenue of 1.1 percent.

Hip-hop startup Rap Genius, on the other hand, saw a massive dip in traffic after it garnered Google's scorn and was kicked from the top rankings last month. After making amends Google ended the punishment, as they've done with other companies in the past such as Overstock.com and J.C. Penney. Both of those companies were also accused of using unscrupulous tactics in order to boost their Google search ranking.

Google continuously evolves and upgrades its algorithms in order to return the most relevant results while filtering out spam and won't hesitate to manually deflate a site's rankings when it breaks the rules.

Related: Lyrics Site Rap Genius Returns to Google Search

Benjamin Kabin

Journalist

Benjamin Kabin is a Brooklyn-based technology journalist who specializes in security, startups, venture capital and social media.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

7 AI Tools to Build a Profitable One-Person Business That Runs While You Sleep

Smart systems to help solo founders scale fast.

Starting a Business

I Had 'Too Much Experience' to Find a Job. So I Used Facebook to Start a Small Business That's Making About $500,000 a Year.

After Amber Starling moved to Manhattan, Kansas, a frustrating job search led to a life-changing business opportunity.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Buying / Investing in Business

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Business News

Most Major Retailers Are Open on Memorial Day, Except One. Here's What's Open and Closed This Monday.

From grocery stores to warehouse retailers, here's what to know about Memorial Day closures.

Leadership

Lead From the Top: 5 Core Responsibilities of a CEO

Knowing exactly what the chief executive's role entails is critical for steering a company to success.