{"id":973,"date":"2024-10-03T05:21:20","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T05:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/?p=973"},"modified":"2026-02-25T18:49:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T18:49:34","slug":"forbes-advisor-hit-by-google-penalty-seo-tactics-lead-to-traffic-drop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/forbes-advisor-hit-by-google-penalty-seo-tactics-lead-to-traffic-drop-973\/","title":{"rendered":"Forbes Advisor Hit by Google Penalty: SEO Tactics Lead to Traffic Drop"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Forbes Advisor, a major player in affiliate marketing, appears to have been hit with a penalty from Google, resulting in a massive drop in its search rankings.<\/p>\n<p>Speculation suggests that Forbes Advisor may have violated Google\u2019s site reputation abuse policy by pushing the boundaries with its SEO tactics.<\/p>\n<p>Within days of an article highlighting these concerns, the site saw a sharp decline in traffic, sparking debate on whether Google took manual action against them.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-974\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Decline-of-Forbes-Advisors-search-ranking.jpg\" alt=\"Decline of Forbes Advisor's search ranking\" width=\"1792\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Decline-of-Forbes-Advisors-search-ranking.jpg 1792w, https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Decline-of-Forbes-Advisors-search-ranking-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Decline-of-Forbes-Advisors-search-ranking-1024x585.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1792px) 100vw, 1792px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what happened and what it means for the future of SEO and affiliate marketing.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\"><\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/forbes-advisor-hit-by-google-penalty-seo-tactics-lead-to-traffic-drop-973\/#the-initial-spark-lars-lofgrens-article\" >The Initial Spark: Lars Lofgren\u2019s Article<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/forbes-advisor-hit-by-google-penalty-seo-tactics-lead-to-traffic-drop-973\/#a-sudden-drop-in-search-rankings\" >A Sudden Drop in Search Rankings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/forbes-advisor-hit-by-google-penalty-seo-tactics-lead-to-traffic-drop-973\/#is-this-a-manual-action-by-google\" >Is This a Manual Action by Google?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/forbes-advisor-hit-by-google-penalty-seo-tactics-lead-to-traffic-drop-973\/#what-this-means-for-seo-and-affiliate-marketing\" >What This Means for SEO and Affiliate Marketing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/forbes-advisor-hit-by-google-penalty-seo-tactics-lead-to-traffic-drop-973\/#forbes-advisors-rise-and-fall\" >Forbes Advisor\u2019s Rise and Fall<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/forbes-advisor-hit-by-google-penalty-seo-tactics-lead-to-traffic-drop-973\/#whats-next-predictions-for-the-future-of-seo\" >What\u2019s Next? Predictions for the Future of SEO<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/forbes-advisor-hit-by-google-penalty-seo-tactics-lead-to-traffic-drop-973\/#key-takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the-initial-spark-lars-lofgrens-article\"><\/span><b>The Initial Spark: Lars Lofgren\u2019s Article<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It all started with an article by marketing expert Lars Lofgren, published on September 18th.<\/p>\n<p>In his post, <a href=\"https:\/\/larslofgren.com\/forbes-marketplace\/\"><i>Forbes Marketplace: The Parasite SEO Company Trying to Devour Its Host<\/i><\/a>, Lofgren called out Forbes Advisor for potentially violating Google\u2019s SEO guidelines.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">If you&#8217;ve wondered why Forbes appears EVERYwhere in Google now, it&#8217;s because it has a parasite SEO program. The whole thing is insane: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QqxNcHfQ0D\">https:\/\/t.co\/QqxNcHfQ0D<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lars Lofgren (@LarsLofgren) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LarsLofgren\/status\/1836451772103299292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Forbes Advisor, though widely recognized as part of Forbes, is actually operated by a separate entity called Forbes Marketplace, which handles the affiliate business under the Forbes brand.<\/p>\n<p>Lofgren alleged that Forbes Marketplace was using the Forbes name and branding to appear more authoritative than it truly was.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-975\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/The-rise-of-forbes.png\" alt=\"The rise of forbes\" width=\"1012\" height=\"836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/The-rise-of-forbes.png 1012w, https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/The-rise-of-forbes-300x248.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1012px) 100vw, 1012px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>According to him, this separate company made its website look and feel like an official part of the Forbes brand, exploiting every corner of Google\u2019s algorithms to maximize its SEO success. Forbes Advisor rapidly gained top rankings in lucrative health, finance, and insurance search categories.<\/p>\n<p>While this strategy initially worked, Lofgren\u2019s article questioned whether the site was using deceptive branding practices to bend Google&#8217;s rules. And within days of his article going live, things started to unravel for Forbes Advisor.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"a-sudden-drop-in-search-rankings\"><\/span><b>A Sudden Drop in Search Rankings<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Just a week after Lofgren\u2019s article was published, SEO expert Glenn Gabe noticed a sharp decline in Forbes Advisor\u2019s search rankings.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Based on the 9\/25 drop of Forbes Advisor, here are several directories within that section of the site. Some huge drops there across health, credit cards, banking, car insurance, and more. I&#8217;m not seeing drops across a number of other sites doing similar things yet, so seems\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/M6s4Hm0DF6\">pic.twitter.com\/M6s4Hm0DF6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/glenngabe\/status\/1840381881507856396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 29, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>He shared data showing that the site\u2019s visibility had plummeted, with over 1.7 million queries losing rank or disappearing from Google\u2019s search results altogether. The drop was particularly severe in key directories like health, banking, credit cards, and car insurance.<\/p>\n<p>Gabe speculated that this sudden decline could be linked to a Google penalty, specifically a manual action related to the site&#8217;s reputation abuse policy.<\/p>\n<p>He also noted that the drop in rankings coincided with Google\u2019s recent update to its spam policies, which added more detailed guidelines on site reputation abuse.<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s not confirmed whether Google directly penalized Forbes Advisor, the timing suggests a connection.<\/p>\n<p>Gabe\u2019s analysis indicated that the ranking drop appeared to be isolated to Forbes Advisor, as other affiliate marketing sites using similar strategies didn\u2019t experience the same drop\u2014at least not yet.<\/p>\n<p>For SEO professionals and agencies navigating these changes, it&#8217;s more important than ever to implement ethical and scalable strategies\u2014services like authentic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stanventures.com\/powerful-link-building-service\/\">backlink building service<\/a> offered by Stan Ventures\u00a0can help maintain compliance while delivering value to clients.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Just a few examples of the craziness based on the 9\/27 volatility. Again, some sites are reversing course based on the post-August core update volatility (from 9\/6, 9\/10, 9\/14, 9\/18, etc.) while some are surging or dropping for the first time. The August core update was wild, but\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1pzR49ZlKQ\">pic.twitter.com\/1pzR49ZlKQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/glenngabe\/status\/1841095934890934720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is-this-a-manual-action-by-google\"><\/span><b>Is This a Manual Action by Google?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One of the biggest questions surrounding this situation is whether Google took manual action against Forbes Advisor.<\/p>\n<p>A manual action occurs when someone from Google\u2019s search quality team reviews a site and determines that it is significantly violating guidelines, resulting in a penalty that lowers its search rankings.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike algorithmic updates, which automatically adjust rankings based on Google\u2019s systems, manual action is more severe and can have long-lasting effects.<\/p>\n<p>Experts suspect that Forbes Advisor\u2019s decline may be due to a manual action because of the specific nature of the drop and its alignment with Google\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/essentials\/spam-policies\">site reputation abuse policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Since May, Google has been focusing on this policy, manually enforcing penalties on websites that manipulate their brand reputation or deceive users.<\/p>\n<p>The policy is not yet enforced by algorithms, meaning human reviewers at Google are responsible for identifying and penalizing sites that break the rules.<\/p>\n<p>If Forbes Advisor was found to be misrepresenting its relationship with the Forbes brand to gain SEO dominance, this could explain the manual action.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-this-means-for-seo-and-affiliate-marketing\"><\/span><b>What This Means for SEO and Affiliate Marketing<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Forbes Advisor has seen a massive drop in visibility, likely leading to significant decreases in traffic and revenue. But, the implications extend far beyond just Forbes Advisor. The situation raises concerns for other affiliate marketing sites that rely on aggressive SEO tactics to dominate search rankings.<\/p>\n<p>Affiliate marketing has always been competitive, with companies constantly looking for ways to outmaneuver each other in Google\u2019s search results. Forbes Advisor\u2019s fall from grace could signal a broader crackdown by Google on sites that use questionable tactics to boost their rankings.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, Forbes Advisor seems to be the only major site affected by this type of penalty. However, the fact that Google has updated its spam guidelines to include more details about site reputation abuse suggests that other sites using similar strategies could be next.<\/p>\n<p>This reminds affiliate marketers and SEO professionals that playing by Google\u2019s rules is more important than ever. While aggressive SEO tactics may provide short-term gains, they can lead to severe penalties if they violate Google\u2019s guidelines.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"forbes-advisors-rise-and-fall\"><\/span><b>Forbes Advisor\u2019s Rise and Fall<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Forbes Advisor didn\u2019t achieve its rapid growth by accident. In 2020, Forbes Marketplace, a separate company, partnered with Forbes to run its affiliate marketing business.<\/p>\n<p>Forbes Marketplace, also known as Forbes Advisor, used the powerful Forbes brand to gain instant authority in Google\u2019s search results, focusing on high-value topics like credit cards, insurance, and health.<\/p>\n<p>This affiliation gave Forbes Advisor a major advantage in SEO, helping it rise quickly in the rankings for some of the most competitive search terms.<\/p>\n<p>However, Lofgren\u2019s article pointed out that Forbes Advisor wasn\u2019t officially part of Forbes but was instead using the Forbes name to appear more legitimate and authoritative to both users and search engines.<\/p>\n<p>While this strategy worked for a while, it now appears to have backfired. By making itself look like an official part of the Forbes brand, Forbes Advisor may have crossed a line in Google\u2019s eyes, leading to its sudden drop in rankings.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"whats-next-predictions-for-the-future-of-seo\"><\/span><b>What\u2019s Next? Predictions for the Future of SEO<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, what does this mean for the future of SEO, especially in the affiliate marketing world?<\/p>\n<p>Forbes Advisor\u2019s penalty serves as a clear warning that Google is paying close attention to how websites present their branding and reputation. Websites that attempt to manipulate these factors to deceive users or gain an unfair advantage in search rankings may face severe consequences.<\/p>\n<p>For affiliate marketers, the lesson is clear: focus on long-term SEO strategies that prioritize transparency and user experience. It\u2019s tempting to take shortcuts and push the boundaries of Google\u2019s guidelines to gain quick wins, but as Forbes Advisor\u2019s situation shows, these tactics can lead to significant penalties.<\/p>\n<p>SEO professionals should ensure that their sites follow Google\u2019s guidelines closely, particularly when it comes to branding and reputation. Any practices that could be seen as manipulative or deceptive should be avoided, as Google is clearly willing to take manual action against sites that break the rules.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"key-takeaways\"><\/span><b>Key Takeaways<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Forbes Advisor\u2019s rankings have plummeted, likely due to a Google manual action related to the site reputation abuse policy.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">The penalty may have been triggered by deceptive branding practices, where Forbes Advisor appeared more closely affiliated with Forbes than it actually is.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Other affiliate marketing sites should be cautious, as Google\u2019s recent update to its spam guidelines suggests that further penalties could be on the horizon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Forbes Advisor, a major player in affiliate marketing, appears to have been hit with a penalty from Google, resulting in a massive drop in its search rankings. Speculation suggests that Forbes Advisor may have violated Google\u2019s site reputation abuse policy by pushing the boundaries with its SEO tactics. Within days of an article highlighting these [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seo"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Forbes Advisor Hit by Google Penalty: SEO Tactics Lead to Traffic Drop - Stan Ventures<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Forbes Advisor faces a steep drop in search rankings, likely due to a Google penalty related to SEO violations. 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