Google Webmaster Message!!
-
Hello,
One of my clients is using an old version of wordpress.
On google's web master tools there are about 5 messages recommending an upgrade.
My question is: Could this affect rankings?
Thanks
-
Agreed but Create a back up prior to updating to be sure that whatever theme and plugins you are using work.
-
I'm with Mark - definitely not a rankings issue unless and until the older, vulnerable version results in the client getting hacked by somebody like a pharma spammer. Or worse yet, something that hosts and distributes malware via thier site and ends up getting them marked with the dreaded Red Box of Death (Google blocking the site as dangerous).
WordPress updating is not especially difficult, as long as the client has a proper quality backup ready in case anything should go wrong. The cost (either time or fee to a reputable systems administrator-type) should be considered a standard operating cost just like hosting fees and domain registration (ans SEO!).
It's really not worth the risk not to stay updated, especially if the client is depending on the income from their site.
Paul
<object id="plugin0" style="position: absolute; z-index: 1000;" width="0" height="0" type="application/x-dgnria"><param name="tabId" value="ff-tab-15"> <param name="counter" value="303"></object>
-
It's more of a site security issue - not updating your wordpress and plugins leaves you vulnerable to security flaws exploited in old wordpress installs - Google is trying to help you and encourage you to update your wordpress to maintain security and prevent the site from being hacked.
I don't believe it's a rankings issue, but more quality of website and health of the web in general issue that Google is sending out these messages.
You can refer to this blog post on State of Search for more info.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
With Google's new Speed Update, what does that mean for AMP pages?
Hey everyone! I wanted to get the other Mozzers opinions on this. With Google announcing a new Speed Update that will affect mobile rankings, I wanted to ask: How will AMP pages play into this? Let me know what you think!
Web Design | | TaylorRHawkins
Thanks!2 -
Why is google still crawling my old website pages?
Why is google still looking at my old indexed pages and not my new index. ? Why are they crawling my old website links when none of them are available? How do I overcome these problems?
Web Design | | optimalspaces0 -
Google tag manager on blocked beta site - will it phone home to Google and cause site to get indexed?
We want to develop a beta site, in a directory with the robots.txt blocking bots. We want to include the Google Tag Manager tags and event layer tracking code on this beta site. My question is that by including the Google Tag Manager code, that phones home to Google, will it cause Google to index this beta site when we don't want it indexed?
Web Design | | CFSSEO0 -
Any way of showing missed sales in Google Analytics?
Sit down, this might get a little complicated... I was approached by a design company to do some SEO work a client of theirs. Usually, this stuff is white label but I have direct contact with the client as the design agency felt it was easier for me to do this. The website is performing really well and looking at the sales funnel, I'm getting people wanting to buy. BUT, and here's the problem, everything falls apart because of the way the check out works. It's appalling. The customer has to register to buy a product, there's no guest check out or anything. The checkout button is right below the fold and you'd miss it completely if you didn't actually search for it. Basically, it's losing the client money. Last month alone there were 300~ people entering the conversion funnel and NONE of them complete it. I've been talking with the design company and they basically saying that it's too much work for them to change it, it's a signed off project blah blah. UI reports have been conducted and sent to them but still nothing. I have the client asking (a great client, obviously wondering why there is a lack of return on his investment) why he isn't making money. He's asking me because I'm the guy thats meant to be getting him the cash back. I keep saying to the design agency the problems and that it's never going to make money. The potential is massive. But thats my problem. Is there ANY way in GA to calculate the missed sales? I know that I can view the total amount made when the customer successfully checks out but I need figures to present that I'm leading the horse to water, but the check out system is preventing it from drinking. tl;dr I need to show client/design agency missed sales due to poorly built checkout system. Cheers!
Web Design | | jasonwdexter0 -
Does Google take email server IP blacklists into account?
This is just a hypothetical, but would Google use information from email server blacklists to determine the quality of a website? The reason is that we're planning to code in an e-mail queuing system for our next CMS, and we would put SPF and DKIM in place. We wouldn't be sending any bulk e-mails (we use Constant Contact for this), but we might be sending personalised follow up e-mails, unpaid order emails and that sort of thing. There's no reason to think we'll be blacklisted, but from experience I know that these email blacklist directories quite often give false positives when an e-mail server is incorrectly configured. So the risk is that we might get blacklisted by mistake when we start using this new feature. Would Google take this into account as part of the algorithm? And if so, would the damage be permanent? (I.e. does getting removed from the blacklist mean Google will stop thinking we're a low quality / spammy site)
Web Design | | OptiBacUK0 -
3 Products & 50 Options each, How does Google handle product variant or options?
We are selling furnace filter and we might move our existing store host by BigCommerce to Americommerce or Corecommerce. Before moving the store, I have a questions about our online store structure. We are selling 3 different furnace filters, GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE Series. Each furnace filter come in about 50 different sizes, for a total of about 150 different products. The way our store is setup now, it is 150 different product, 150 different URL, 150 different page name... The way it is setup now, might look like duplicate content. All the product page are the same, all the pictures are the same, the only thing that change, is the furnace filter size in the product description. Look at those pages for example: http://www.furnacefilterscanada.com/20x20x4-Furnace-Filters/ http://www.furnacefilterscanada.com/categories/2-Inches-Thick-Filters/10x20x2-inches/ http://www.furnacefilterscanada.com/categories/2-Inches-Thick-Filters/16x25x2-inches/ Would it be better to only have 3 products and 50 variables or size options? What would be the best structure in a SEO point of view? One thing we have to keep in mind, when searching for a furnace filter, shooper will use keywords like: 16x25x4 furnace filter filter 20x20x1 air furnace filter 10x20x1 furnace filter 24x24x4 canada furnace filter Most of the Google search will included the filter size_._ How does Google handle product variant or options_?_ If I have 3 products, I will have only 3 URL and 3 different page name. I know for the shoppers, 3 products with sizes options might provide a better experience, but what about Google ranking the products? What is opinion the best online store structure in our case? Thank you for your help, preciouse time and support. BigBlaze www.furnacefilterscanada.com/
Web Design | | BigBlaze2050 -
Google Analtyics Conversion Tracking for Wordpress Life Coaching Site
Hello, How do I do conversion tracking for Google Analytics for this site: debidonner(dot)com She has a 'Thank You' page after you return from Paypal Thanks!
Web Design | | BobGW0 -
IP block in Google
Our office has a number of people performing analysis and research on keyword positions, volume, competition etc. We have 1 external static IP address. We installed the static IP so we can filter out our visits in Google Analytics. However by 10 AM we get impssible CAPTCHA's or even get blocked in Google. Do you have any experience with such an issue? Any solutions you can recommend? Any help would be appreciated! SXI5A.png
Web Design | | Partouter0