Apparently I was banned from Google 2 weeks ago. I noticed when my numbers went from 1900 visitors per day to 525 (average) per day.

Fortunately I have loyal readers, plus other search engines send me traffic.

I wrote to Google to find out why I'm no longer being indexed. No response.

What I do notice is that Googlebot comes to my blog several times per day.

Any input as to why I'm still being crawled even though I'm apparently banned?

And WHY do you think you are "banned"??

I looked at their potential list and based on that list, I have no idea why I was banned. Perhaps something to do with plugins.

I disabled my "contact form" plugin and removed Chitika ads in case it had anything to do with that.

No idea since I don't spam anyone.

I'm just curious as to why GoogleBot still crawls my site so often with me being banned. Does anyone have any ideas?

@ Chrishirst.....I'm definitely banned. I know this because I'm not indexed anymore and when I look at my Sitemeter, nothing is coming in from Google ---- no visitors from Google, other than Google images. So without a doubt I'm banned. Plus, a drop from 1900 to 500 visitors.

Sounds more like it's just normal fluctuations and you are not banned at all.

Genuine bannings are extremely rare and you KNOW what has been done to warrent a banning.

One more question, Chris.

Is it normal to have your blog abruptly stop being indexed? I'm not in their index anymore. That's not a normal fluctuation. And the drop in numbers is not normal. I won't cry over 500 visitors per day but to go from 1900 is huge.

All kinds of strange things can and do happen. It won't be the first time, and it won't be the last time that entire sites have seemingly disappeared "overnight" from the index and been "MIA" for several days or weeks

If the bot is still crawling the pages are still getting indexed. If you haven't been blatently trying to "game" the SEs it's unlikely that your site is banned.
If I had to hazard a guess I would say that your link building has been limited to the usual crappy methods and the links have been discounted, which has led to a sudden drop off.

Thanks Chris. I certainly hope your thesis proves correct.

The day after my numbers dropped and I fell out of the index, I recall checking an incoming link in my Sitemeter and seeing a notice that said something to the effect of "This site not approved by Google" or something similar to that.

But then the crawling started again and with regularity, though they no longer send any traffic to me (according to Sitemeter). All my traffic comes from Yahoo, Bing, Google Images and a few other engines, plus from people simply knowing me.

Fortunately, I know very, very little about SE and don't know enough to cheat even if I wanted to.

I have seen sites do the "google dance" and drop out of the SERP's only to return stronger a week or so later. So don't worry just yet. Focus on traffic generation to cover the shortfall, and also add some regular quality content and build a few quality backlinks to tickle Googles interest.

I'm sort of clueless about the incoming link situation you have described, but my best guess is that it has nothing to do with the issue at hand.

How about your Google Analytics/Webmaster data?

I never used Google Analytics. I use Sitemeter.

Still receiving no Google traffic though, other than Google Images.

Don't get too concerned about it. Google dance, ranking fluctuations and delay in indexing are normal. For as long you're not engaging in any unethical tactics, there's nothing to worry about.

I don't think you are banned from Google. Sudden drops in traffic doesn't mean you are banned from Google, you KWs SERP might just GONE suddenly. The best way to know if you are banned from google is to use the command: Site:http://www.YourDodomain.YourExtension If your pages still appear, you are not banned by Google. Relax, OK?

Thanks for everyone's response.

Yes, I am banned. No idea why.

If I go to Google and type in my blog address, it does not appear. What they do instead is list blogs and websites that lists my blog but they don't send people to my blog directly.

Again, thanks. I won't worry about it since Yahoo and Bing and other sites still send me about 600 visitors per day. Down from 1900, though.

I think you're not banned from Google. It's just a change in Google algorithm. Try to google this: site:www.yoursite.com. If your site is still here, you're not banned. Just penalized. It's a difference.

do we get a URI? then we can tell if there is any reason for a "ban"

www.hicktownpress.com

To quickly determine whether your site is still in our index, just perform a Google site search for its entire URL.

A search for site:google.com, for instance, returns the following results: http://www.google.com/search?num=100&q=site:google.com Note that you shouldn't include a space between the site: operator and your domain name.

The Site Status Wizard lets you check the index status of your site, and also tells you if your home page was recently accessed by Google.

If your site is displayed as a result when you perform a Google site search for your URL, then it's included in google index.

Thanks, Buckfish.

Actually, I'm beyond trying to find out if I'm out of Google's index. I am 100% out of the index.

What I'm trying to ascertain now is why I'm out. I've written a letter to Google, emailed them, with no response.

Also, Googlebot has stopped crawling my site.

Very frustrating as I have not broken any Google rules and I even got rid of my ads and disabled various plug-ins.

take a look at the source code of your pages at the rather large list of hidden pharmacy links, then you may find out why your site has been removed from the index.

Here is the problem, Chris.

I know nothing about computers or how those links could have gotten in there.

Who would I contact to get them removed? Are they removable?

Does this mean I'm hacked?

This is upsetting because I'm simply a blogger. I know how to post articles and that's about it.

Also, you told me to check my source code. I would not even know where the source code is located. LOL!

I have to laugh to keep from crying.

Anybody around here I can pay to get that mess off my blog? Chris, do you do work on the side? I want that mess off my blog.