What I’m Doing
With Google burying small publishers after the September 2023 update, I briefly turned to Bing as a potential alternative. To improve my site’s presence on Bing, I:
- Optimized for Bing: Added my site to Bing Webmaster Tools, installed the “Index Me Now” plugin, and focused on Bing-specific SEO adjustments.
- Monitored Bing Traffic Growth: Kept a close eye on Bing’s performance, which was showing modest but promising increases in traffic clicks.
- Adjusted Content for Niche Engagement: Continued creating thoughtful, unique content around TV shows, hoping Bing would reward the originality of my takes.
Why I’m Doing It
Bing appeared to be a viable alternative as Google’s algorithm became more restrictive. By optimizing for Bing, I hoped it might become a steady source of traffic, especially as Bing’s market share had increased slightly. I wanted to diversify traffic sources beyond Google, thinking Bing might fill the gap for niche content.
The Results So Far & What’s Next
Initially, my Bing traffic rose from around 8 clicks per day to a range of 26 to 173 clicks, and my income followed, reaching up to $10 per day. But on September 9, 2024, Bing abruptly deindexed my site, citing a lack of “high-quality domain” backlinks. Now, my Bing traffic is zero, and Bing’s approach seems too similar to Google’s, relying heavily on traditional metrics like backlinks. Moving forward, I’m focusing on alternative platforms like Facebook and Pinterest while building link quality more organically. Bing, for now, is off the table.
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