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How One Startup Recovered After Google Deindexed 50K AI Pages

Programmatic SEO
by Outreach Bee Editor

It’s not every day you see a site vanish from Google’s radar overnight, only to crawl back into the index weeks later, reborn.

That’s exactly what happened to a young company led by Miquel Palet, whose ambitious programmatic SEO experiment—50,000 AI-driven pages—got nuked for thin, low-value content. But here’s the kicker: they rebounded.

And there’s a story of missteps, lessons learned, and a strategic pivot that’s worth dissecting if you’re tempted by shortcuts in SEO.

The Rise and Fall of Automated Content

I’ll be honest: when I first read Palet’s LinkedIn post, I felt that familiar twinge—been there, done that. Kicking off with stellar metrics (millions of impressions, hundreds of clicks), they thought they’d cracked the code.

Automation was the silver bullet, right? Bulk-generating landing pages for every odd long-tail search seemed genius at first.

Then, without warning, Google flagged the domain. No manual penalty, nothing of that sort—just an algorithmic cold shoulder. Pages got deindexed, traffic evaporated. Cue the sinking feeling: “Was it AI? Was it duplication? Or just…thin content?”

Turns out, it was the latter. Sparse, duplicated sentences stuffed across thousands of pages triggered Google’s quality filters. Circumvent algorithms with low-value text, and you’ll eventually pay the piper.

Programmatic SEO: Promise vs. Peril

  • The Upside: Meta descriptions, titles, image alt text—automating these can save hours, especially on e-commerce or directory sites.
  • The Downside: Using AI to spit out unique articles at scale leads to superficial copy. No real research, no nuanced insights—just keywords slapped onto a template.

Rasmus Sørensen called it out to SearchEngineJournal: “I’ve seen so much garbage published lately, agencies pitching pSEO as the next big thing. Rarely is it.” Joe Youngblood chimed in, too: “If you dabble in pSEO, do it under an experienced consultant’s watch.”

And sure, there’s a kernel of truth—programmatic tactics can work if you marry them with true expertise. But most folks skip the “expert” part and dive headfirst into volume.

How They Staged Their Comeback

So, what did Palet and his team actually do to claw back into Google’s good graces? It wasn’t rocket science, but it demanded humility:

  1. Rebranding and Domain Migration
    They ditched the scarred old domain and rolled out a fresh brand—Tailride. Redirecting the old URLs to the new domain gave them a clean slate (and sidesteps some of the algorithmic baggage).
  2. Quality Over Quantity
    “Less pages + more quality,” they proclaimed. Instead of 50,000 thin pages, they focused on in-depth guides, case studies, and content that actually helps users.
  3. Manual Reviews and Fresh Edits
    Each cornerstone article got a human touch—tighter structure, added examples, fresh data. AI tools still helped with research, but a real editor made the final call.
  4. Ongoing Audits
    Weekly site audits weeded out subpar posts, fixed broken links, and ensured every page met a minimum word count and relevance threshold.

Within weeks, Google started indexing the new content. A ‘site:’ search now shows healthy coverage—proof that quality, persistence, and a pinch of reinvention do pay off.

What I’d Do If Your Site Got Deindexed

Okay, picture this: you wake up, caffeinated, check analytics, and see zero organic traffic. Heart drop. Here’s my playbook:

  • Don’t guess—run a site: search, check Search Console for any manual actions, and audit your content quality. Is it stuffed, thin, or duplicated?
  • Deindex or delete content that adds no value. Consolidate similar pages. Then, use a staging site to test revised titles, meta descriptions, and body copy.
  • If your domain’s reputation is trashed beyond repair, consider a new brand. Redirects preserve any remaining equity.
  • AI can speed up drafting, but an experienced editor must inject nuance—local color, specific anecdotes, industry insights.
  • Set up automated alerts for drops in indexing, and schedule monthly content reviews. Keep the bar for quality high.

That’s the gist of it. Sure, it might feel like a lot of work compared to flipping a switch on an AI generator. But shortcuts won’t save you in the long run.

Final Words

Had you told me a year ago that I’d be urging folks to mix high-tech tools with old-school editorial rigor, I might’ve rolled my eyes.

But seeing sites like Tailride’s bounce back? Well, that’s the beauty of SEO: it’s equal parts art and science—no shortcuts that stick.

Feeling vindicated? Skeptical? Think your favorite site dodges these pitfalls? Let us know in the comments below. And if you enjoyed this deep dive, follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), or LinkedIn for more behind-the-scenes SEO tales.

Is It Safe to Tweak Your Site for SEO? Google says yes—but there’s a catch.

Source:

  • www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7354377005078917120/
  • www.searchenginejournal.com/why-website-deindexed-by-google-for-programmatic-seo-bounced-back/552179/