The Frustration of Being Blocked by a Major Search Engine

Why Is Bing Blocking My Website?

 

When I launched my website, the last thing I expected was to face a ban from Bing. As part of Microsoft, a company that has invested heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and integrated it into almost all their software, I assumed Bing would welcome a site focused on AI—its uses, applications, and benefits. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.

The Challenge of Dealing with Bing

Admittedly, I made mistakes when I first launched my website. Fundamental errors like misconfigured canonical URLs and poorly managed meta content led to my site being banned by all major search engines. However, I quickly learned from my mistakes, resolving the issues by optimizing the site structure—moving JavaScript files to the bottom of pages, merging CSS files, and ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Google was quick to recognize the improvements, reinstating my site in their index. The relief was immense. Yet, my efforts to regain Bing’s favor have been met with silence and frustration. Despite resubmitting my site through Bing Webmaster Tools, fixing errors, and setting up IndexNow for automatic content submission, I’ve been unable to break through Bing’s opaque system.

Why Bing Matters

Some might question the necessity of being listed on Bing when Google dominates search engine traffic. However, the reality is more complex. Many search engines, such as Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and even niche AI search engines, rely heavily on Bing’s index for their data. If your site isn’t listed on Bing, you lose visibility on these platforms too. While they don’t match Google’s traffic, they play an important role in SEO through backlinking and diversifying traffic sources.

This concentrated power in just two search engines, Google and Bing, means that being excluded from one is a significant setback for any website.

Discovering the Ban

My realization that Bing had blocked my site didn’t come from an alert or warning in Bing Webmaster Tools. Instead, it was through the simplest test: typing my website’s URL into Bing and seeing no results. Investigating further, I ran URL inspections in Webmaster Tools and confirmed the block.

 

Searching for Answers

 

Turning to Bing’s Webmaster Guidelines, I scoured their policies for clues. The only potential issue I could identify was my use of AI-assisted content creation. My process involves drafting articles manually, then using AI tools to refine the language, ensuring clarity and quality. While this approach produces unique and well-written content, it’s possible Bing’s algorithms flagged it mistakenly.

Adding to my frustration is the inconsistency in enforcement. Sites listed on Bing routinely violate its policies with poor content, intrusive pop-ups, and even malware. In contrast, my site—free of such issues and optimized for multiple devices—remains blocked.

Turning to SEO Tools

 

To further refine my site, I turned to third-party SEO tools. They provided valuable insights, helping me address additional areas for improvement. Yet, even with these updates, I was met with generic responses when I reached out to Bing support. Requests for specific feedback were met with vague references to their policies, leaving me in the dark.

The Frustration of a Broken Process

 

Corporations often market themselves as customer-centric, but the reality of dealing with Bing has been disheartening. Automated responses and AI chatbots make it nearly impossible to get meaningful support. While I understand the challenges of managing millions of submissions, there should be a clear, human-driven process for genuine website owners to resolve issues, especially when livelihoods are at stake.

The Need for Regulation

The immense power wielded by Google and Bing calls for stronger regulation. Businesses depend on search engines for visibility, yet being blocked often comes without clear explanations or recourse. Governments should mandate transparency, requiring search engines to provide detailed reasons for bans and actionable steps for resolution. In today’s internet-driven world, being excluded from search engines is akin to being invisible in the marketplace.

Moving Forward

For now, all I can do is continue reaching out to Bing, hoping for a meaningful response. In the meantime, I’ll rely on social media and other platforms to drive traffic to my site, though this approach is far from ideal.

Ultimately, businesses and governments alike must push for accountability in how search engines operate. For website owners, the stakes couldn’t be higher—visibility isn’t just an advantage; it’s a necessity.

Reaching out

Have you had a similar experience? Did you get it ressoled? If so how did you get it ressolved?

I would like to hear from you if you have a story to tell about being blocked from a major search engine and your experience at reaching out to the search engine for help. Use my contact form below to send me a message and if it is appropriate then I will add it to the article. 

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