Has a High Ranking in Google Lost it's Power?

Like2Golf · #1 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 07:25 PM

Well, with the recent Allegra update in the Google SERPS, my site has skyrocketed from the depths of the 10th page, to the first page for many of my keywords. Finally, some of my own SEO has paid off.

I can remember thinking of the day this might happen, and that my e-commerce site's sales would shoot through the roof (compared to what I've been used to) when my Google Ranking improved to the first or second ranking (which it has).

Interestingly, sales have not yet increased and as a matter of fact, are quite stagnant. I've gone through many periods like this lately (My site's always been on the 1st page by using AdWords), but I thought with a natural ranking on the first page, things would improve.

They haven't.

So, has Google's Power and the "High Ranking Advantage" diminished to some degree? Are more folks using MSN, Yahoo and other SE's in place of Google? My web stats show that G is still the #1 SE referer to my site, but then only 13% of my traffic is from SE's. Maybe I just need to wait a little longer?

I'd be interested to know from other webmasters whose rankings ahve increased (and are in the e-commerce business) if their sales have increased with the latest G update.

Thanks.

JC

pdstein · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 08:56 PM

There are lots of reasons why a high ranking in Google might not produce more sales. Including...

- Targetting unpopular keywords
- Targetting less relevant keywords
- Search engine listings that don't motivate searchers to click
- Unappealing website
- Poor navigation on your website
- Confusing sales process
- High prices
- Undesirable products and services

There are probably other possibilities, but those are some that come to mind.

wednesday · #3 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 10:03 PM

Has your traffic increased significantly?
Are you optimizing for keywords that are not directly targeting sales?
Url?

28overpar · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 07:03 AM

On the pages that are now high in the SERPs, is there a clear call to action? ie a button that says "Buy Now"?

If you've worked hard to get pages ranking well, then you need to ensure that the user doesn't have to go a-hunting for your product/service when they get to your site.