Single page dropped....

[t'mack]

I've got a UK based site that covers hotels in my home city. I've had success with SEO and my position within google is improving, with one exception.

Last week we lost our #5 position for the keyword [google]hilton manchester deansgate[/google]. Google listed the following page on that term: http://www.whathappenedlastnight.net...eetham%20tower

If I search on that keyword now our best position is #20, with this page:

http://www.whathappenedlastnight.net...ate-any-0.html

The latter has a PR 2, the first link has a PR 3 and is the one I would expect Google to return. It's still listed in the google index, but with low low rankings.

I'm wondering if I've done something wrong that would make Google devalue this page. I optimize heavily, but (IMHO) in a 'moral' way, i.e. we write original content, vastly reduced page size, good user experience etc. etc. so I'm stumped as to what it could be.

In the last two months I've added two images to the page, and additional text which will have improved my keyword density...but I've also added more text content so I dont think it would have pushed it too far.

Has anyone else had experience with pages dropping? Is this a likely effect of a keyword density that's too high?

Your thoughts and opinions will be much appreciated :0

[Webnauts]

Your website has a low number of trusted websites linking to it. Only 113 pages link to your website. Although it is not completely bad, but my advise is to have a website with 150 or more trusted back links.

[t'mack]

Cheers Webnauts, what web tool did you use?

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by t'mack

Cheers Webnauts, what web tool did you use?

This one: http://sitening.com/seo-tools/backlink-analyzer/

[incrediblehelp]

If you looking to target the UK market I would strongly suggest using a co.uk domain and host in the UK.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

If you looking to target the UK market I would strongly suggest using a co.uk domain and host in the UK.

Amen!

[t'mack]

We're hosted in the UK, and the site shows up on 'uk only' google searches. Are we 'safe'?

[incrediblehelp]

It is a not a safe or not safe thing. You must strive to do everything possible to insure your ranking is the best. One of those things is using a co.uk TLD when targeting UK searches.

If you choose not to do it and your competitor does then he has an advantage on you.

You cant count all of the domains you see in there with .com like tripadvisor.com, expedia.com, etc, etc. They have so many links the TLD doesnt matter.

[t'mack]

So Google considers my site a UK site, but it would rank higher if it was a .co.uk?

[incrediblehelp]

I am just speaking from experience. I have had more luck rankings websites in the UK engines using co.uk TLD than other ones. This is fact from my perspective and I am sure mnay other SEO's would agree.

Sounds like you are not going to switch. Fine. Then concentrate on getting many backlinks from highly relevant in-bound links from other co.uk ntravel websites. That will help a lot.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

I am just speaking from experience. I have had more luck rankings websites in the UK engines using co.uk TLD than other ones. This is fact from my perspective and I am sure mnay other SEO's would agree.

I fully agree.

[t'mack]

Thanks for the advice, Moving would be hard for me, but its something to consider for a rainy day.

[Kzajko]

Originally Posted by Webnauts

Your website has a low number of trusted websites linking to it. Only 113 pages link to your website. Although it is not completely bad, but my advise is to have a website with 150 or more trusted back links.

Two questions here: 1.What about Yahoo links? Google doesn't care about them at all?

2.Here is an example of website heavy with google links:
www.meadowsinstrument.com
It has 569 trusted links but most of them are ads placed on well rated website. Does Google really value them?

Chris.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by Kzajko

2.Here is an example of website heavy with google links:
www.meadowsinstrument.com
It has 569 trusted links but most of them are ads placed on well rated website. Does Google really value them?

Chris I think you understood something wrong.

Those results at Google are for a search of that domain, showing URL visibility rather than incoming link count.

Check it out yourself with this tool: http://www.online-utility.org/webmas...p_analyzer.jsp

[Kzajko]

well, i used the backlink analyzer tool you suggested
www.sitening.com/seo-tools/backlink-analyzer

After running the tool It said:

Links to Website in Google
569 pages link to this website
This website has several trusted links to it. This is a good sign that Google probably sees this website as trustworthy and authoritative.

It looks like almost all of those links are paid ads on another well rated website. It made me wondering if google really treats those links as trustworthy.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by Kzajko

well, i used the backlink analyzer tool you suggested
www.sitening.com/seo-tools/backlink-analyzer

After running the tool It said:

Links to Website in Google
569 pages link to this website
This website has several trusted links to it. This is a good sign that Google probably sees this website as trustworthy and authoritative.

It looks like almost all of those links are paid ads on another well rated website. It made me wondering if google really treats those links as trustworthy.

I edited my post above, adding a more accurate tool.
And paid links are no more trustworthy for Google. More see here: http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/002955.html

[Kzajko]

Thanks. Looks like a great tool.

I am still wondering though How is is decided what link is trustworthy and which is not.