Following the SEO rules doesn’t always work

[kevE]

Although I mentioned briefly my predicament in a related post a few weeks back I thought it was worth a fresh post.

Our site www.waink.com.au was fortunate enough to be found first for most key phrases in G for about two years (ie ink cartridges, printer cartridges). I became aware that another site had stolen my keywords which didn’t bother me greatly but this site started being found above us in the SERPs. On further investigation I found that the site had also stolen content.

This site www.printercartridges.com.au seems to break all of the SEO rules and continues to benefit whilst my site has virtually disappeared. I’m not suggesting that this site is totally responsible for our fall but it is very frustrating when you try to do things right and get left behind by someone who is blatantly doing everything wrong.

[Tubby]

The one good thing about the Internet and running a website based business is that you get to see how the opposition is doing in relative terms as far as individual search engines go. Who the are, and what they are doing in SEO terms.

Of coarse you rarely get to find out if they are outselling you.

In most businesses it is very hard to get information on how many people walk through a specific door, into an opposition business

Having this information is a great bonus. But the information sometimes tends to work against you, especially if you look at what you learn by it in a negative manner. Be positive about it, Use what you learn to fight back. The harder the competition fights for each customer and customer satisfaction. . the better you should get.

We have several expert SEO on this site. It is quite possible they would be reluctant to give you a step by step fightback plan, as this would be giving away hard earned skills.
you could contact one of them.

I personally have great respect for - incrediblehelp and webnauts (user-names)

[incrediblehelp]

OK a few comments:

1. No one steals keywords. Their is no such thing.

2. Sure people can and do steal content all of the time, but if yours is original and you have the appropriate amount of backlinks then you will out-rank any content stealers with ease.

3. Sure their probably is unethical ways to rank, but their are no set "SEO rules". However I do understand what you saying. If you feel they have copied your content have you filled out the DMCA reports?

4. Lastly I am sure you understand your in a heavy spammer rich niche with printer cartridges right? Backlinks are very important when trying to rank in Google and especially in this industry.

Have you considered some solid Link Baiting and Social Media Optimization for your website?

[kevE]

Thanks Jaan for the comments and links, I will use them.

I understand what you say about rules and keywords but I guess the point I am trying to make is that “guidelines” (if you like, as opposed to rules) indicate that such basic practices as cramming a page with key words and hidden text will be penalized whereas in this case the offender seems to be benefiting.

[incrediblehelp]

Maybe not benefiting, but simply not caught yet.

[SemAdvance]

Originally Posted by kevE

Thanks Jaan for the comments and links, I will use them.

I understand what you say about rules and keywords but I guess the point I am trying to make is that “guidelines” (if you like, as opposed to rules) indicate that such basic practices as cramming a page with key words and hidden text will be penalized whereas in this case the offender seems to be benefiting.

Actually Google only deals penalties for outright dirty lowdown spammers.

All others receive filters and being as the algorithm is made of over 100 parts there are steps that can be done to overcome filters that are applied.

While a lot of people claim to be or understand SEO in reality most have little understanding of the search algorithm and this makes it extremely hard to rank well for competitive keyword terms consistently.

Also another issue to remember is that when things seem to have floundered in the SERPs when you have done well previously

Sit tight make no changes and wait for the next update....if things are right you'll get your rankings back and your new friend will fall off......especially if they are indeed unable to be original in their keyword usage or original content.

Lastly never rely on a search engines organnic results rankings to sustain your business.

[kevE]

Originally Posted by SemAdvance

Lastly never rely on a search engines organnic results rankings to sustain your business.

Fortunately I don't, but it is a good lesson for anyone. It's just good to play the game and even better to win sometimes.