Why double search result listings?

[dartman]

Hi all - been awhile since I've posted here.

I have several search terms where G will return 2 listings from my site (one indented). Typically it will list the index page first and the more specific internal page that jives with the search term requested second. Can someone explain why this happens?

ex. for the search term "custom pool table felt" I come up in # 1 and #2 position.

Personally I like the 2 for 1 deal and wouldn't mind trying to capitalize on it.

Thanks

[incrediblehelp]

It happens algorithmically and you cant control it. In fact I have seen less of it in the past year, but I usually see it happen on brands or manufacturers keyword queries.

[ctabuk]

It also happens to my 'news feed alerts' from Google - I love it

[jtracking]

I believe it happens because the first top page is the page that has some information concerning the keywords but LINKS to the actual page which is the second one. I have the same thing happening to one of my sites and it really is a nice feeling to be honest with you. I think it also says a lot about the two pages in the sense that you've done really well and google likes what it's finding...

but don't quote me on this just yet...

[bj]

You'll find that that sort of result will come and go. I sometimes see it for some of "my" keyphrases, but sometimes not. I still haven't figured it out, though I'd like to test out jtracking's theory.

[dartman]

Could it be that the algorithm has a line that reads 'if in doubt show both'. I'm sure that's not the case. I thought it might be something relative to the amount of results (1-10 of about 2,210,000) but I have other keywords and phrases with a much lower number of results and the double listing doesn't appear there.
Consider tho that for every double results listing theres' another (competitor?) web site that gets moved down or off to the next page.

[Tarzan2]

Originally Posted by jtracking

I believe it happens because the first top page is the page that has some information concerning the keywords but LINKS to the actual page which is the second one. I have the same thing happening to one of my sites and it really is a nice feeling to be honest with you. I think it also says a lot about the two pages in the sense that you've done really well and google likes what it's finding...

but don't quote me on this just yet...

I found I had the same thing on my tourism site. My guess is the same as yours; that Google sees relevant content on all the linked pages listed. I must add that this used to be the case but is happening less now.

[markrchisholm]

In short it happens when Google shows 2 results from 1 domain on the same page.

Google will allow 2 entries in search results from one domain for any given query.

If two entries (page, pdf, etc) from a single domain appear on the same page Google will 'lift' and indent the lower one below the higher one.

For example: If you hold positions 1 and 8 you will appear 1 & 2 (presuming that you are viewing 10 results per page, the default).

If you are positions 3 and 83 for a particular search phrase, this is where you will be show, unless of course you are viewing 100 results on a page. In which case you will appear to be 3 and 4 (presuming that the same thing didn't happen to the domain in 1st and 2nd position - if it does you will be 5 & 6) .

You will notice that below the second result (even if it is on a separate page to the first) you will see a link saying "[ More results from (domain name)]". This is because no matter how far through the results you search you will not find a 3rd page from the domain. Try searching for "dell", you will only see a maximum of 2 results from dell.com (neglecting sub domains). Or even only 1 result if the result is show with site links I believe.

This is also why you should be careful checking SERPs when viewing 100 results per page, as it can skew the results.

You can test my theory (fact) by doing the same search twice. Once looking at 10 pages per page then with 100. I guarantee when viewing with 100 you will see a lot more of this 'indenting', as there is a far higher chance of 2 results for one domain showing up.

[dartman]

Originally Posted by markrchisholm

-You can test my theory...

I tested as you described - interesting how many page 1 results returned double listings from a site (I didn't look beyond page 1). In my niche (and I checked a few keywords/phrases) I did notice that my index page was always above the indented result whereas several of my competitors had just the opposite - the specific page first followed by their index page.

[davidweb]

Originally Posted by dartman

Hi all - been awhile since I've posted here.

I have several search terms where G will return 2 listings from my site (one indented). Typically it will list the index page first and the more specific internal page that jives with the search term requested second. Can someone explain why this happens?

ex. for the search term "custom pool table felt" I come up in # 1 and #2 position.

Personally I like the 2 for 1 deal and wouldn't mind trying to capitalize on it.

Thanks

As far as search engines are concerned, they have been specifically programmed to display 1 (minimum) or 2(maximum) pages from any single domain. Suppose, I am having a website which has two pages as given below :-

Homepage = www.xyz.com
Sub-page = www.xyz.com/abc.asp

If both these pages contain text pertaining to Software Development, then there are chances that Google will position these pages specifically according to their "keyword density". Morever, Google gives priority to new pages, and hence it could display /abc.asp page above your /Homepage.

The best solution is to increase or decrease keyword density on any one of these pages for a particular keyword. Also you should try to include a Google XML sitemap where you get an opportunity to assign priority/display order of your web pages.

XML sitemap allows you to specify following tags

For your homepage :-

<loc>www.xyz.com</loc>
<lastmod>2007-05-08</lastmod>
<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
<priority>1</priority>

<loc>www.xyz.com/abc.asp</loc>
<lastmod>2007-05-08</lastmod>
<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
<priority>0.8</priority>

So this way your homepage will always display above your /abc.asp page since the priority of home page is 1, and priority of sub-page is 0.8

I hope this information will help you resolve this issue

[dartman]

I don't view a double result listing as an issue but rather a bonus that it would seem more people would attempt to achieve. Here's a snippet from our last xml sitemap submission that may support your theory based on our search results as initially posted. I do not know if our competitors submitted a sitemap.
If your theory is correct - meaning google actually uses/honors what's specified in a sitemap - I would question why someone would assign a higher priority to a subpage vs. their index page. In our particular case the subpage has far more keyword density then the main page yet the subpage is listed second of the 2 but has the lower priority per our xml sitemap.

<loc>http://www.poolfelt.com/</loc>
<priority>0.9</priority>
<lastmod>2007-02-06T13:18:14+00:00</lastmod>
<changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
<loc>http://www.poolfelt.com/custom_designs_pool_table_felt.html</loc>
<priority>0.7</priority>
<lastmod>2007-02-06T13:18:14+00:00</lastmod>
<changefreq>weekly</changefreq>

[crankydave]

Please note that the priority you assign to a page has no influence on the position of your URLs in a search engine's result pages.

Therefore it will have no effect on which page gets indented. It's all a matter of where the pages fall in the ordered results.

The page that naturally ranks higher will always be shown first.

Dave

[rocky1]

jrtracking would be absolutely corrrect. It's typically seen where the keywords are found on one page with links to a second highly relevant page. As a rule, but not always, the index page and an internal page, or the index page of a folder or directory within the site and a page found lower in the hierarchical structure of said folder or directory. Although I have at times seen the order of the listings inverted if the internal page is substantially stronger than the index page.

If you're going to attempt to control it... try and make it happen more often! It means that you have done an excellent job of optimizing your site throughout. You're getting found for prevalent keywords on the index page, and have optimized the internal page well enough to rank also.

[dartman]

Originally Posted by rocky1

If you're going to attempt to control it... try and make it happen more often!

Agree with that. It makes no diff to me which page is indented but having similarities in the title/description of the 2 pages, IMO,
would probably suggest a relevant result to the searcher regardless of which result was clicked.