Changing content affect SERPS?

[PhilT]

Hi all,

I have several pages on my site that are ranked for specific keywords. I've got backlinks with the keywords in the anchors, I've done all the neccessary with title and meta tags etc. Even the content has keywords sprinkled about.

Now, if I decide to remove the content or replace it for another, will it affect my SERPs?

Phil

[cw1865]

Absolutely. Part of the reason why you rank for these keywords is the content itself. Changing or removing it will directly impact your SERPs.

[Orion]

your SERPs are mostly due to the content you have.. that's probably the number one factor in determining them [SERPs].

Your content does need to change on a somewhat regular basis for your site to remain 'current' and thus maintain it's position.

If you change the topic of the content, remove the keyword phrases within the content without replacing them with similar phrases, if your ratio of keywords to content on the page changes (debated among SEOs) then chances are that your SERP will be affected negatively...

content in IBLs (link text) need to match content on the pages they link to.. just as meta - keywords are useless if they don't match the page's content.

[advancedmerchant]

Content = SERPS.

Everything else is trim.

[rickanderson]

Originally Posted by advancedmerchant

Content = SERPS.

Everything else is trim.

AM

dont say "trim".....less you got some.. ;

let me tweak your equation

unique content = serps

rick

[zephyrireland]

I recently saw 20 position change in search engine rankings on Golf in Ireland Mount Juliet Golf Course Ireland Parkland Golf Course Ireland when content was changed, just by adding 3 extra keywords into the footer of the site.

Content in Context is probably the most important factor. I usually try keep the theme or context of page content to about 2 or 3 key phrases. I think this works well.

PS - Apologies for the long link ( I tried simply adding a web address to the post !)

[1stgirl.com]

"Content = SERPS"
Nothing more clearer than that.

[blogdawg1]

But you do need to make sure your inbound anchor text links matches up with your content. There are 3 pillars to good SERPS: content, onsite SEO and inbound links. Get all three and you have a winner.

[edhan]

My idea to avoid affecting my SERPS, I always add new contents and leaving existing content as it is. By adding new contents, I will make it fresh and attract more new visitors as well as existing visitors to come back again. I do not see the reason why I should be removing old contents even for instant, an old product that no longer selling. I will just put it as sold out or out of print if it is a book. That way, everything will be as it is without fear of affecting my SERPS.

[Janna122003]

Originally Posted by PhilT

Hi all,

I have several pages on my site that are ranked for specific keywords. I've got backlinks with the keywords in the anchors, I've done all the neccessary with title and meta tags etc. Even the content has keywords sprinkled about.

Now, if I decide to remove the content or replace it for another, will it affect my SERPs?

Phil

Of course SERP would be affected because rankings depend also on keywords of your content

[rickanderson]

Originally Posted by edhan

My idea to avoid affecting my SERPS, I always add new contents and leaving existing content as it is. By adding new contents, I will make it fresh and attract more new visitors as well as existing visitors to come back again. I do not see the reason why I should be removing old contents even for instant, an old product that no longer selling. I will just put it as sold out or out of print if it is a book. That way, everything will be as it is without fear of affecting my SERPS.

edhan

no wiser words will ever be spoken than when you say: "everything wll be as it is"

rick-sun

[davidweb]

If your new content is insync with previous one, then it will help you gain higher rankings on search engines.

If your new content is completely unrelated to previous content, then it might result in lower rankings for certain keywords.

Anyhow search engines do not necessarily pay heed to quantity of content. They love quality of content ( ie natural, informative, and getting some decent back links)

[WDC]

If contnet if the KING then links are definitely the QUEEN

You can't ignore the links Google originally started you by calculating the popularity of a webpage by number of backlinks it has and it still gives importance to links.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by Orion

your SERPs are mostly due to the content you have.. that's probably the number one factor in determining them [SERPs].

I'd say the number one factor is good anchor text and if you have good anchor text and you keep the keywords in the text you want have any problems.

As a matter of fact your ranking could improve.

And if it is a keyword with a lot of competition the text want play much of a role at all.

[full house]

YUP! Optimizing the content is a trial and error, WE don't know if it has a good effect or not.

[innominds]

Yes, it is a known fact that SERP depends upon Content. But if you change the content drastically, then it will affect the SERPs. One thing is for sure, the relevancy is to be kept in mind before changing the content.

If the product is obsolete, then there is no point in mentioning it. But at the same time, you need to mange the other factors.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by innominds

Yes, it is a known fact that SERP depends upon Content. But if you change the content drastically, then it will affect the SERPs. One thing is for sure, the relevancy is to be kept in mind before changing the content.

If the product is obsolete, then there is no point in mentioning it. But at the same time, you need to mange the other factors.

Then why does Dell and Apple rank in the top 10 for computers without using the keyword computers on their sites?

[edhan]

I do believe that Dell and Apple have done much advertising to deserve the ranking without using the keyword computers on their sites. This is the power of advertising offline and online. That is my thought ... I might be wrong though!

[janeth]

Originally Posted by edhan

I do believe that Dell and Apple have done much advertising to deserve the ranking without using the keyword computers on their sites. This is the power of advertising offline and online. That is my thought ... I might be wrong though!

Are you saying that offline advertising makes you rank in Google?

Those links are there because of incoming links pointing at there site with the anchor text computers. Nothing else.

[inertia]

Originally Posted by janeth

Those links are there because of incoming links pointing at there site with the anchor text computers. Nothing else.

I completely agree! But i think edhan's point was that they rank highly because their online presence is HUGE! They have many, many backlinks from related sites and they not doubt get continually mentioned and back linked from the entire web community. Without even trying to!

Unfortunately, most of us don't have that kind of marketing power so our content becomes are far more important ranking factor. We continually see no content sites ranking highly due to back links but if they had back links and decent content they would do even better.

Its impossible to mention a site like the thread starters (i assume) and Apple and Dell in the same sentence.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by inertia

I completely agree! But i think edhan's point was that they rank highly because their online presence is HUGE! They have many, many backlinks from related sites and they not doubt get continually mentioned and back linked from the entire web community. Without even trying to!

Unfortunately, most of us don't have that kind of marketing power so our content becomes are far more important ranking factor. We continually see no content sites ranking highly due to back links but if they had back links and decent content they would do even better.

Its impossible to mention a site like the thread starters (i assume) and Apple and Dell in the same sentence.

You won't rank for keywords like computers without lots of backlinks but you can rank for a keyword like computers with only backlinks. If you can do it for a competitive keyword like computers how easy would it be for a less competitive keyword?

If he has links and content there is a good chance that changing the content will improve his site ranking. And there is the chance that he is there due to the links and the text has nothing to do with it.

[edhan]

Originally Posted by janeth

Are you saying that offline advertising makes you rank in Google?

Those links are there because of incoming links pointing at there site with the anchor text computers. Nothing else.

No. I mean they are advertising offline as well as online to make them rank well in Google. It is just the combination. Just like watching TV advertisement or Radio, I will then go to their sites online to search more info.

[inertia]

Originally Posted by janeth

You won't rank for keywords like computers without lots of backlinks but you can rank for a keyword like computers with only backlinks. If you can do it for a competitive keyword like computers how easy would it be for a less competitive keyword?

If he has links and content there is a good chance that changing the content will improve his site ranking. And there is the chance that he is there due to the links and the text has nothing to do with it.

So what you're saying is. You can get a high SERP with only back links but you cant get a high SERP with only content? Unless your content is targeting a low competition keyword. So essentially you're saying content ISN'T king, links are king?

[janeth]

Originally Posted by inertia

So what you're saying is. You can get a high SERP with only back links but you cant get a high SERP with only content? Unless your content is targeting a low competition keyword. So essentially you're saying content ISN'T king, links are king?

For overall traffic from non-competitive keywords content is king for getting traffic or ranking for a highly competitive keyword links are king.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by edhan

No. I mean they are advertising offline as well as online to make them rank well in Google. It is just the combination. Just like watching TV advertisement or Radio, I will then go to their sites online to search more info.

But how does the radio spot help them rank in Google?

or

What radio station do you think Google bot listens to?

[Dubbya]

Originally Posted by inertia

So what you're saying is. You can get a high SERP with only back links but you cant get a high SERP with only content? Unless your content is targeting a low competition keyword. So essentially you're saying content ISN'T king, links are king?

Quickly everyone, Get him!

You can't compete by relying ONLY on back links (IBL's), not for long anyway, but you CAN obtain high rankings with only content, as long as it's content that generates relevant back links.

You MUST have relevant content to be competitive and maintain your rankings. No substance, no sustainable rankings.

Consider the following scenario:
(assume that two blogs are indexed similarly, both have a page rank of 4, that both enjoy the same amount of traffic and that both are seen as relevant to the topic being presented.)

Were I to post a single paragraph regarding a particular topic in a high traffic blog, an article consisting of 4 similar paragraphs on the same topic in a competing blog would likely stand a better chance of being seen as an authority and that's without factoring in IBL's or text links inside the content.

The more relevant the information presented, the more link-worthy it would be. I might get a few links with my single paragraph but a more focused 4 paragraph article, with more in-depth information, would likely draw more links and contain a higher number of topic relevant keywords and phrases.

I might get listed on the first page in the SERPs, but the larger article, having a greater number of IBL's would easily knock me out of first position and have a much easier time maintaining a position above me.

On the other hand, if the content is irrelevant gibberish, it's not going to generate any back links, nor is it likely to be searched for. As far as the SE's are concerned it's a waste of webspace.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by Dubbya

I might get listed on the first page in the SERPs, but the larger article, having a greater number of IBL's

There are a lot of ways to get IBL's and content is only one of them.

[inertia]

Originally Posted by janeth

But how does the radio spot help them rank in Google?

or

What radio station do you think Google bot listens to?

His point is...a company which raises its profile and brand awareness through media such as radio, TV and print will invariably create more awareness for itself on line.

They sell a lot of PCs through their magazine adverts, therefore people discuss them more on forums, blogs, sites, etc etc...

The simple answer is - if you have a multi-million pound (or dollar), highly successful, multi-national company like Dell then your success will translate into online success also.

[Dubbya]

Originally Posted by janeth

There are a lot of ways to get IBL's and content is only one of them.

We are discussing how changing content affects rankings in the SERPs.

Please feel free to expand on your statement and make it helpful.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by inertia

His point is...a company which raises its profile and brand awareness through media such as radio, TV and print will invariably create more awareness for itself on line.

They sell a lot of PCs through their magazine adverts, therefore people discuss them more on forums, blogs, sites, etc etc...

The simple answer is - if you have a multi-million pound (or dollar), highly successful, multi-national company like Dell then your success will translate into online success also.

Yes but it all comes back to the links for ranking.

Let me explain. Lets say I want to rank a website for widgets.

I would write my home page about widgets. Then I would write more pages linking from the home page about red widgets, blue widgets and so on and so on.

I know that I can not rank for widgets like this alone but the text and other pages will get me traffic for the easy to rank for keywords while I am getting links to the main page for widgets.

Once I get enough links the site will rank for widgets. Then I will find that all the other pages drive more traffic for the easy to rank for keywords because there are so many due to my links and content.

But it took the links to get me to rank.

[Dubbya]

Originally Posted by inertia

His point is...a company which raises its profile and brand awareness through media such as radio, TV and print will invariably create more awareness for itself on line.

They sell a lot of PCs through their magazine adverts, therefore people discuss them more on forums, blogs, sites, etc etc...

The simple answer is - if you have a multi-million pound (or dollar), highly successful, multi-national company like Dell then your success will translate into online success also.

You sir, are spot on!

Great advertising, be it through audio, video or printed format, can serve as a highly effective method of generating traffic, especially when the URL receives some focus. The drawback is that it's temporary and only likely to last during the marketing campaign.

Originally Posted by janeth

But how does the radio spot help them rank in Google?

or

What radio station do you think Google bot listens to?

The great thing here is that Googlebot does NOT listen to the radio ads, so that content can be used online without having to worry about duplicate content issues.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by Dubbya

We are discussing how changing content affects rankings in the SERPs.

Please feel free to expand on your statement and make it helpful.

We got off topic a little because of the backlinks. My point was that the backlinks could keep him ranking for the keywords that he is all ready ranking for. And changing the content could improve his ranking.

Without knowing the old and new content as well as the keywords it would really be hard to know what affect the changes would have.

But there are ways to get links without content.

Dell and Apple have both proven that as well as sites that offer free tools.

[edhan]

Originally Posted by inertia

His point is...a company which raises its profile and brand awareness through media such as radio, TV and print will invariably create more awareness for itself on line.

They sell a lot of PCs through their magazine adverts, therefore people discuss them more on forums, blogs, sites, etc etc...

The simple answer is - if you have a multi-million pound (or dollar), highly successful, multi-national company like Dell then your success will translate into online success also.

Yes. Thanks inertia. That is what I am trying to point out. By doing offline and online advertising, you simply create a strong impact for branding and awareness that bring in people. This will turn into success for google search.