Search Engine Position Drop!!!

[watto]

My site Businesses for Sale - Buy & Sell Australian Business for Sale has dropped over the weekend from page 1 to page 4 in Google for my main phrase 'business for sale'. My rankings in Google have also dropped from position 2 to position 7 for the same term.

I have no idea why this has happened. I have been holding these positon for over 1 year and now this. I am very concerned. The only thing different I have done that I can think of is the fact that I added 2 more featured businesses for sale at the bottom of my homepage.

Could this have affected my se results?

All help is greatly appreciated.

Regards

watto

[Janna122003]

Originally Posted by watto

My site Businesses for Sale - Buy & Sell Australian Business for Sale has dropped over the weekend from page 1 to page 4 in Google for my main phrase 'business for sale'. My rankings in Google have also dropped from position 2 to position 7 for the same term.

I have no idea why this has happened. I have been holding these positon for over 1 year and now this. I am very concerned. The only thing different I have done that I can think of is the fact that I added 2 more featured businesses for sale at the bottom of my homepage.

Could this have affected my se results?

All help is greatly appreciated.

Regards

watto

It could be other reason. Do you still continue your link building?

[watto]

To be honest, I submit 1 article per week to 500 directories including ezinearticles.com and I upload 1 post per week to my blog here Businesses for Sale Australia

Other than this, I haven't put much effort into gaining related, quality links.

I proberly just answered my own question???

regards

watto

[inertia]

Hi Watto,

Google has been going through a big update recently. I'm not sure how this works with regards to the rest of the world - i.e. whether Australian data centres update later or whether it all happens at the same time.

Ive been in this similar situation with a few clients and i always advise that they wait a fortnight before panicking. If you start changing things now you could be chasing your tail for months to come.

[Peter (IMC)]

Originally Posted by inertia

Hi Watto,

Google has been going through a big update recently. I'm not sure how this works with regards to the rest of the world - i.e. whether Australian data centres update later or whether it all happens at the same time.

Ive been in this similar situation with a few clients and i always advise that they wait a fortnight before panicking. If you start changing things now you could be chasing your tail for months to come.

I agree, better wait a bit before doing something dramatical. Give it a few weeks to see what happens. More webmasters have been reporting this kind of behaviour. If after a few weeks this problem is still there, let us know.

[kushty]

Yes I have had similar things happen although not quite as drastic as that but we have moved of page one for our main key phrase to page 2. I suspect as inertia says it is the result of the latest google changes. We will hold on a while then see if things go from bad to worse before we start to implement any changes.

[incrediblehelp]

1. D you buy links?
2. Do you sell links?
3. Understand that rankings shift like this is very normal and it is worse since this Dewey update from Google.
4. Are you familiar with Google Previous Query? It can help explains these shifts as well.

[benc007]

Have you changed your meta tags, link structure or anything else?

[RichAtVNS]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

1. D you buy links?
It can help explains these shifts as well.

Interesting about buying links it seems that on the days when I am not paying for Adwords I have actually been higher in the search engine results! Wednesdays and Thursdays used to be our best selling days (for the last 10 years) and since the latest google shakeup, it's a wasteland and not worth the ROI for the advertising. And lo and behold on Saturdays (when no one ever stays indoors and buys) has become a good selling day. And I don't pay a single cent in Adwords on a SATURDAY!

[kevsta]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

1. D you buy links?
2. Do you sell links?
3. Understand that rankings shift like this is very normal and it is worse since this Dewey update from Google.
4. Are you familiar with Google Previous Query? It can help explains these shifts as well.

this is why i come to this forum. rep added, have missed both of these. thx once again incrediblehelp

[bijan814]

I had a drop too, and I was replaced with irrelevant website instead.

[Stu Wright]

We had a big drop on our catering forum about a month ago, going down to page 6 in a Google search. I checked yesterday and we have gone back up to page 1. I have not done anything different to before, except putting all our sites on different IPs. You would be a very rich person if your could say exactly what it needed for a top position, especially after all of the recent changes. Hope it goes back after a while.

[DoneInStyle]

I did look at your site and I've gotta say, it's a bit spammy for various terms using the word "business". It's possible you went over some threshold, but I do also know from my own experience with serps that google is dancing. Don't start playing yet, but it might be wise to maybe use some SEO tools to see if you're over the recommended limits for keyphrase or keyword density, and in a week or two if you haven't seen improvement, then start doing gentle fixes once a week or so.

[seoboy]

Originally Posted by watto

To be honest, I submit 1 article per week to 500 directories including ezinearticles.com

Wow! How do you submit to 500 directories in a week? Do you submit manually or do you use some software or website? Can you share your method please.

Thanks,

[Peter (IMC)]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

1. D you buy links?
2. Do you sell links?
3. Understand that rankings shift like this is very normal and it is worse since this Dewey update from Google.
4. Are you familiar with Google Previous Query? It can help explains these shifts as well.

Jaan,

Are you seeing the previous query algorithm at work already in the organic results? I did some tests, but can't see it working yet, while the Adwords ads are changing all over the place.

[Janna122003]

Originally Posted by watto

To be honest, I submit 1 article per week to 500 directories including ezinearticles.com and I upload 1 post per week to my blog here Businesses for Sale Australia

Other than this, I haven't put much effort into gaining related, quality links.

I proberly just answered my own question???

regards

watto

You better do more link building effort than article submission. Article submission is just a part of marketing but it doesn't help much on SERP.

[kristy7]

How do you submit your article to 500 sites? Do you use a certain tool or do you do it manually? I don't have money to buy software. Is there a list of top sites that are the most important to submit articles to?

[kushty]

Originally Posted by kristy7

How do you submit your article to 500 sites? Do you use a certain tool or do you do it manually? I don't have money to buy software. Is there a list of top sites that are the most important to submit articles to?

Take a look here New list of Article Submission websites

[watto]

Hi Guys! Thanks for all the feedback.

At this point I haven't changed my meta tags, and I don't intend on doing so. Seeing as though I have reached the number 1 position for my main term not so long ago, I should be able to get there again. Not sure when, but my fingers are crossed!

I use a program called Article Post Robot for my article submissions. It is a great tool! (I have no affiliation with APR)

I do not buy or sell links and never have. I have seen sites get completely wiped out of google for participating in the buying and selling of links. I plan on staying away from this.

Can anyone recommend a tool I can use to see if I have crossed any boundaries in regards to my on page keyword density? It is the same as it has always been as I have not made any changes lately. My site seemed to drop for no reason.

I have started doing some more relavent link building. This is something I have neglected lately as I have been putting all of my time into article writing and sbmitting. Already I have had some success with related high pr sites. I like to offer sites a fresh, original, keyword inriched article which includes two links pointing back to my site. They get the benefit of the fresh original content and I get the two links with my anchor text pointing back. This technique has been working for me, so hopefully I will start to see some good results soon.

I will keep you all updated and let you know how things are going.

Once again, thanks for all of your helpfull feedback!

Regards

watto

[activeco]

Originally Posted by Peter (IMC)

Are you seeing the previous query algorithm at work already in the organic results?

I have been experiencing the feature already for a few months, although less lately. It seems like Google switches it on and off for some time. I also have to use quotes more often in my search terms.
However I don't think it can have much influence on rankings. With this you lose something, but you gain something on other places, so the traffic should remain the same. It is only more difficult to track the results.

Originally Posted by watto

The only thing different I have done that I can think of is the fact that I added 2 more featured businesses for sale at the bottom of my homepage.

It could be that you just hit the threshold.

[watto]

I was just thinking the same thing. I'll remove the changes and give it a week or so and see if I creep back up to my usual position.

Regards watto

[incrediblehelp]

Peter seeing a lot in AdWords but not even close to the same in the organic results

[Tig]

Originally Posted by watto

Can anyone recommend a tool I can use to see if I have crossed any boundaries in regards to my on page keyword density? It is the same as it has always been as I have not made any changes lately. My site seemed to drop for no reason.
watto

I've been using the tools at Site Report Card (SiteReportCard: Web Site Optimization and Promotion Tools), but it's kind of basic. Does anyone else have other ideas

[Peter (IMC)]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Peter seeing a lot in AdWords but not even close to the same in the organic results

So far I haven't seen it yet. At least not been able to produce an example. Though what does happen is keywords showing up in Google Analytics that when you check positions, you can't find the site. That could be an indication though I also have my doubts about Analytics' ability to always separate the adwords referals from the organic referals.

But I hope they get to really implement this algorithm soon. I like it a lot.

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by Peter (IMC)

Though what does happen is keywords showing up in Google Analytics that when you check positions, you can't find the site.

I see this all of the time and it is quite confusing. It is a good indication though that this type of personalization is in play or that GWT is not accurate at all.

[Webnauts]

Watto, 97.65% of your 4420 pages are in the supplemental index, which means that you have a very serious leak of PR.

Why do we try to get IBLs?

1. To generate traffic.
2. To increase our PR, to improve our rankings.

In your case, you are trying to get PR with IBLs like i.e with articles submissions, which is a waste of time.
It would make sense and will be of great value, if you will first fix this supplemental pages issues. THAT-IS-FACT!

Besides you are playing with the fire, and fire is hot.
The quantity of articles and the time-frame you submit them, can trigger excessive link building filters, since that can be perceived by Google as PR manipulation attempts.

I saw more problems on your site, which also could had affected your rankings. But I am sure others here who might have more time can point them out.

Be aware that I am not talking theories here. I am dealing with several new of customers who are facing your problem and asked for my help, and they already see in a very short time great results.

Good luck my friend.

[watto]

Not being familair with supplemental page issues, how exactly do I go about fixing this? Regards

watto

[watto]

Hi webnauts,

I just did a search site:business-trader.com.au and I couldn't find any supplemental pages?

In regards to the other problems you can see on my site, I would be very happy for you to help me fix these problems.

Regards

watto

[kushty]

This tool shows your supplemental ratio. Supplemental Index Ratio Calculator

How accurate it is I don't know but it also shows my site to have 95% in the supplemental index.

[watto]

There is only one true way to determine whether or not you have supplemental index pages is by typing in site:www.yoursite.com

After checking my site, I can not see any supplemental pages.

Regards

watto

[sushil]

However try to see supplemental page of your site.and continue build links for your site.well in future you found same the past rank of your site.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by watto

There is only one true way to determine whether or not you have supplemental index pages is by typing in site:www.yoursite.com

After checking my site, I can not see any supplemental pages.

Regards

watto

Sorry, but I think I must correct you here. The supplementals exist, but they are just no more labeled.
If you make a search with the operator site:yoursite.com/* you can see how many pages are in the main index. The rest pages are in the supplementals.

I would like to help you, but that is a lot of work, and I do not have the time to do that for free.
I hope you understand.

I am almost sure that others here can help you out.

[qh4dotcom]

Your drop in rankings could be due to these two factors

1) Your competitors have been getting quality inbound links
2) Google algorithm changes

[watto]

I just remembered that I recently 301 redirected the non www. url (business-trader.com.au) to the www. url (www. business-trader.com.au) in my htaccess file.

After this change my website dropped. Should I change it back or should I just wait out this storm?????

Regards

watto

[Peter (IMC)]

Originally Posted by watto

I just remembered that I recently 301 redirected the non www. url (business-trader.com.au) to the www. url (www. business-trader.com.au) in my htaccess file.

After this change my website dropped. Should I change it back or should I just wait out this storm?????

Regards

watto

I don't see how that would affect your rankings. Do you have Google Webmaster Tools account? Did you configure the prefered URL there?

[watto]

I do have a google webmaster tools account, but I did not change anything there. Should I? How?

Regards

watto

[benc007]

Webnauts,

Aside from adding new content and getting IBLs, how else can you get pages out of the supplemental index?

[inertia]

Originally Posted by benc007

Webnauts,

Aside from adding new content and getting IBLs, how else can you get pages out of the supplemental index?

Submit an XML site map to Google. It may also have something to do with the way the site is built. Pages that are too deep or don't feature many internal site links often get put into supplememntal.

Heavily link from within your site to every page that's important and you really want to rank.

[watto]

I currently use the 'nofollow' tag on internal pages I don't want to rank like contact, login, register, etc. Is this the right thing to do?

Also I use relative linking for all internal pages (this means I do not use the complete url in a link). What are your thoughts on absolute or relative linking?

Regards

watto

[activeco]

Originally Posted by watto

I currently use the 'nofollow' tag on internal pages I don't want to rank like contact, login, register, etc. Is this the right thing to do?

Yes.

Also I use relative linking for all internal pages (this means I do not use the complete url in a link). What are your thoughts on absolute or relative linking?

As long as you use <base> tag you're pretty OK with relative links.

[inertia]

Originally Posted by watto

I currently use the 'nofollow' tag on internal pages I don't want to rank like contact, login, register, etc. Is this the right thing to do?

This practice has been discussed at length on this forum. I personally do put nofollow on links to login and register pages but not to contact. Contact details are important!

Originally Posted by watto

Also I use relative linking for all internal pages (this means I do not use the complete url in a link). What are your thoughts on absolute or relative linking?

Absolute links are widely considered to be better than relative. But this is one of the small aspects of seo which i don't feel makes too much difference. Can anyone else tell me why, or if, it is highly important to use absolute links?

[activeco]

Originally Posted by inertia

Absolute links are widely considered to be better than relative. But this is one of the small aspects of seo which i don't feel makes too much difference. Can anyone else tell me why, or if, it is highly important to use absolute links?

Since the hijacking time, using absolute links produce less damage.

[uberanimal]

i have seen where one of my posts in a wordpress blog just drop off the face of google for a couple days then come back on the first page or second. that happend to you also?

[watto]

I didn't completely drop off. I went from position 1 or 2 (which I held for over 1 year), to position 7 at the bottom of the page at google.com.au

ACTIVCO, what do you mean by <base> code?

Regards

watto

[Peter (IMC)]

Originally Posted by watto

I currently use the 'nofollow' tag on internal pages I don't want to rank like contact, login, register, etc. Is this the right thing to do?

No.

Waste of time.

[activeco]

Originally Posted by watto

ACTIVCO, what do you mean by <base> code?

HTML BASE TAG

[inertia]

Originally Posted by [LEFT

activeco[/LEFT];372610]HTML BASE TAG

I always thought the base tag was an aid for previewing offline work? Is this also a valid way of making all your URLs absolute?

[activeco]

Originally Posted by inertia

I always thought the base tag was an aid for previewing offline work? Is this also a valid way of making all your URLs absolute?

Yes, per document.
Another nice thing about the base tag is that you can "style" it with 'target' element.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by activeco

Since the hijacking time, using absolute links produce less damage.

I think you better read this: Webmasters Report Proxy Hijacking No Longer an Issue at Google

[activeco]

Yes, it is known that Google solved the issue.

Which doesn't mean that absolute links are more secure for hijacking purposes regardless of Google. Yes, it is still possible, but a hijacker must deal with content too, instead with the http headers only.