Google is no longer ranking home page but sub page lower, why?

[DoRM]

We were ranking on page 2 and number 4 for the key word motorcycle tires.  Google was ranking our home page jakewilson.com; however, we have been adding new content to our site and doing some internal linking.  We pointed some links about motorcycle tires to http://www.jakewilson.com/cl/52/Motorcycle-Tires and now that page ranks but on page 3 not 2.  Any thoughts?

[DoRM]

But why would they rank the page lower than the home page was ranked if they think it is more relevant?  And the linking is something that needs to be worked on.  Up to this point there has not been much done.  We are doing more social now though and that should help a little.

[DoRM]

Yes we know we need to fix that, it is just a really big project!

[Andropenis_Australia]

When that happens it's usually about relativity IMO, G sees the other page as more fitting to the search term but it can also be over optimisation, carefully with your keywords, don't over do them if you can avoid it.

I'm sure there are other considerations like linking but thats what I have found previously.

All the best.

[WhoWuddaThunk]

Yeah, the url structure.

[DoRM]

Are you talking about the URL structure?

[WhoWuddaThunk]

The link profile of your homepage is very well optimized for "motorcycle tires" so it was ranking decently well, whereas your new landing page is not.  So, it was a good step creating a specific landing page for that search, both on a SEO level and usability level, but you will not just transfer over rankings.

Perhaps contact those websites that are linking to your home with your ideal anchor text, and get them to switch it to the new landing page?  Just don't overdo it with the anchor text.

On a separate note, I'd also work on your taxonomy.  You should really have things broken down like /tires/motorcycle and parts/sproket, not the /##/Keyword you currently have.  I just tell my designer what I need changed, so it's super easy for me to tell you that lol