Once you start fixing Local citations with correct NAP, is it normal for your rankings to plunge at first?
-
I strongly believe that I have received the most solid Local advice I could from these forums and have started (in just a few days) to make the needed corrections. At the same time I'm somewhat excited and optimistic that it will be a long journey but that it's a learning process.
About 5 days ago, I set my website up with "City landing pages" and I started plundering through google, fixing and claiming and correcting as many citations as I could with correct NAP. The journey still continues today as I just got my Bing Local card in the mail and verified. I went to check my rankings on Google Maps, just to see if anything had changed and sure enough it had. My listing had been holding strong at page 10 (which drives me nuts) and now after 5 days of solid work its on page 18. I have to assume that because I'm stirring the dust perhaps Google is confused and maybe in a month or so things might start moving the other way? Thoughts?
-
I try! Thanks, Jonathan.
-
Thanks Gary,
We are for sure on the same page.
-
Thanks Miriam, you have an article for everything!
-
Hi Jonathan,
I think this article by Mike Blumenthal will really hit the spot for you:
Hope this helps!
-
I would say you are correct, I have had this happen many many times. Sometimes things are not correct to begin with and you make some changes and Google just treats you like a new listing and you have to start again.
My theory is this:-
1. Your listing has a set of details
2. Google has a list of sites with citations that match that set of details
3. You make changes to your listing and now they do not match the citations you have out there.
4. Google re-crawls your citations over time and as they start to match again your result return and because of those changes your results are stronger then ever before.
That's my theory of why this happens.
I would love to hear if anyone agrees with my ramblings
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Easy Local SEO NAP Question
Hello, Does differently listed phone numbers matter? For example, 208-998-9988 vs (208) 998-9988 vs 208.998.9988
Image & Video Optimization | | BobGW0 -
Proximity for local intent searches
Based in the UK, I can see clear differences in search results for terms that Google considers have local intent, based on location. I'm interested in the community's experience of how far in distance local intent reaches. Does it depend on the search?, e.g. If I search for restaurant will it have a different local intent radius to a coffee shop etc.
Image & Video Optimization | | bjalc20110 -
Any tips for optimising for Local Search/Google Places
I have a client that used to come up on Google Places consistently for some very competitive keywords - when they ranked quite low for them through their normal website - places would see them above all the organic results in normally number 2 position - whereas they would rank between 16 - 26 normally We have optimised the site and have 'A' grade keywords for the ones we are interested in google placing for and just recently we are out of it all together, even though we have improved their optimisation for that word with SEO Someone said that their phone number on the website had to match perfectly with google places and so does their address. Is this true? Is there anything else that will help them keep their position in places ? ie. setting up a Google + page etc., Any advise would be appreciated thanks
Image & Video Optimization | | intermingle0 -
Local SEO Agency Recomendations
Hi Mozzers, I'm looking for recommendations for well known, reputable agencies, who have a strong background in Local SEO. I have a US based client I want to refer.
Image & Video Optimization | | PerchDigital0 -
Best tools for checking competitors citations.
I am using whitespark and brightlocal to run citation checks for my clients. I was curious if there was a good tool to compare competitor citations + other local metrics easily without paying per report.
Image & Video Optimization | | waqid0 -
Video Rankings and Optimization Issues
I have noticed for some pages of the site I am working on that I see the video that is posted on that page ranking a lot higher than the page itself or the page does not rank at all, just the video. I'm curious to know if these two can technically be competing for rankings and if Google sees that the page does not need to rank because it chooses to put the related video into the SERPs. Also, has anyone seen any differences in the way videos rank based on where it's hosted (youtube, wistia, etc)? I would think this is common sense not to but still unsure, is it bad practice to keep videos hosted on multiple sites (currently I am adding videos on a new host, but have not deleted the old ones on Youtube yet)?
Image & Video Optimization | | Hakkasan0 -
Local SEO, identifying citations
Hello, How do I identify free local citations to target for bobweikel(dot)com I want to rank first for several local results such as nlp boise life coach boise personal coach boise and related terms. Thanks!
Image & Video Optimization | | BobGW0 -
What's the deal with this local business directory? (http://www.camerchants.com/)
They have a couple listings of us with screwy info but i can't actually use their website, all the buttons that say "join" or "write a review" "uplaod an image" etc, are just an href="#" and don't actually do anything??? I figured maybe they have some broken javascript so i tried using different browsers (firefox & chrome in mac, and IE in windows.) Here's our listings in there: http://www.camerchants.com/Business/Storage+-+Self+Service/Storwell.Self.Storage/MTAyODAzNQ# http://www.camerchants.com/Business/Movers/Storwell.Self.Storage/MTEwMjMyOQ
Image & Video Optimization | | adriandg
http://www.camerchants.com/Business/Movers/Storwell.Self.Storage/MTEwMjMyOA
http://www.camerchants.com/Business/Recreational+Vehicles+Storage/Storwell.Self.Storage/MTAyODU4OQ# Are you able to click anything on this website and it actually functions as advertised? am i just using the wrong browser, or is this some kind of tool competitors use to blackhat our local listings into oblivion?0