Branded vs non-branded query
-
So there's an obvious difference between a branded and non-branded search term, but I'm interested in the SERPs that are shown as a result.
Branded search only results in 7 listings on the first page - obviously because branded search is generally more navigational in nature and the lower results get minimal CT.
Are their any technical differences beyond this?
Also, how does google define a branded search term? Because a search for Vodafone or Dell show reduced results, but Coca Cola does not.
Thanks guys
-
That's a great study - thanks for sharing it with me.
-
Many "branded" queries do result in 7-result SERPs, but not all, and some non-branded queries can generate them. I've dug into this in some detail, and the picture is pretty complex:
http://www.seomoz.org/blog/secrets-of-the-7-result-serp
Google is doing more and more entity association - trying to match queries to concepts, and that could tie into brand detection, but there's really no simple way to identify a query as being a brand, and there are many exceptions to simple rules.
I also think they factor in the usual signals - links, social, etc. They are working hard to integrate offline signals and this all factors into Google's general idea of dominant intent. In other words, if someone types "IBM", it should bring up the IBM home-page, even if that page happened to have terrible SEO and no links, because that's the best answer.
There are many, many arguments, though about whether Google actually favors big brands, or if big brands dominate through other, more mundane factors. Keep in mind, too, that "brand" doesn't mean big. Bob's Plumbing in Walla Walla, Washington should rank for brand queries (assuming that there's only one Bob's Plumbing), too, even without links/trust/social signals, for the same reason. In other words, someone looking for Bob's Plumbing wants to find that specific business, not just plumbers named Bob.
My post has a lot more details, but there's no clear or easy answer, I'm afraid.
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
-
What does it exactly means when Google brings the "brand name" to the beggining of the page title in search results when it was actually given at the end?
We see many times...page titles starts with "brand name: page for etc" where actually "brand name" has been given at the end and keywords at beginning. Why does Google make this change? I noticed this happens when similar title tags are used by multiple websites for high difficulty keywords. Thanks
Algorithm Updates | | vtmoz0 -
Bounce rates: Google vs others
Hello Mozzers, I was wondering if anyone could share some insight into how Google calculates bounce rates vs other analytics out there. We use both Google analytics and Clicky here. I've made several changes and additions to the website in hopes to increase traffic, optimization and reduce bounce rates. So far so good on all fronts. However I do notice bounce rates are way higher on google analytics than Clicky. While I get a bounce rate of 20%-29% on Clicky, Google has me way up the 50's or 60%s. I've read a few articles on it but I'm still a bit confused. Thanks!
Algorithm Updates | | md30 -
Are localised results affecting search query volumes?
As the questions says. I've had some conversations with colleagues of mine and they definitely feel that search query volumes are being heavily affected by localised results - and even more so recently. So, for instance, you may have a Google UK rank of 3 for a keyword yet be hardly visible in other parts of the UK because of the localised-based results. Thoughts?
Algorithm Updates | | Webrevolve0 -
PPC vs Organic CTR
Hello, I found two studies that seem to contradict themselves about PPC vs Organic CTR:
Algorithm Updates | | Cornel_Ilea
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2200730/Organic-vs.-Paid-Search-Results-Organic-Wins-94-of-Time
http://brandongaille.com/google-organic-click-through-rate-statistics/ Which one is true? Thank you
Cornel0 -
How can I tell Google two sites are non-competing?
We have two sites, both English language. One is a .ca and the other is a .com, I am worried that they are hurting one another in the search results. I'd like to obviously direct google.ca towards the .ca domain and .com towards the .com domain and let Google know they are connected sites, non-competing.
Algorithm Updates | | absoauto0 -
Increasing Brands/Products thus increasing pages - improve SEO?
We curently have 5 brands on our website and roughly 200 pages. Does increasing the number of products you stock and thus increasing the number of pages improve your SEO?
Algorithm Updates | | babski0 -
Bing Vs Google SERP
I realize the major search engines use different criteria but I don't see how - for the same home page keyword - my site could rank #3 on page 1 for a Bing search and be off the charts (Page 15+)? on Google. Has Google gone so far off the charts with their new Penguins and Pandas so as to be in a different universe? Seems Google is now extremely over-weighting big sites like Wikipedia, WebMD, eHow, etc. and in doing so vastly reducing the diversity of results shown. I am commonly seeing different pages of the same website appear multiple times in the first 2-3 pages of Google results. What's the point?
Algorithm Updates | | veezer0 -
No longer ranking for non local local terms
Anyone seen this lately; I have a client who is in the food catering business and for the seo we target a lot of local keywords (event catering Hampshire, for example). In the past couple of weeks search engine traffic to the website seems to have dropped by about 60%. However, rankings do not seem to have dropped. What I have noticed is that up until a couple of months back, the client would be ranking first page in the Google local and also have a listing in the 'normal' serps. It appears that the non local pages have vanished. Checking a couple of their competitors and it seems the same there. This has led me to start to believe that Google are now only giving a local position or a normal position on the first page and not both, as previously. The non local pages are sitll listed but seem to have dropped way back to the 4th or 5th page when previously they would have been first page. It would of course help if the client were to give me access to the webmaster tools!!! Hate it when client's only give you half the information you need and then expect you to tell them what's up!! Anyone seem this? Thanks, Carl
Algorithm Updates | | ccgale0