I have a SERP result thats started returning a dud URL all of a sudden, any ideas why?

[robertrRSwalters]

SERP "French Furniture" in google.co.uk

The URL thats started to be returned P7 is

<cite>www.thefurnituremarket.co.uk/  categories.asp?cat=</cite>

The meta description is relevant however our CMS system 'ecommerce templates' has some code in it to return a dynamic meta description dependant on what catergory is being searched.

It seems that the meta description is being populated from our french furniture category but the URL is not dynamic..

This has only started happening this past week.

usually the url http://www.thefurnituremarket.co.uk/french_furniture.asp is returned.

in WMT is is nicely indexing with 5 links... on it's own...

Any ideas?

[robertrRSwalters]

It would be great if you kept this thread going

[KeriMorgret]

Hi Robert,

I'm going through older questions that are marked unanswered and wondering how you're doing with this issue. Did you get it resolved or are you still looking for some input?

[robertrRSwalters]

Over night the url has started indexing correctly again.. /french_fucrniture.asp but we have slipped to P10 for this.. Not sure if this is some kind of panda/farmer impact..

[robertrRSwalters]

It seems there are a few more in there than the last time I checked.

We have 9 now...

amp%3Bamp%3Bcat= let google decide

amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bcat= let google decide

amp%3Bcat= let google decide

id = dont ignore

cat= dont ignore (is this the one I should switch to 'let google decide'?)

amp%3Bpg = dont ignore

'&pg=' = Ignore

prod = Dont ignore

Does this add any extra information I should look at?

[Dan-Petrovic]

Hard to say without looking at it. Are you able to log into GWT and give me a list of all the recognised parameters and what Google suggest to do with each. If too many perhaps create a screenshot.

[robertrRSwalters]

... go on...

[Dan-Petrovic]

Hmm... parameters. I wonder if you can do something in GWT to set the parameters in your favour...

[robertrRSwalters]

I hear what you are saying Dejan,

issues with that are.

1. I built static pages for this page "/french_furniture.asp" and added the usual rel="canonical" tags, I can't do 301's so unfortunately this page is running along side /categories.asp?cat=French+Furniture which is the dynamic category page.

2. We are ranking well for French Furniture SERP's so I am a bit loathed to tinker with this too much.

3. in XML site maps I have set /french_furniture.asp as a higher priority (0.9) than other french furniture pages.

4. in WMT the french category is indexed well with 5 sub links...

The bottom line is that the Current URL sucks so bad I am worried about the bounce rates hurting us, and that is not the page I want people to see.

There are a number of complex parameters in play here... Its a little beyond me at this point in time.

[robertrRSwalters]

This site runs on .asp and we have been using front page extensions..

The stock answer we have had is we can gain access to the .htaccess files but WHEN you break it it will cost you.

[Dan-Petrovic]

I have no idea how Google bumped into that but it's easy to remove it by applying noindex in meta (you can do it as I have seen examples of this tag on other pages).

Another problem... look how many French furniture pages you have:

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.thefurnituremarket.co.uk%2F+french+furniture&pws=0

Perhaps decide which one will be your main page and ensure it earns a few links and you should be fine

[Theo-NL]

Even though I cannot point you to a specific UK host that does, I'm absolutely certain there are dozens of hosts that have their platform set up correctly. Using the .htaccess file is a truly normal activity that pretty much every host I've ever used (Linux only, not Windows as .htaccess is not available there) has allowed me to do.

Are you sure you're asking the right questions to a potential new host?

[robertrRSwalters]

Sadly 301's and nofollows are not an option as our host won't enetertain the idea of tinkering with the .htaccess file, and I can't find a host in the UK who is willing to get involved in this either.

[usaccess608]

should use nofollow in .htaccess