Local Keywords Not Ranking Well in a Geographic Location (but Rank Very Well Outside of Geographic Location)
-
Has anyone experienced, in the last few months, an issue where a website that once ranked well for 'local' terms in Google stopped ranking well for those terms (but saw a ranking decrease only within the geographic location contained within those keywords)?
For example only, some 'root' keywords could be:
- Chicago dentist
- Chicago dentists
- dentist Chicago
- dentists Chicago
What happens is that when a searcher searches from within the geographic area of Chicago, IL, the target website no longer ranks on the 1st page for these types of keyword phrases, but they used to rank in the top 3 perhaps.
However, if someone was to search for the same keyword phrases from another city outside of Chicago or set a custom location (such as Illinois or even Milwaukee, WI perhaps) in their Google search, the target website appears to have normal (high) 1st page rankings for these types of terms.
My own theory:
At first I thought it was a Penguin related issue but the client's rankings overall haven't appeared to have been affected on the date(s) of Penguin updates. Authority Labs and Raven Tools (which uses Authority Labs data) did not detect any ranking decrease and still reports all the local keyword rankings as high on the 1st page of Google.
However, when the client themselves goes to check their own rankings (as they are within that affected geographic area), they are no where to be found on the 1st page. :S
After some digging I found that (one of) the company's Google Places listings (the main office listing) became an 'unsupported' status in Google Maps. So now I am thinking that this phenomenon is due to the fact that other listings are now appearing in search results for the same location.
For example, in this case, an individual dentist's Google Places listing (who works within the dental office) is being displayed instead of the actual dental office's listing. Also, the dentist's name on the Google Places listing is being swapped out by Google with the name of the dental office, but if you click through to the Google Places listing, it shows the name of the individual Dentist.
Anyone encounter a similar issue or have any other theories besides the Google Places issue?
-
Oh, that's great, Scott. Linda is terrific. Please, say hi to her from Miriam. Good luck! Miriam
-
I have actually, since, contacted Linda regarding her services and training. Thanks!
-
Hi Scott,
It's a full time job keeping up with all of the changes in Local these days. I really hope the articles have helped - particularly Linda Buquet's workaround post. Thanks for using Q&A.
Miriam
-
Thanks Miriam, I'll take a look at those resources.
I actually have a correction to make in my original scenario. It is not that the place is 'unsupported', it is rather that it seems that one listing merged with another listing.
Thus the main office listing (along with 3 positive reviews) merged with one of the individual dentist listings.
It is worth mentioning that one Google rep did reply to me regarding another incident saying to check if the place was existent in Google Mapmaker. This opened up a whole other ballgame. If Google is using data from Map Maker, I can see why there are issues. That is a user driven database, verified by volunteer 'reviewers', etc...
I see some of the change histories for some of the places there a little scary. I think some 'users' don't realize that it is within Google's guidelines to have multiple listings for a single place if they are lawyers, dentists, etc.... or perhaps like some of the comments in the article links you posted mention... the listings are prone to competitor sabotage.
-
Hi Scott,
While I haven't personally experienced this, I have a couple of resources for you to check out regarding quite significant changes in the way Google is handling medical practices with multi-practitioners:
http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-duplicates-doctor-dentist-lawyer.html
http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-duplicate-listing-dentists-doctors.html
From the scenario you are describing, I believe you will find some familiar situations described in the above. I recommend you take the time to thoroughly read the posts I've linked to, as well as the comments following them. Please, let me know if this helps. Thanks!
Miriam
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
-
Redirect 'keyword-url' to improve ranking?
I was wondering if a good url, with a keyword in it, can help you improve the position of that certain keyword by redirecting that url to your website. To make it clear: We run the website www.terello.nl, and have the possibility to let the url www.iphonereparatie.nl (translation: iphonerepair) redirect to our website. Would this help us to rank for the keyword 'iPhone reparatie'? I hope that I made myself clear this way:) Otherwise i'm more than happy to clearify myself!
Technical SEO | | Jan-Peter0 -
Keyword rankings for new website good in Yahoo and Bing but no movement in Google?
Hello, This past September I launched a new redesigned website for a client. His old website was a static html site that was many years old and the new website was created using WordPress. With the new design we made sure to use all the proper techniques for SEO. (h1 tages, image names, quality links, page titles, etc.) Plus, all the content is new content written for this site. I've actually launched new sites many times and after a few months usually start seeing keyword ranking improvements from the major search engines. With this particular website I'm seeing improvements in Yahoo and Bing but no movement in Google. I've used Google Webmaster Tools and made sure my sitemap is being submitted, etc. It all seems good, but I can't understand why Yahoo and Bing are working but nothing from Google. My page grades are all A's and B's and Moz isn't showing any big issues. Maybe I need to give it more time? This client is a lawyer and has many websites out there so maybe he's being penalized somewhere I don't know? As I mentioned, I've been doing SEO for about 8 years and have never had this much trouble with Google. I was wondering if you can look at the site and see if there are any glaring issues I'm missing. Website: http://www.arizonamedicalmalpractice.info/ The keyword phrases were are looking at are "Phoenix Medical Malpractice Lawyer", "Phoenix Medical Malpractice Attorney:, "Arizona Medical Malpractice Lawyer & Attorney", etc. I appreciate anyone who takes the time and does a quick look over. Thanks very much, Bill
Technical SEO | | Bill_K0 -
Avoid Keyword Cannibalization For Geo Terms?
I'm dealing with some geographical keywords that may cause me problems. If I target a county and a city inside that county that share part of a name, will I be at risk for cannibalization? For example, if I want to target "Jasper County Adoption Attorneys" and "Jasper Park Adoption Attorneys," will I be at risk just based on cannibalization? Thanks, Ruben
Technical SEO | | KempRugeLawGroup0 -
Are these redirects damaging my rankings
Hi, just been going through my google webmaster tools and i have found a number of soft 404 errors and was shocked to see these redirects going to my home page. | URL | Response Code | Detected |
Technical SEO | | ClaireH-184886
| --- | --- | --- |<colgroup><col style="width: 45px;"><col style="width: 80px;"><col><col style="width: 120px;"><col style="width: 90px;"></colgroup>
| | 1 | staging1/jupgrade2/component/k2/item/475-gastric-band-hypnotherapy-expert-says-government-are-not-doing-enough-to-fight-obesity | | 7/25/13 |
| | 2 | staging1/jupgrade2/category-menu/item/1068-coronation-street-nick-proposes-to-leanne | | 7/28/13 |
| | 3 | staging1/jupgrade2/category-menu/item/1086-coronation-street-fiz-nearly-gets-tyrone-in-trouble-with-kirsty | | 7/28/13 |
| | 4 | staging1/jupgrade2/category-menu/item/1155-coronation-street-kylie-considers-telling-david-about-her-affair | | 7/28/13 |
| | 5 | staging1/jupgrade2/category-menu/item/1157-coronation-street-fiz-is-worried-when-kirsty-pays-her-a-visit | | 7/28/13 |
| | 6 | staging1/jupgrade2/component/k2/item/750-actress-hilary-duff-is-sued-over-car-accident | | 7/25/13 |
| | 7 | staging1/jupgrade2/component/k2/item/843-what-your-dogs-bottom-scooting-behaviour%E2%80%99-really-meansI would have thought that the developer who upgraded my site would have either had these blocked or directed them to the correct page. i am now guessing that there are going to be hundreds of these appearing and would like some serious advice.normally with old pages i would have them going to the relevant articles or pages but it seems the developer has redirected hundreds of these to my home page, which i guess is going to confuse google. i would like to know if this will confuse google have all these pages going to my home page.i have tried to find out where the developer in my site has redirected the pages as they are not in my htaccess file, i use joomla.can anyone let me know what i should be doing with these to solve the problemmany thanks |0 -
Rankings for Google Play Pages
Hey all, I'm relatively new here and certainly new to posting in the forums and interacting with the community but I hope to be much more active in the coming months. I have what might be a silly question regarding search results for a Google Play store-specific query. The company in question has their main North American app that's been out for a month and a half and then an International version that was released just a few days ago. If you run a Google search (NOT a search witin Google Play) for 'Google Play Company Name' the more recent (but less used and ultimately less important, at least for the time being) International app is higher in the SERP than the more used and reviewed North American app. I'm guessing that this is something that will correct itself over the next week as the North American app establishes itself as the more important of the two, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask just in case there's something they can do to affect the results a little quicker. Any advice, input or just a verification of my guess would be greatly appreciated!
Technical SEO | | JDMcNamara0 -
Third Party Ranking Software
I have used a number of different tools for getting ranking information and have been using Cuterank but it now seems to be report the wrong results. Any suggestions for the best third party ranking software. It would allow me to check google, yahoo and bing ranks, compare month on month and produce branded PDFs. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Technical SEO | | highwayfive0 -
Photography site still not ranking well after over year
I have a photography business In the Orlando Fl market. I have noticed my site: joeyvalyphotography.com Does not rank even In the top 50, for my strongest keyword: Orlando Wedding Photographer However, the keyword Orlando engagement Photography/photographer Ranks Very well, and has been rising I'm rank very rapidly over the last two weeks. I'm not sure why my main keyword is not going anywhere, and what my next move should be. I'm considering spending few fhousand dollars on a n seo company, however I though I could learn how to improve my keyword ranking on my own to no avail. Any and all tips, suggestions, advice, will be greatly appreciated.
Technical SEO | | gaji0 -
Website Ranking Issue
Hi, We have been performing our own onsite of offsite SEO along with external assistance and have ranked well over the years with minimal impact from Google updates. Howevr the last so called Panda update has affected us heavily pushing our main phrase 'web design melbourne' from 2nd to 7th where we have been for almost 2 months now on Google.com.au irrespective of onsite or offsite work. We have been trying to find signs of any onsite, IP, duplicate content, titles or other issues that may be holding us back to no avail. The only flag that Google webmaster tools is showing is a number of bad internal site links, which I think is a glitch with the CMS we are using. Even the SEO MOZ tool gives us a higher ranking compared to most competitors on page 1 of Google.com.au for our main phrase. The biggest difference between us and competitors is we chose to target an internal page specific to the topic rather than our homepage. With this sadi we have also reduced our keyword density and content quantity inline with the other sites homepages. Can anyone help shed some light on this? and perhaps something obvious that we have missed, or where we should be looking? Thanks.
Technical SEO | | paulsid0