Ranking in SERPs but not using terms on website.
-
As far as I know, it's not normally possible for a website to rank for a keyword that is not mentioned on the website. I have seen a website that ranks very well for key terms and yet they are not mentioned anywhere on the website, I have run advanced search & checked using tools including cloak checker on my findings.
How can this be?
-
If I link to your website with the link text "SEO Moz" you can then rank for the term "SEO Moz" without having it on your site.
-
Hi Lee,
without being able to double check keywords on that particular domain I suggest two possible factors working on google that you may be overlooking:
-
hummingbird engine and semantic search. Google is trying to get the searchers intent not just plain keywords. Is possible that the site you're seeing is being highly related with the market they are thus getting a boost in all terms related to that topic.
-
google bombing. this is something it used to work and even if some say no, it still work sometimes. Bombing was a practice to use exact anchors to give authority on a site about something without even mention that. Some people are worried about this being a possible negative seo practie and some other uses that as an optimization factor. What I can say is that google bombing could work but not as it was. As this is not related to keywords but to topic, as the linking site topic will be passed to the linked one and if that site accrues more links it vcould be possible to see it ranking for such topics.
-
-
Valid information from all contributors thanks.
The site is related to the key terms however these are specific competitor multiple brands key terms which seems to rank very well for considering the brands aren't mentioned on the website.
I've checked backlinks, anchor texts, internal site search etc and nothing coming up for the brand terms and yet rank well. Trying to figure out how this is possible...
-
Intriguing love these problems.
The above two answers likely have it covered - on the off chance have you checked their referring domains - could they have bought a domain that ranked for those keywords and then done a 301 re-direct. Somehow the devaluation for relevance has been missed by google.
-
Hi there
I would agree Direct here - Google looks at topics and variations of keywords, so you may be ranking for variation terms, or what Google thinks are variation terms.
A few questions:
Are the terms you are ranking for related to your site, industry, or content in any way? Even loosely?
Are the terms you are ranking for high level or very broad? Or are they granular?
Have you looked at your backlinks and anchor text?
Are you ranking at all for the keywords/queries you want to be ranking for?
Have you been regularly checking your Search Console queries?I would look into your on-site SEO and content to see what may be causing your issue. You may be producing content in a way that's confusing search engines or users.
Take a look at the resources above and let me know if they help at all - good luck!
-
assuming you are referring to Google ranking.
Google's algorithm and technology is more advanced than just "actual " keywords, but also understands related keywords. you could be ranking due to this.
If you are not ranking for the keywords you are aiming for, check for over optimisation on your website.. or even under optimisation..
R
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
-
Delay to rank for authority website versus new website
Hello, I have a website that has been existing for years. How long does it take if I have a good content on a page for it to rank ? I read here and that that it can take 4 to 6 months but it never says if it is for a brand new website or a old website that has an authority and some links. I also read that some people publish content and rank within a week on competitive keywords. So who is right, what is there to read in between the lines ?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | seoanalytics0 -
How recovering the ranking after an hacking
Hello, I'm Alexia and a few months ago (end of March) my site has been hacked: hackers have created more than 30.000 links in Japanese to sell tires. I've successfully removed the hack and after 14 days of struggle even decided to change the domain to Siteground as they've been really keen to help. I still have some problems and I desperately need your tips. In search console, Google is informing about the +30.000 404 errors due to the content created by hackers which is not available anymore. I've been advised to redirect those links to 410 as they might have penalty effects in the SERP I have 50 503 server errors recognised by Google back in April but still there. What should I do to solve them? I still have a lot of traffic from Japan, even if I've removed all the content and ask Googled to disavow spamming backlinks. Do you think I have on page keywords? I don't understand how they can still find me. Those KWs are indexed in analytics, but not effective clicks, as the content is not there anymore. I also asked Google to remove links in search console with the tool removing links but not all of my requests have been accepted. My site disappeared from the organic results even if it hasn't been recognised as hacked in Google (there wasn't any manual actions on the Search Console). What can I do to gain the organic positioning once again? I've just tried to use the “Fetch as Google” option on search console for the entire website. Thank you all and I look forward to your replies. Thanks! Alessia
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | AlessiaCamera0 -
Irrelevant Landing Pages are Ranking on Google SERP
Hi, I have noticed that Google likes to rank random pages on my site higher in the SERPs than the actual relevant content page for that service. Please let me know why it is happening?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | RuchiPardal0 -
Can we use webiste content to Marketplce websites (Etsy / Amazon etc..)?
Hello Webmasters, My Name is Dinesh. I am working with Commerce Pundit as Marketing Person. We have one question with one of the website and would like to get the more idea on it We have one page or category name with "Engraved Photos on Wood". Here is page URL: http://www.canvaschamp.com/engraved-photos-on-wood-plaques So my Question about the content which we have added on this page. We have another team and they are handling marketplace department and they are using same content from the above page of website to do listing onto below Marketplace website. Refer website listing which are done by our marketplace team and where you can see that they guys have use the same content of form the above website page as a product info or description of the listing. https://www.etsy.com/listing/237807419/personalized-photo-art-or-custom-text-on?ref=listings_manager_grid
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | CommercePundit
http://www.amazon.in/dp/B01003REIC
http://www.amazon.in/dp/B010037IEM
http://www.amazon.in/dp/B01000JG6I
http://www.amazon.in/dp/B01003HT6Y Does it create Duplicate content Issue with the our Website? Can marketplace team use the our website content onto various marketplace website to do website? We are every serious with the Organic Ranking for our website. So do let me know that is this right way or do we have to ask to them to stop this activities? Waiting for your reply Thanks
Dinesh
Commerce Pundit0 -
Stolen website content
Hello, recently we had a lot of content written for our new website. Unfortunately me and my partner have went separate ways, and he has used all my unique content on his own website. All our product descriptions, about us etc, he simply changed the name of the company. He has agreed to take the content down, so that i can now put this content on our new website which is currently being designed. Will google see this as duplicate content as it has been on a website before? Even though the content has been removed from the original website. I was worried as the content is no longer "fresh" so to speak. Can any one help me with this,
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Alexogilvie0 -
Will duplicate content across a .net website and a .ch have negative affects on SERPs?
Hi, I am working with a company that has a .net site and a .ch website that are identical. Will this duplicate content have a negative affect on SERPs? Thanks Ali.B
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Bmeisterali0 -
API to power all websites
I spoke to one of my lead web developers and we are planning on powering all of our desktop, mobile and tablet sites with our new API. Everything will be populated through javascript and is cloud-based rather than through actual HTML. How do we incorporate all of our SEO?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | recbrands0 -
How do I use old websites to best effect?
I own a couple of old sites with DA of 15 and 17 which don't really rank for anything, as well as my main site which as DA of 29. Can I forward these domains to my main site to increase the DA of my main site. Alternatively is there any other way of making use of these sites?
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | benacuity0