Need help in diagnosing what I may be doing wrong
-
I have a site that has been having problems ranking. Initially, spam rate was at 18%. I have since changed the URL and forwarded to the original so now the spam rate is under 5%. Phone calls started picking back up very slowly but then by August 2024 things came to a screeching halt. Phone has been dead and very little business has been written. I did notice on the robots.txt file it had this:
User-agent: *
Disallow: /
User-agent: Googlebot
Disallow:
User-agent: bingbot
Disallow: /no-bing-crawl/
Disallow: wp-adminand now I have since changed it to this:
User-agent: *
Disallow: /wp-admin/
Allow: /wp-admin/admin-ajax.phpSitemap: https://urlishere.com/sitemap_index.xml
My question is what else do I need to do to get this site to start ranking again? We are blogging once a month, writing press releases once a month, updating the social media a few times a week. I feel like maybe there is something on the backend that needs to be done to get this site back to ranking. I am using SEO by Yoast and I have filled in the title and meta description fields for all pages. There is a spot in Yoast where I can validate the site with Google, Bing, etc. I'm trying to figure out how to do that. I do see in the site's Google Webmaster Tools there are several pages not indexing. Any ideas on what else I can do to get this site to start ranking again? Thank you.
-
@SOM24 I was facing the same problem on my website https://capcutprodl.com/. Check the robots.txt file to ensure that it's not blocking important pages from being indexed by search engines. Also, review your URL forwarding settings to ensure they're properly configured and not causing SEO issues.
-
To get your site ranking again, it seems like you’ve laid a solid foundation, but there are a few additional strategies that could boost your efforts.
You could conduct a thorough technical SEO audit. The fact that some pages aren’t indexing could indicate underlying issues like crawl errors, broken links, or duplicate content. Dive into Google Search Console to identify these problems. For example, accidental "noindex" tags or slow page speeds can block search engines from properly crawling your site. Fixing these can improve your site's visibility a lot.
Also, focus on content refresh and expansion. Monthly blogging is a great start; just remember that Google favors websites that regularly update and expand their content. Go back to older posts and update them with fresh insights or new statistics. Perhaps consider creating longer, in-depth articles that provide real value to your audience, such as detailed how-tos or comprehensive guides. Something that responds to their pain points and offers a genuine solution. This shows search engines that your site is a source of expert information, which can help improve rankings over time.
Don't ignore the strategies that can help indirectly with ranking, for example, try to drive more traffic or improve engagement. You can experiment with QR codes in your marketing efforts. By placing QR codes on product packaging or print materials, you can drive offline traffic directly to your site. Using trackable URLs in these QR codes helps you measure engagement and identify areas where your SEO efforts can be fine-tuned. This gives your site a boost in both traffic and relevance.
Or work on event-based or location-specific marketing if possible. If your business participates in trade shows, events, or even collaborates with local businesses, you can place QR codes in high-traffic physical locations. These codes can direct users to exclusive online content, downloadable resources, or content tied to the location or event. By driving targeted traffic from offline events to these pages, you increase site traffic and improve user engagement and dwell time - both factors that Google considers in ranking. Plus, if the content users access through these QR codes is valuable and shareable, it could lead to natural backlinks, which further boosts SEO.
Basically, all your marketing campaigns add up, contributing to better rankings. One last thing, check the latest Google core update, this could also be affecting your drop in rankings.
-
Be specific about the issue. What is not working as expected?
-
@SOM24 I highly suggest you run an audit of your current backlinks and try to identify if you have any toxic or spammy backlinks pointing to your site. If so, you can create a disavow file of the toxic links and submit to Search Console. Off-Page SEO is Important!
-
If you’re struggling with getting your site to rank again, I can help. With extensive experience in SEO optimization, content creation, and digital strategy, I specialize in crafting solutions that drive real results. Whether you need to boost your on-page SEO, fix indexing issues, build high-quality backlinks, or improve your site’s overall performance, I offer tailored services designed to meet your unique needs.
-
I was facing the same problem, but updating the sitemap solved this problem.
-
Hi, have you changed the web design or lost any good links recently?
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
-
Premium domain name redirects
Hi, I run a tree surgery business - woodfeldertreecare.co.uk We're based in Manchester, UK. A few days ago I was called by Premium Domain Names who convinced me that buying treesurgeonsmanchester.com and treesurgerymanchester.com and redirecting them to our main site would be amazing for organic traffic. My designer and an SEO friend both reckon this was a waste of money and reckon I've been scammed. Any thoughts? Please help.
SEO Tactics | | LeoTrees0 -
When to re-write and redirect a blog url?
What are best practices for rewriting (and then redirecting) blog URLs? I refresh old blog posts on our blog every month and many of them have URLs that are too long or could be improved. However, many of them also already get decent organic traffic and I don't want to lose traffic due to a URL redirect. Are there any best practices or "rules" I can follow when deciding whether to re-write and redirect blog URLs?
Content Development | | Emily.R.Monrovia
Thanks!0 -
Optimizing shop content for desktop and mobile users
When arranging content on a shop category page I place a descriptive optimized opening paragraph of text above products. On desktop this shows both the opening text and the products above the fold (visible here https://www.scamblermusic.com/royalty-free-music-downloads/ - also shown on the screen grab below). The text may well be ignored by most visitors (who will likely be drawn straight to product images) but it still serves a purpose. dekstop.png When it comes to smaller mobile screens I have started to disable the opening paragraph of text (above the products) and instead place a copy of it below the products, (screen grab below). This keeps the optimized text on the page, but it means that mobile users instantly see products rather than having to scroll past text that they may see as inconvenient. mobile.png I'm conscious of the fact that Google indexes mobile content first, and it also doesn't like duplicate content. I therefore have three questions relating to this: Will moving the optimized text content below all the products to the bottom of the page devalue it (I understand important content should be as near to the top of page as possible)? Although the optimized paragraph of text only displays once on desktop (at the top of the page) and once on mobile (at the bottom of the page) it is actually visible twice in the source code - does this count as duplication, and could it therefore hurt the performance of the page in SERPs? If this practice does cause issues, is there an ideal way to optimize content on pages (especially shop category pages) that doesn't require mobile users to scroll through text before seeing products? Lastly, on topic optimized landing pages that feature product promotions such as this one - https://www.scamblermusic.com/royalty-free-music-downloads/music-licensing-scotland/ - I wonder if it is best to lead with an optimized text introduction above product images, or better to place the products right at the top of the page for immediate impact, then follow this with the content/article/blog post? Many thanks for any advice offered.
On-Page Optimization | | JCN-SBWD0 -
Wrong Page Ranking?!?
I did some research today, one of our keywords is "mobile column lifts." I recently redid a page on our website to target this keyword. When I Google search this keyword I see that a page on our site titled "Reconditioned Mobile Lifts" is ranking for this keyword. I took a look with Moz, our mobile column lifts page ranks 90 for the keyword, and the reconditioned lifts page ranks 73 the keyword. Why is this happening? How can I fix this? https://www.slec.com/mobile-column-lifts/ https://www.slec.com/reconditioned-mobile-lifts/
Technical SEO | | slecinc0 -
Moving From HubSpot Help
I am migrating from hubspot to wordpress. How do i do this so i maintain my previous seo efforts. I have about 10 optimized blog posts. Can i cut and paste them into the wordpress blog or use a 301 url rewrite? Add to domain? Totally clueless! Your Noobian Friend! Jay
Technical SEO | | freshairtech0 -
Google showing wrong title
Hi, Can anyone assist a newbie please? My keyword 'Security Systems' is giving me position 1 on page 1, but the title it is using is not the page title. I am assuming for some reason it has made it up, please see below. The actual title tag says - <colgroup><col width="420"></colgroup>
Technical SEO | | DaddySmurf
| Security systems | wireless | battery powered | Police Approved | CSS | Google is showing - Compound Security Systems: Wireless Security Systems | Battery ... <cite>www.compoundsecurity.co.uk/</cite>Manufacturers & suppliers of The Mosquito Device & Professional industry compliant and Police recommended battery powered wireless security systems.Contact us - Mosquito Anti-Loitering Devices - Security Equipment - Installers<iframe class="SEOmoz-iframe" src="chrome-extension://eakacpaijcpapndcfffdgphdiccmpknp/html/serpbar.html#{" settings":{"dmr":false,"dmt":false,"mr":true,"mt":true,"serp-overlay":true,"toolbar-enabled":true,"subdomain-metrics":false,"serp-panel-open":true,"toolbar-position":"bottom"},"lsdata":{"feid":1245,"fipl":315,"fmrp":4.717881718426137,"fmrr":3.169235978744307e-9,"ftrp":5.245402699173709,"ftrr":8.283399271183101e-8,"fuid":15756,"pda":47.20670031521297,"peid":1266,"pid":315,"pmrp":4.634793943915049,"pmrr":1.137485303730264e-7,"ptrp":4.949510322693934,"ptrr":1.6938187788875737e-7,"puid":15777,"ueid":510,"uemrp":4.693787066897207,"uemrr":2.520503065617982e-10,"uid":1060,"uipl":191,"ujid":1038,"umrp":4.96103855611017,"umrr":5.477715129904515e-10,"upa":55.929113684261466,"utrp":6.066855084050327,"utrr":2.1655670926371268e-10},"user":{"level":"pro","options":{},"proenabled":true,"aclurl":"http:="" moz.com="" users="" level?src="mozbar","loginURL":"https://moz.com/login","logoutURL":"https://moz.com/logout","apiRequest":"url-metrics","cols":"133146078688","expired":false,"accessId":"pro-RGFkZHlTbXVyZg%3D%3D","expires":1374249469,"signature":"M%2Bh%2FXh4OS%2BAMtT2j6kuntWSTvNI%3D","displayName":"DaddySmurf"},"serp":1,"host":"www.compoundsecurity.co.uk"}"" scrolling="no"></iframe> If anyone can tell me how to correct this, i would very much appreciate it. Regards, Si0 -
Canonicalization of index.html - please help
I've read up on the subject but am new at this so I thought I would just put forth a simple question. We want our home page to be referred to as www.domain.com. We want the search engines to find and return this URl in search results. But the page has to have a name and the actual name is NOT to www.domain.com/index.html. This, I believe is what can cause duplicate cotnent issues (not really duplicate but perceived by the serach engines as duplicate content). Is it best to insert http://www.domain.com/" /> in the HEAD section of the index.html page or am I totally misunderstanding this concept?
Technical SEO | | TBKO0 -
Help optimising this site
Hi I have been optimising this site http://seakayakdevon.co.uk/ which is a wordpress site since making changes to it recently the site is now indexed and appearing among its competitors. trouble is they still are placed higher rn the SE rankings. i wish to optimise for local search i.e on Google places etc. but the trouble is there is'nt a physical address for the business it is run from various coastal locations. any ideas how i can still market for local search- maps etc. I have done the following optimisation: sitemaps title tag, description tag improved content removed duplicate content an blocker pages replace image text and replaced with header tag improved page names - making them static any advice of guidance would be greatly appreciated- will the fatc its built in wordpress limit its ability to gain better ranking in the SE? Thanks
Technical SEO | | Bristolweb0