Questions created by ahw
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Cannot re-activate PPC after GWT violation has been removed.
Google adwords not allowing us to reactivate after GWT violation removed and site deemed clean by Google. Attempts at reaching them for guidance have been unsuccessful. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Paid Search Marketing | | ahw0 -
Can ht access file affect page load times
We have a large and old site. As we've transition from one CMS to another, there's been a need for create 301 redirects using our ht access file. I'm not a technical SEO person, but concerned that the size of our ht access file might be contributing source for long page download times. Can large ht access files cause slow page load times? Or is the coding of the 301 redirect a cause for slow page downloads? Thanks
Technical SEO | | ahw1 -
Are RSS fees tracked by Google Analytics?
In both the new GA and former version, how are RSS feeds handled by Google Analytics. If not, is there an easy means by which to account for this traffic, in order to have a better picture of traffic. Thanks. Alan
Reporting & Analytics | | ahw0 -
Is ppc becoming more influential than organic search with consumers?
Simply put, are consumers clicking on ppc in lieu of organic search. In the past, people use to say that ppc accounted between 30-40% of traffic with organic accounting for majority of activity. My question is whether those numbers have changed, and if so, where are we now? A friend in Boston in does SEO, remarked that many of her 'sophisticated' friends didn't know the difference between ppc and organic. Seems odd, but with the move to place ppc results from the right hand sidebar to the top left hand column, certainly gives it more presence and makes the separation between ppc vs. organic less distinct. I certainly understand the value of doing both, but depending on the answer, it begs the question... is the expense of moving up a position or two in organic worth the effort and monies, if ppc is becoming the dominant raffic tdriver? Anybody have any recent statistics on ppc vs. organic? Thanks.
Paid Search Marketing | | ahw0 -
Decline in traffic but no change in rankings
I'm comparing our best search traffic month in 2011 (March) with our current traffic (April)and have seen significant declines in traffic, despite no change in our rankings or even improved rankings for the same terms. Trying to sort out an explanation. We have been a white-hat SEO site since our inception over 10 years ago. Our SEO consultant doesn't think we've been affected by any algo changes, at least not to any significant degree. My only explanation for this possibly anomaly is: decrease in the use of the KW terms in search over time (how to determine?) generalized increase in PPC instead of organic search driving traffic possibility that Adv Web Rankings is no longer accurately collecting SERP rankings Does anyone have any other thoughts or considerations that might explain the decline in traffic, despite maintenance or improvement in rankings? Thanks.
Algorithm Updates | | ahw0 -
Keyword search activity over time
is there a tool that allows you to follow the actual frequency of search for specific keyword phrases over time (ie years).? Thanks.
Search Behavior | | ahw0 -
Tag clouds and leaking link juice
We have a popular blog, but SEOmoz analytics is telling us that theblog homepage has greater than 100 links and this needs to be addressed. One very big source of links on the blog homepage is the tag cloud. Can tag clouds be a source of link juice dilution? If so, is should we consider either removing the tag cloud altogether (not essential to the site) or consider doing no-follows? Thanks.
Image & Video Optimization | | ahw0 -
500 errors and impact on google rankings
Since the launch of our newly designed website about 6 months ago, we are experiencing a high number of 500 server errors (>2000). Attempts to resolve these errors have been unsuccessful to date. We have just started to notice a consistent and sustained drop in rankings despite our hard sought efforts to correct. Two questions... can very high levels of 500 errors adversely effect our google rankings? And, if this is the case, what type of specialist (what are they called) has expertise to investigate and fix this issue. I should also mention that the sitemap also goes down on a regular basis, which some have stated is due to the size of the site (>500 pages). Don't know if they're part of the same problem? Thanks.
Reporting & Analytics | | ahw0 -
Decline in engagement metrics, due to nav changes vs. content changes
With improvements in our rankings, we are seeing adverse changes in our measures of engagement. My gut reaction is to believe we are attracting more unqualified traffic, thus higher bounce rates, declines in pages/visit and time on site (approx 15%, 15%, 25%, respectively). While recent improvements in navigation might have contributed to these engagement declines, do you have any suggestions how best to determine whether these declines are due to nav changes vs. due to copy/content issues? There's been no change in copy content during this period. Thanks.
Search Behavior | | ahw0 -
500 errors
We are accumulating a signficant number of 500 errors, now reaching 3000 URLs after only 2 months since the re-coding of our site in Expression Engine. I haven't gotten a straight answer re: implications or solutions... by default, suggesting that it's not of any consequence. History: The site was initially developed in EE (prior to that, an HTML platform) with a host of site issues. We then contracted an EE specialist to properly code the site. The 'new; site was released Sept 21st. I'd appreciate some guidance and recommendations, so I can go back in hand to the developer. What are the considerations or consequences, if any, for ignoring the 500 errors? What are strategies or solutions for removing them from Google Webmaster Tools and preventing future 500 errors? Thanks. Alan
Reporting & Analytics | | ahw0 -
Use of competitive kw search software for KW discovery for SEO
I use traditional methods for keyword discovery, but occured to me that perhaps competitive keyword software should be applied to competitor's sites for further possibilitites. Any opinions or experience using this strategy? I know it used primarily for PPC, but value for SEO KW discovery? Any personal recommendations on which programs considered most effective? Thanks. Alan
Competitive Research | | ahw0 -
Placing video testimonials on website vs. YouTube
We have produced a number of video guest testimonials. Any SEO considerations or other hosting it on our website (what software to use?) vs. YouTube (and just embedding it on the webpage)? Are there certain situation or circumstances when YouTube is not the best choice for placing video on a website? Thanks.
Image & Video Optimization | | ahw0 -
Blog - on the domain or place on separate site, now that Panda ranks for bounce, TOP, depth of visit
Over 10 years ago, we decided to run our blog external to our main website. contrary to conventional wisdom then, we thought we’d have more control/opps for generating external anchor text links, plus working in a bona fide blog software environment (WP). As we had hoped, the blog generated alot of strong inbound links, captured inbound links of it own from other sites and I think, helped improve our SERPs and traffic. Once the blog was established and with the redesign of the website, we capitulated, and finally moved the blog onto the main domain. After reading a number of pieces on Panda and the new reality of SEO, sounds like bounce rates (in particular), time on page, and other GA measures may have a more profound influence on google rankings now. Given that blogs are notoriously for high bounce rates (ours is), low time on site, depth of visit, seems logical that it adversely affects our site averages for the main domain). Is it time to re-consider pulling our blog off the main domain to reassert the ‘true’ GA measures of the main domain? I guess it still gets down to the question... is the advantage of all the inbound links to the blog on the main domain of greater value than moving the blog off-site and reasserting better 'site stats' for google's pando algo? Thanks.
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | ahw0