SEO / Traffic Rant

[amenwolf]

This is... My SEO rant

I think I've reached a huge wall in terms of SEO, which is kinda driving me crazy.
And ranting here, hoping peeps could provide some advice.

Starting from the basic (scratch), I worked hard (lies, maybe semi hard ) in getting my sites to top rank, first page for my keywords.

Keywords that has a whole lot of searches but few competitors (cookie cutter keyword research)

Then from 1 keyword to multiple keywords,
The best ranked is 1st page, the not so good ones ended up on 3rd page. Still working hard on those (lies)

And.... Well I start using google webmasters tool. And I notice something worth ranting...

The keywords I'm targeting are getting a whole lot of impressions (4 digits), but... BUT! I'm getting double digits click through rates.

First page, ranked 1 - 5... Getting lots of 'search impressions' = double digits click through rates.

ROAR!!!!

And what's really driving me mad was... I'm getting more traffic way before I was 'parked' into first page... I get more traffic months ago, before I was even up in first page... And now I'm in first page... I ain't getting ... any.. (or much) traffic.

I could only think it's my meta description is suxxor!!!! .... but, it's the same meta description I've used even before I was in first page.... And it proves to be useful then, but why not now? When I'm in first page?

Has the consumers / audiences / google users change their method of searching? Do they prefer 2nd page - 3rd page results more than 1st page?

..... Hope someone could provide some advice here... Cause this wall.. is really freaking...... making me

P.S
First page, yes first page, I checked on different browsers (I'm running 3) cleared cookie, I even did the keyword search elsewhere (not on my PC)
so... the 'thought' of a 'cookied' first page is out.

[Pagepr]

In these days many People Lose his ranking

[alcymart]

SE's update their algorithms regularly and without notice. You must update your SEO when you see this happen From that point, Its a race to the Top!

Keep up the good work, and keep building those backlinks. One day they will keep you on first page whatever algorithm they shoot at you!

Bernard St-Pierre

[amenwolf]

hmmm.. think I need to touch up on my english... -.-

Anyways, this rant is not about dropping in ranks...

It's about going up in ranks but losing traffic.....

[Clyde]

Are you saying that the CTR clicking thru from SERP to your site is less now that you're on first page?

That's weird and makes no sense, check your ranking properly (using 3rd party tool not GWT) and tweak your meta description and title to see what works best. Think of the search term and what they would like to see searching for that. Hope that helps.

[amenwolf]

Originally Posted by μNiches

Are you saying that the CTR clicking thru from SERP to your site is less now that you're on first page?

That's weird and makes no sense, check your ranking properly (using 3rd party tool not GWT) and tweak your meta description and title to see what works best. Think of the search term and what they would like to see searching for that. Hope that helps.

I've no idea what's a GWT?
anyways, I'm using Traffic travis to pinpoint which keywords are in ranking.
Then I'll be using browsers to double confirm, (cookie cleared browsers.)
I even took the initiative to go around, (cyber cafes, once a while) to do the same keyword confirmation. Even asked around for friends to do the same keyword ranking verification.

And yes I find it weird... It's not like the keywords I'm targeting just went 'cold' or 'dead' on me... There's still searches on it, but people are just not clicking through.

Regarding the meta description. When the site was on a page 5 ranking or page 4, (other than page 1) it has a high volume of click through.
That kinda got me scratching my head......

And after those weird results, I've tried changing the meta description... But it's just still not moving well with the click through rates...

Yes I agree it's weird and not making any sense.... That's why I'm kinda lost.... out of solutions... -.-
SERPS results just don't get the traffic flowing for me.... -.-

[Clyde]

You shouldn't be getting any traffic ranking on Page 4 or Page 5. (maybe 1 or 2 hits every now and then).

Are you sure you weren't ranking for other long-tail KW's and has suddenly lost them despite your main KW improving? PM me your KW and site's URL if you like and I'll take a look.

[amenwolf]

Originally Posted by μNiches

You shouldn't be getting any traffic ranking on Page 4 or Page 5. (maybe 1 or 2 hits every now and then).

Are you sure you weren't ranking for other long-tail KW's and has suddenly lost them despite your main KW improving?

I'm basing this on 2 - 3 words long KW...
the main keywords..

As for long - tail keywords. I've checked that the 'impression' (Searches done) Ain't that much so I'm not really expecting much of a traffic for those.

The problems faced is towards the 2 - 3 words KW....

And the click through rates that I'm ranting on is for those 2 - 3 words KW.

[Clyde]

How are you tracking your visitors? What software?

I'm afraid I can't help you much further without you revealing what the keyword is.

Good luck with your situation!

[amenwolf]

lol thanks....
I'm just bewildered....

Always thought that Getting to page 1 would bring in traffic... But it seems the other way round for me.. -.-

[Adam H]

Remember that around 50 - 80% of searchers hit first and second place and it serious degrades in number that hits below that unless the first and second places do not hold what the searcher is looking for. So top 3 is a must in any niche.

My guest as to the reason that you were getting more traffic before you were first page was long tail searches which have slowly dropped away because you didnt notice how people were getting to your site and didnt jump on the chance of keeping them or you were simply promoting the site more aggressively so people were clicking your links, social sites, virally etc more than actually finding you via a search engines. As member said above you should be look through your analytics and find out what the differences are in the traffic you were getting back then, research is huge part of the work.

[MikeFriedman]

I have 2 guesses. First, people weren't finding your site through the main keyword you were targeting. They were finding it through other keywords and you haven't been tracking this to know which ones. You may have improved in rankings for the keyword you were targeting, but some of those other keywords that were actually bringing people to your site may have lost rankings.

Second possibility, and I have seen this on a couple of sites before. Sometimes a site will get more traffic being at the top of Page 2, then at the bottom of Page 1. Usually is not a huge difference, but I have seen it happen. You could have experienced something similar.

[amenwolf]

Thanks for the replies.. Am considering the 'grey areas' on this matter...

I have 2 guesses. First, people weren't finding your site through the main keyword you were targeting. They were finding it through other keywords and you haven't been tracking this to know which ones. You may have improved in rankings for the keyword you were targeting, but some of those other keywords that were actually bringing people to your site may have lost rankings.

Hmmm... I always thought that broad keywords or (2 - 3 words long keywords) are the main traffic attractor from SERPS..

I won't deny the part on people coming in from the long tail keywords... But just that why are my broad keywords not performing on Page 1?

Second possibility, and I have seen this on a couple of sites before. Sometimes a site will get more traffic being at the top of Page 2, then at the bottom of Page 1. Usually is not a huge difference, but I have seen it happen. You could have experienced something similar.

This quite true for my case -.-

My guest as to the reason that you were getting more traffic before you were first page was long tail searches which have slowly dropped away because you didnt notice how people were getting to your site and didnt jump on the chance of keeping them or you were simply promoting the site more aggressively so people were clicking your links, social sites, virally etc more than actually finding you via a search engines. As member said above you should be look through your analytics and find out what the differences are in the traffic you were getting back then, research is huge part of the work.

most of my works are through SERPS..(on page SEO) and social bookmarking

I don't really do much 'backlinkings' through comments or promoting if that's what you meant? (and ya I'm amazed I could get first page, without the backlinkings)