Similar pages - 1 ranking one omitted

by dunb01
3 replies
  • SEO
  • |
Hi,

*edit* just wanted to apologise for the awful title!

First post for me, I have learned a lot just browsing through the forums but am stuck on this:

I'm looking for a bit of advice if possible. I have a website selling training courses. All courses are aimed a particular niche. 2 of the pages offer the same course, but with different study options: home study, and classroom.

The site is mdrtraininguk.com

My mistake initially was to try and rank both for "transport manager CPC". (Probably should have done some proper research first I know!)

I have changed the "home study" page keywords to "home study CPC" "home study cpc pack" etc which rank well, 2/3 on google.co.uk.

The problem I have now is google is still ranking the home study page ahead of the classroom page when searching for "transport manager CPC training" (around 7/8 pg 1). In fact, the classroom page only shows under "omitted due to similar pages"

There is very little duplicate content on the page and although the qualification is the same, the delivery is not.

Can anyone give me any suggestions how to improve the information on the page to avoid being classed as duplicate content?

I hope that makes sense! Many thanks in advance.
#omitted #pages #ranking #similar
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    The page title is one of the strongest on-page ranking factors. You have the exact keyword (transport manager CPC training) in the page title of the .../home-study page (screenshot below).

    Google also hasn't updated the cache of the ranked webpage since you've made edits. The cache date is yesterday (Nov 15th), today is the 16th so you've made edits today.

    Cache page title:
    Code:
    <title>A flexible home study route to the Transport Manager CPC  Training for Transport Manager CPC and related transport courses</title>


    Live webpage title:
    Code:
    <title>Home Study CPC for Transport Managers  Training for Transport Manager CPC and related transport courses</title>


    Make your on-page edits and give Google time to update the SERPs before you make additional edits. SEO is partially a waiting game (make edits... wait for Google to respond... repeat as needed...).





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  • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
    First off, I should point out that all the discussion about duplicate content issues is from people who do not really know what they are talking about. Patrick Stox wrote an excellent article about it a couple months ago that I think everyone should read - The Myth of the Duplicate Content Penalty.

    Second, as Yukon alluded to, there are quite a few on-page SEO elements that you should be implementing. We published an article a couple months ago that outline all of them - How to Achieve Perfect On-Page SEO.
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  • Profile picture of the author dunb01
    Thanks for your help Yukon. So me furiously making changes as and when I see them is not really helping! Is there an general rule on timescale you are aware of?

    Dave, again thanks for suggesting the two articles. I will grab myself some coffee and have a good read.

    Cheers!
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