Big Google Rankings Drop

17 replies
  • SEO
  • |
I have just had a very big drop in my Google rankings and my business has come to a screeching halt because of it. I went from number 3 to half way down page 2. The only change I made was to change my business address 3 months ago. I changed the address on Google Maps, but did not bother to change the address on Yahoo, Bing, or the other directories. I have since made the changes, but am still on page 2. Could this be the cause of the drop, or is there another likely issue? How long will it take to get back to page 1 if this really is the problem? Here is my website:
http://www.charlestontrimaran.com
My keywords are: Sailing Charters Charleston SC, Sailboat tours, Boat Cruise
#big #drop #google #rankings
  • Profile picture of the author thedark
    Maybe some algorithm change, can't see how this is related with your drop in rankings.

    In 2012, my website dropped in rankings. Lost almost all visitors from search engines. After a few months of denial, I start buying visitors from adwords, bing, and other sources. Now I make more money buying traffic than when I had much more visitors from organic search. Rankings went back in time but my main business is around paid traffic now.
    Signature

    Automatically add affiliate links in your website content with Auto Affiliate Links

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11129411].message }}
    • I talked to an SEO guy yesterday that told me the reason for the drop was that I had several unanswered reviews that had been there for quite a while. He said that Google will punish you for that severely. Is this true? I have responded to all of the reviews, and corrected all of the misinformation on the directories. How long does it take Google to forgive my error? I run a sailboat charter for hire out of Charleston. Business has stopped.
      My keywords are: Sailing Charters Charleston SC, Sailboat tours, Boat Cruise, Sail Boat for hire
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11130999].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
        Originally Posted by CharlestonTrimaran View Post

        I talked to an SEO guy yesterday that told me the reason for the drop was that I had several unanswered reviews that had been there for quite a while. He said that Google will punish you for that severely. Is this true? I have responded to all of the reviews, and corrected all of the misinformation on the directories. How long does it take Google to forgive my error? I run a sailboat charter for hire out of Charleston. Business has stopped.
        My keywords are: Sailing Charters Charleston SC, Sailboat tours, Boat Cruise, Sail Boat for hire
        I have seen zero evidence of that ever. I would say he is wrong about that.

        Hell, most business owners don't even know how to find the reviews to respond if they wanted to.

        Changing an address can have a big impact. Google weighs citations pretty heavily in local rankings, so if all the major directories out there have a different address, that can be a problem.

        It can be weeks for Google to notice that you changed those.

        There also could be something else holding you back, but like you said you recently changed the address so that is the most likely culprit.

        I would probably start putting money into AdWords if you are not already while you wait for Google to notice the directory changes.

        I would also consider signing up for Yext. That will give you easy control of your listings in all the major local directories. There are 60+ in there that you can change in seconds.
        Signature

        For SEO news, discussions, tactics, and more.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131029].message }}
        • Thank you so much for your help. I have gone with a company called Synup to handle that service. They only do 41 listings, but they tell me that the changes are permanent. I read that Yext changes the listings back as soon as you stop paying them. I will start an Adwords campaign today. I am curious if people click on Ads for services like sailing charters for hire. I know I always bypass the ads and go to the organic search results.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131048].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
            Originally Posted by CharlestonTrimaran View Post

            Thank you so much for your help. I have gone with a company called Synup to handle that service. They only do 41 listings, but they tell me that the changes are permanent. I read that Yext changes the listings back as soon as you stop paying them. I will start an Adwords campaign today. I am curious if people click on Ads for services like sailing charters for hire. I know I always bypass the ads and go to the organic search results.
            Yext does change some of them back, but if it is bringing in money, there is no reason to stop paying them.

            Yext has made some exclusive agreements with some of the directories. The only way to get in or modify the directories is through Yext.


            People click on ads for anything and everything.
            Signature

            For SEO news, discussions, tactics, and more.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131083].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dzohny
    There was an algorithm update on the 25th, almost 100%. Still not confirmed by Google, but all the big SEO names (Moz, Ahrefs, etc) have written about it already. It must have been :/
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131006].message }}
    • My Google drop for the Keywords Sailing Charters in Charleston SC for hire happened about a week before that update.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131086].message }}
  • I have a situation this weekend that might get me out of my jam. I am taking a fashion blogger on a sailing charter for hire. This girl has 250,000 followers on Instagram. They are going to take all kinds of photos on the sailboat with beaches and sunsets with Charleston in the background. Do Instagram posts have any impact on SEO? Is there anything specific I should ask her to post as far as keywords and naming me @Charlestontrimaran ?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131118].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jamie3000
    How clean is your backlink profile?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131319].message }}
    • I don't know. I have put Charleston Trimaran Sailing Charters all over the Internet over the last year. How do I find out?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131325].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author jamie3000
        Have you paid for any links? Any spammy looking links in web master tools?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131332].message }}
        • I have not paid for any links. There is however 1 link that I don't recognize. It is houltz.se . I cant find it on Google, but it is certainly not a sailing charter site.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131442].message }}
          • I have found the links and they do look questionable. How do I get rid of these links?
            http://blog.houltz.se/themes/index.p...C3739608776991
            http://blog.houltz.se/themes/index.p...23&FORM=SEPAGE
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131444].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
              Originally Posted by CharlestonTrimaran View Post

              I have found the links and they do look questionable. How do I get rid of these links?
              Sailing in Charleston SC -
              Sailing in Charleston SC -
              In all honesty, I wouldn't worry about them.

              They are more likely to just be ignored than cause any kind of a penalty or ranking decrease.

              If you really want to, you can submit the URLs to the Disavow Tool inside Search Console.
              Signature

              For SEO news, discussions, tactics, and more.
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131463].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
                Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

                In all honesty, I wouldn't worry about them.

                They are more likely to just be ignored than cause any kind of a penalty or ranking decrease.

                If you really want to, you can submit the URLs to the Disavow Tool inside Search Console.
                Yeah, with the new Penguin, they will be ignored if they are bad. If there is a huge pattern of bad links in the profile, a manual action by Google might occur, which is why I said to check Search Console, which you did.

                I wouldn't worry about just two links but if they are really bugging you, disavow them, like Mike said.
                Signature
                BizSellers.com - The #1 place to buy & sell websites!
                We help sellers get the MAXIMUM amount for their websites and all buyers know that these sites are 100% vetted.
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11132233].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
    It could definitely be the change of address and if so, Google should eventually adjust. It could also be an algorithm hit. I assume you have Search Console and you have checked there to see if Google has left you any "love notes" about a manual penalty. You should also use the Panguin Tool and see if your decline occurred at approximately the same time as an algorithm change.
    Signature
    BizSellers.com - The #1 place to buy & sell websites!
    We help sellers get the MAXIMUM amount for their websites and all buyers know that these sites are 100% vetted.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131348].message }}
    • I do have search console. Fortunately, Google has not left me any love notes.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11131447].message }}

Trending Topics