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Black Hat being Used by Competition - What to do?

by caligirlseo
10 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hey all,

Would anyone be interested in analyzing a couple of competitors I am having trouble trumping in Google Places results?

I've look at the results with Market Samurai, analyzed their details and Google Places listings, and the source code.

One of the sites has almost NOTHING going for it: No age, no PR, no backlinks, no amazing information, just some overused techniques that supposedly go against Googles best practices guide. It's in the #2 position.

The #3 position site has some of the weirdest code I have ever seen, and I'd love a pro's opinion on what the guy is up to.

PM me for the name of the sites, as I'd rather not promote them here.

Thank you,

Katy
#black #competition #hat
  • Profile picture of the author connorbringas
    Well its always hard to measure competitors backlinks because no site ever shows all of them..in the first place.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Grant
    Send me the URLs, including your client's, and all the keywords.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Are you sure you are talking about a google places listing?
      That has absolutely nothing to do with backlinks or any other SEO.
      Just like google maps. It's not about a website. It's about
      location and relevancy. Toss in ratings/reviews. Has nothing to do with
      a website or not. It's about business name, description, address, etc.
      Oh and the right category.

      Unless of course you don't really mean google places.

      Paul
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      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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      • Profile picture of the author Brad Callen
        Originally Posted by paulgl View Post

        Are you sure you are talking about a google places listing?
        That has absolutely nothing to do with backlinks or any other SEO.
        Just like google maps. It's not about a website. It's about
        location and relevancy. Toss in ratings/reviews. Has nothing to do with
        a website or not. It's about business name, description, address, etc.
        Oh and the right category.

        Unless of course you don't really mean google places.

        Paul
        Ya if they are beating you out in places it's because they have a better profile and/or more citations.. Yellow Pages, Yelp, Local, etc. local is a good way to get a lot of traffic right now.

        If you want to learn more about local check out: http://www.localseoguide.com
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        • Profile picture of the author caligirlseo
          Hi Brad,

          I have spent a few months on quality citations, yet my clients Google Places page has not picked up any of them. If anything it has lost citations in the "More about this place" section.

          I've followed many of the suggestions and guides yet the citations are still not being shown.

          A mentor of mine who has done wonders for many dentists, has noticed the lack of citations she has attempted to create for her clients the last 6 months.

          Any information on this?


          Originally Posted by Brad Callen View Post

          Ya if they are beating you out in places it's because they have a better profile and/or more citations.. Yellow Pages, Yelp, Local, etc. local is a good way to get a lot of traffic right now.

          If you want to learn more about local check out: Local SEO Guide — Local search engine optimization blog
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  • Profile picture of the author Dr.faizan
    hmm Few months for local citations? I would suggest to build a good profile.. may be you are already having a better profile. Localseoguide.com is very good guide for all the local seo information. My advise check the other sites links where they are coming from and try and get links from the same site. May be it will help.
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    • Profile picture of the author ferriswannabe
      I have had some success using the following -

      a) some keywords in Company Name Box ( but not too spammy )

      Ex. KEYWORD(S) by NAME OF COMPANY

      b) some keywords in description box

      c) After selecting 1st appropriate category, then make your own for the following ones with your keyword phrases

      d) On the ADDITIONAL DETAILS section on the bottom, you know where the example is

      Brands carried       : Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba.

      Well, I do this

      Keyword : More Keywords

      Do this on each one, there 8 sets, so 16 total variations of your keywords

      And of course 100% completion of profile with all videos and pics etc.

      I have several A and B spots with this method, but I also have one that's not even in the 7 pack. So it may or may not work, but it's definitely worth a try. The one that's not in the 7 Pack was a new business, new website, no citations, so I'm sure if your client has some info floating around the web, it may do the trick.

      Good Luck
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  • Profile picture of the author jacky212
    If you are talking about local listings, it is simple to rank first, just include more information about your company or websites in the profile. You can rank high in a matter or days.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Originally Posted by jacky212 View Post

      If you are talking about local listings, it is simple to rank first, just include more information about your company or websites in the profile. You can rank high in a matter or days.
      Has nothing to do with it. Unless you are talking about tweaking the nature of
      your business to be more exact. But then editing your listing will take a long
      time to be seen. Do your listing right the first time.

      It's all about location, relevance, and reviews.

      Ranking high is based on those factors, which are mostly out of your control.
      Unless you get a bunch of friends to start doing stellar reviews.

      Some of you people are not talking about google places, but SEOing a
      regular search result.

      Paul
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      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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  • Profile picture of the author thesweetspot
    Google is really going for those local citations, optimization with right keywords and reviews. Also, you have to keep your local profile in google updated.
    My first suggestion is optimization
    second-local citations
    third-if you can get reviews it really really helps.
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