#1 on Google? How the hell can this be?

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Sparksman

So, there I was looking at the possibility to rank for my local (UK) town electrician, when I see this site (link below) ranking at #1 for the main search term exeter electrician (even above any Google places listings.)

Looking at the site it is very, I mean VERY basic: Only 4 pgs, No T&C's, Privacy etc. (which I thought was good for SEO)

When I looked at "View Page source" I can't even see any keywords listed.

The only thing I can see that can possibly be helpful for SEO, is the domain name and the images!

How can this be? Any SEO gurus out there want to take a look, dissect the info and report, I'd be grateful for the insight as to what's going on here...thanks.

Website: localelectricianexeter(dot)co(dot)uk
NOTE: Search was done via Google.co.uk

Well as far as I know, google has admitted that it doesn't use the keywords-tag for ranking anymore.
Also T&C and privacy might help your SEO efforts, but are surely not mandatory for good rankings

Getting the exact match domain is a very big factor in ranking well.

I don't have time right now to check the site and all the factors, but if you say that the images are helping, then I guess their alt-text has been optimized and then probably the rest of the onpage seo has been done well too.

Also, did you check the backlinks of the site?
Those are the most important factor, although onpage seo might be enough to rank for low-competition terms already.

Thanks

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RichardHK

13 years ago

Well he has got plenty of keywords (electrician/electrics/electrical) scattered throughout page that Google and others have no doubt what the site is all about. Coupled with domain name its #1 rank seems Ok - but check the competition for their use of these words too.

To outrank this one you can try a good meta description, meta keywords (for Yahoo & Bing perhaps), and a good keyworded h1 heading. Check his keyword density on page and match or exceed that as long as not too much. Oh, and more content would help too perhaps. (Along with that privacy/etc)

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suemax

13 years ago

So the site is ranking number 1 for "exeter electrician"?

Or is the site ranking number one for "LOCAL exeter electrician?" If so, I fear that the long tail keyword "Local Exeter electrician" has a pretty low search volume. Why would I type in "local"? I don't think I would......

Thanks
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iklanbarisclassified 13 years ago

I haven't checked the site but I think they might have lots of backlink..Please Remember..backlink is very crucial for SEO..
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- LynnM 13 years ago
  
  If you do an seo analysis of the keyword with Traffic Travis, it shows that there are only two sites in the top 10 with the correct title tag. So maybe that's an important factor for Google? He doesn't have the keywords in either the description or H1 tags either. And he has only 2 backlinks - the other site with the title tag, which is sitting at number 7, has none.
  
  So in theory if you add the keywords to the title, description and H1 tags, and add a handful of backlinks, you'll outrank the other sites in the top ten for "Exeter electrician".
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  M Thompson 13 years ago
  
  I ranked for the term Townnamebeauty with the kubrick theme and the hello world post after i forgot about the domain.
  
  I had lots of beauty salons below me when I finally realised I owned it. There is no figuring out google sometimes.
  
  As soon as i made it into a proper site with unique content it dropped to #3 DOH!!
  
  Thanks
  
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Sparksman

13 years ago

Originally Posted by suemax

So the site is ranking number 1 for "exeter electrician"?

Or is the site ranking number one for "LOCAL exeter electrician?" If so, I fear that the long tail keyword "Local Exeter electrician" has a pretty low search volume. Why would I type in "local"? I don't think I would......

Hi Sue, Yes, No.1 for "exeter electrician", not "Local e..e...". As you say, peeps wouldn't search for that term, too much me thinks!:confused:

Thanks

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Sparksman

13 years ago

Thank you all above for the generous feedback. I appreciate it very much. It may have brought up more questions than answers but it's all good.

Conclusion? King G is a law unto itself and there's no reasoning it sometimes eh? I guess the main thing, on reading all your posts though is: The more SEO you do the better. It certainly can't but help!

Thanks again Warriors!

Thanks

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Moxil

13 years ago

Pretty low competition for 'exeter electrician'. According to Google keyword tool, only 390 monthly searches.

Thanks
1 reply

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M Thompson 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Moxil

Pretty low competition for 'exeter electrician'. According to Google keyword tool, only 390 monthly searches.

perfect for a local business then! That's a lot of potential new clients each month
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Sparksman

13 years ago

Hey guys,
Quick update...I've taken the plunge and purchased a domain name for this local niche. So, now gonna SEO the hell outta it, and then see if I can get it to rank well. (#1 hopefully!,) then sell advertising space on it. Wish me luck! I'll keep ya posted on progress, for anyone interested!

Thanks again for all the feedback guyz.

Thanks
1 reply

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M Thompson

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Sparksman

Hey guys,
Quick update...I've taken the plunge and purchased a domain name for this local niche. So, now gonna SEO the hell outta it, and then see if I can get it to rank well. (#1 hopefully!,) then sell advertising space on it. Wish me luck! I'll keep ya posted on progress, for anyone interested!

Thanks again for all the feedback guyz.

Can i suggest that you do 1 thing at a time , then leave it for a few weeks...

Get the basic onpage seo done to start with then leave it. you might be surprised at the good results you can get without "SEOing the hell out of it"

Thanks
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Sparksman

13 years ago

Originally Posted by M Thompson

Can i suggest that you do 1 thing at a time , then leave it for a few weeks...

Get the basic onpage seo done to start with then leave it. you might be surprised at the good results you can get without "SEOing the hell out of it"

Hi Mark... Thanks for the headzupp...will do.

I intend to use a WP theme, with the usual SEO plugins..etc. I will then see where it "lands naturally" before moving onto the back-links stage.

Thanks
2 replies

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Moxil

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Sparksman

Hi Mark... Thanks for the headzupp...will do.

I intend to use a WP theme, with the usual SEO plugins..etc. I will then see where it "lands naturally" before moving onto the back-links stage.

It'll probably only take a few backlinks from authority sites to rank well.

Thanks
1 reply

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Steve Solem 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Moxil

It'll probably only take a few backlinks from authority sites to rank well.

I didn't dig too deeply, but I don't see much special about the two incoming links there.

What does seem a little unusual, is using the keywords in the filename of the page background, and of course he's got lots of other images with different keywords in the alt text and the file name.

I'm really surprised to see this ranking so well with so little copy on the page though - so much for keyword density! :confused:
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M Thompson

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Sparksman

Hi Mark... Thanks for the headzupp...will do.

I intend to use a WP theme, with the usual SEO plugins..etc. I will then see where it "lands naturally" before moving onto the back-links stage.

That will probably be enough, I've ranked #1 for some sites with hundreds of thousands of competing pages with just a keyword based domain name, a good quality optimised article and a handful of social bookmarks.

Thanks

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jimmytazz

Banned 13 years ago

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Moxil 13 years ago

Originally Posted by jimmytazz

hmm yup its on first on Google.co.uk , and i believe this is the magic of thousands backlink coming to it from forums or articles..

Actually not. I checked the backlinks when I checked the search volume for the keyword, and I saw that they only have 2 backlinks.
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App Developers

13 years ago

Sometimes google doesn't make sense. But since it is such a low targeted word I think you would be able to move up quickly by building up your back links and keywords. I have a similar story for my keywords and I am working on moving up to number 1 spot.

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andymayhem

13 years ago

Ha I live about 20 miles away from Exeter and was thinking about targeting the local businesses here. Will leave you to it though.

Thanks
1 reply

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Sparksman 13 years ago

Originally Posted by andymayhem

Ha I live about 20 miles away from Exeter and was thinking about targeting the local businesses here. Will leave you to it though.

OI YOU!!, Get orf my land! LOL A fellow Devonian Warrior eh? Cheers Andy.
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- andymayhem 13 years ago
  
  Would love to hear how you get on though!
  
  Thanks
  
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Always-A-Warrior

13 years ago

And now Google has giving local businesses more boost with Google Boost.

Thanks
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Genesis1 13 years ago

Make some more nice unique content, google will love you!
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Anthony_Hall

13 years ago

I bet you what is helping is that the main keyword Exeter electrician is showing up in the first sentence on the page.

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Steve Solem

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Anthony_Hall

I bet you what is helping is that the main keyword Exeter electrician is showing up in the first sentence on the page.

Yeah - but that's pretty common and that's the only place it's used on that page...except for within image filenames and alt text. :confused:

That page has so little copy and the keyword density is awful with just the keywords in that first line - I think Sparksman needs to call him up and ask him what his secret is!

Steve

P.S. renaming my images to include keywords today just in case it helps, and getting a new background i can name and use too. Couldn't hurt!

Thanks
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Anthony_Hall

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Steve Solem

Yeah - but that's pretty common and that's the only place it's used on that page...except for within image filenames and alt text. :confused:

That page has so little copy and the keyword density is awful with just the keywords in that first line - I think Sparksman needs to call him up and ask him what his secret is!

Steve

P.S. renaming my images to include keywords today just in case it helps, and getting a new background i can name and use too. Couldn't hurt!

Every little bit counts I guess? From what I understand so far about SEO and what hasn't been mentioned so far that would be my best assumption.

Thanks

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Sparksman

13 years ago

Wow, This thread still very much alive... Thanks again all for your input! This site really does seem to be causing a stir. Everything about it says it should not be ranking at #1 (Ironically, we are now pushing it's hit rate up, by all going to take a looksie!:rolleyes

Originally Posted by Steve Solem

That page has so little copy and the keyword density is awful with just the keywords in that first line - I think Sparksman needs to call him up and ask him what his secret is!

Steve

P.S. renaming my images to include keywords today just in case it helps, and getting a new background i can name and use too. Couldn't hurt!

My site is almost finished and I shall be looking over the next few days to see where it lands in the rankings. (I have even re-named my BG image too Steve!)

I have done some more digging and the web design Company link (bottom right) is Vector 7 and it boasts SEO and page 1 guarantees for all it's clients. The only thing I can see that may help is a UK directory they seem to be "partnered" to called UKHomeguides. Maybe I'll call them up posing as a potential client and ask them to tell me how they do it!!!:confused:

Thanks

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dp40oz

13 years ago

I would say you could outrank this page in no time.

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Anna Howard

13 years ago

Well might be the back linking to your website would have been that strong....... Thats why your website is appearing on the first page of google.......

Thanks

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Sparksman

13 years ago

I thought I'd post a quick update... That site I mentioned in my original post is still defying all reason and stays at the top. I have checked and it only has two back-links too!

I have now done my site and after two weeks or so now, it's hovering around page 12-15 on Google. How can i get it up to the top?

I have it as SEO'd as I can see for now, but it does now need more BL's i guess?

I am getting some Crawl errors show up in Google Web Master, so need to sort them out too, I assume. Any tips to get my site up the rankings will be gladly received.
That Website at #1 is making me lose sleep now!LOL

Thanks

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AppsFromHome

13 years ago

Sparksman - definitely keep us updated.

Yesterday I published a targeted local site (300 searches) with proper on page factors, plugins, word press, etc..just like you and today.....it sits on the first page at number 6.

I'm very excited about it and planned to backlink today but Mark is making me think twice about it....I don't want to hurt this rating but need it to be number 1. We're in this together, let me know how you do and I'll report the same. I am currently doing this with about 6 local sites with varied results.

Thanks
1 reply

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tamarindcandy

13 years ago

Google's weird like that. I threw in a certain key phrase that I didn't think much of, and it appears just once on the whole website. Voila, a few days later, it's now on the first page of google for that key phrase.

Thanks
1 reply

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Bishops

13 years ago

Sparksman, I don't know what domain you have registered, however having an exact match domain in this instance (for a low search volume keyword), would help greatly.

Then a simple 4/5 page site, with a few articles written/submitted and a few backlinks should almost guarantee the No.1 spot in around 2-3 months.

If I was in your position and wanted to dominate the No.1 spot for the term "exeter electrician" I'd buy the domain exeterelectrician.org.uk (which is currently available). Google gives preference to a site in the UK which ends either co.uk or org.uk.

Thanks
1 reply

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Sparksman

13 years ago

Originally Posted by SDotSpells

Sparksman - definitely keep us updated.

Will do SDotDpells!

Originally Posted by V1NNY

Sparksman, I don't know what domain you have registered, however having an exact match domain in this instance (for a low search volume keyword), would help greatly.

Then a simple 4/5 page site, with a few articles written/submitted and a few backlinks should almost guarantee the No.1 spot in around 2-3 months.

If I was in your position and wanted to dominate the No.1 spot for the term "exeter electrician" I'd buy the domain exeterelectrician.org.uk (which is currently available). Google gives preference to a site in the UK which ends either co.uk or org.uk.

Hi V1NNY,
I have purchased a domain name which contains exeter and electricians and ends with .co.uk . It's been made in WP and has two full pages of articles, both with around a 800+ wordcount.
3% KW density on both.

I am now currently working on BL's! Will it really take as long as 2-3 months?

Thanks
2 replies

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Bishops

13 years ago

You may hit the first page sooner but you will probably bounce around in regards to your SERP rankings. With experience I've found that it takes an average of around 2-3 months for a new site (low search competition) to be 'trusted' by Google and for it to find it's true ranking.

There is an exact match domain on the 1st page (ExeterElectrician ending co.uk) which is a simple 5 page site, with no content apart from "This Website is for Sale..." and it has zero backlinks. So you can imagine what you can achieve with an exact match domain, with relevant content and some backlinks.

Thanks
1 reply

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Ian Malone

13 years ago

Originally Posted by V1NNY

You may hit the first page sooner but you will probably bounce around in regards to your SERP rankings. With experience I've found that it takes an average of around 2-3 months for a new site (low search competition) to be 'trusted' by Google and for it to find it's true ranking.

There is an exact match domain on the 1st page (ExeterElectrician ending co.uk) which is a simple 5 page site, with no content apart from "This Website is for Sale..." and it has zero backlinks. So you can imagine what you can achieve with an exact match domain, with relevant content and some backlinks.

That is deferentially the way to go "exact match domain" for local businesses especially if it is low competition but high search results and get your client ranked in google maps for total domination lol

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MaverickUK

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Sparksman

Will do SDotDpells!

Hi V1NNY,
I have purchased a domain name which contains exeter and electricians and ends with .co.uk . It's been made in WP and has two full pages of articles, both with around a 800+ wordcount.
3% KW density on both.

I am now currently working on BL's! Will it really take as long as 2-3 months?

It typically takes my websites a month or two until it stops doing what we call the Google dance. When you stop seeing drastic rises and falls in your rankings over a short period of time, that's when your site has stabilised; however as you add more backlinks to it over time, you'll notice that rankings may drop but a week later be on the first page as opposed to the bottom of page two for example.

The site i mentioned in my above post was actually half way down page two around two weeks ago (i stopped backlinking) and now after adding a few more quality backlinks it's now sitting on the bottom of page 1.

Thanks

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build

13 years ago

You should be able to outrank this easily enough.

Thanks

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jamiedot

13 years ago

looks like the site has been sold to a local electrician who has seen it drop in the SERPs from #1 when they bought it, down to #24 on page 3 now.

the o.p. says there was a link FROM the web designers, but that link has gone and the only remaining inbound link comes from a directory.

observations:

the web designers withdrawn link had a PR of 3 so that missing link is a huge loss for the exeter electricians website.

no description tag. BIG MISTAKE.

no H1 tag any more. MISTAKE.

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Loopholemarketers

13 years ago

man i saw a site ranking number 1 that was literally one page long, less than 100 words of content, off centered banner, and one picture....smh

all it had was an exact match domain, and the keyword in the title tag...

as a matter of fact here it is: friscopainting [dot] com

exact match domains are huge in local search

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MaverickUK

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Sparksman

So, there I was looking at the possibility to rank for my local (UK) town electrician, when I see this site (link below) ranking at #1 for the main search term exeter electrician (even above any Google places listings.)

Looking at the site it is very, I mean VERY basic: Only 4 pgs, No T&C's, Privacy etc. (which I thought was good for SEO)

When I looked at "View Page source" I can't even see any keywords listed.

The only thing I can see that can possibly be helpful for SEO, is the domain name and the images!

How can this be? Any SEO gurus out there want to take a look, dissect the info and report, I'd be grateful for the insight as to what's going on here...thanks.

Website: localelectricianexeter(dot)co(dot)uk
NOTE: Search was done via Google.co.uk

Are you referring to Exeter Electrician If you are, these guys are a joke. They rank for quite a few of the towns in the South and have little to no backlinks, domain age, content quality et al. Their rankings seem to be based on... well... utter bollocks.

It took me 4 months to rank first for Electrician Essex and my friend got thousands of pounds a month of work just from this one income source alone - it's worth the effort you put in, in the end. Now i'm trying to rank for Electrician Bournemouth and just about on the second page - a lot more work to go - d'oh.

On another note, i've been trying to rank for "Houses to rent in Runcorn" for a while now, at the bottom of the first page on Google and all of the other sites above me in the rankings have NO backlinks (whilst my page has 74, albeit a lot of them are from the same domain), decent domain authority and an okay domain age. They're out rankings me based on the latter two reasons, which is a little annoying.

Google is mysterious, but it works on a general rule of thumb - stick to it and you'll be outranking these 'lucky' buggers no time.

Thanks

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seabro

13 years ago

OP - would you share your domain? even if you use snipurl to hide it on this forum. Maybe you can get some pointers regarding SEO

Thanks

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