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Why am I being penalised for this keyword variant?

by jamie3000
7 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Interesting little Google quirk I've found for my website. My main keyword for this target page is Bulk Moz DA Checker

https://www.supagrowth.com/free-bulk-moz-da-checker

I don't rank anywhere for it. My homepage actually ranks higher way back on like page 6 or something. The page isn't in the index for that keyword. Now...change it slightly to

Bulk Moz Checker

I'm on the first page. I know it's not a competition difficulty problem because my homepage appears.

Why would Google do that for such a small variant ??
#keyword #penalised #variant
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    Because either onpage optimization or backlinks on your site. Because of what your competitors are after. Apparently more of them want to rank for Bulk Moz DA Checker than for Bulk Moz Cheker.

    It's not a little variant.
    Bob slaps Jill. Jill slaps Bob. Small variant?

    One word more or less changes a lot in the world of online searches.

    If I rank high for
    mortgages Niles IL
    should I rank high for
    mortgages Niles MI

    Really small variant there, 2 letters changed, but...

    Originally Posted by jamie3000 View Post

    Interesting little Google quirk I've found for my website. My main keyword for this target page is Bulk Moz DA Checker

    https://www.supagrowth.com/free-bulk-moz-da-checker

    I don't rank anywhere for it. My homepage actually ranks higher way back on like page 6 or something. The page isn't in the index for that keyword. Now...change it slightly to

    Bulk Moz Checker

    I'm on the first page. I know it's not a competition difficulty problem because my homepage appears.

    Why would Google do that for such a small variant ??
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    • Profile picture of the author jamie3000
      I'd agree if my homepage didn't rank higher for that term than the target page ;-)
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      • Profile picture of the author DABK
        Home pages tend to have more links to them... all kind of links... Which means they often end up being shown over pages meant for a particular keyword fo that keyword.

        Originally Posted by jamie3000 View Post

        I'd agree if my homepage didn't rank higher for that term than the target page ;-)
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  • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
    I'm with DABK here.

    Do a search for Whitney Houston - one set of results

    Do a search for Coke - another set of results

    Do a search for Whitney Houston Coke - a completely different set of results

    One word can make a huge difference.

    Oh, and just because you don't rank where you think you should for a KW phrase doesn't mean you have been "penalized". It just means that Google's algorithm thinks there are better results than yours.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulgl
    Everyone should know ways of to check whether google gives a rat's behind about certain searches. If not, man up.

    Anyway, it is very clear that google could give a rat's behind about bulk moz da checker.

    When you do nonsense searches for nonsense "keywords," it's a crapshoot.

    Penalized would be a nonissue.

    For your next project, do something on investment opportunities in nigeria.

    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 jamie3000
      Thank you for your...advice...very helpful.
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    • Profile picture of the author jamie3000
      On the first page now, think it was just a blip/me not letting the page settle. Thanks for input all.
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