WTF happened to my rank? I was #2-3-4, now # 86?

26 replies
  • SEO
  • |
So Ive been working the past months on SEO, and I optimized my site to **** and got my site to rank # 3. I do notice that ocassionally its been going back and forth between like # 3 and # 8-9-10, but I assumed it was a Google Dance, right?

Anyhow, last night my site was at # 86... I checked it again and its still at this number (sescout).

My key gets 22,000 local us searches, competition isnt to bad, EVERYTHING on my site is from my head, nothing copied. I broke down the top 3 sites, and cross checked their tactics to mine and revised to optimize it to make it looksimilar.

Im about 4-5 months new to SEO, but managed to get my site to this # 3 position and felt proud of myself. But now im kinda pissed off...

Is this just a massive google dance, or ?
#happened #rank #wtf
  • Profile picture of the author Theory5
    Whats the site URL? Its not an autoblog is it?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3416869].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author allenjohn
      Could actually be a good thing. Could bounce back to #1. Be patient. One word of caution: Too much SEO too quick can make Google a little gun shy. Start to panic if "yoururl.com" returns a zero result. Only then do you know you're toast... regards Allen
      Signature

      Make Money with Niche Blogs Auto Profit - Let us build YOUR auto blogging empire for you. BUY BACK GUARANTEE for Gold Orders! FAQ - NEW! - One Way Link Building Service

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3416904].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Dresden14
        Allen.,

        My results are in tact when I do a "myurl.com" search. Ive been trying to quality as opposed to quantity. Kinda pissy about this, but ill update with progress or the outcome.

        Originally Posted by allenjohn View Post

        Could actually be a good thing. Could bounce back to #1. Be patient. One word of caution: Too much SEO too quick can make Google a little gun shy. Start to panic if "yoururl.com" returns a zero result. Only then do you know you're toast... regards Allen
        Signature
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417163].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
    Without actually seeing the site my best guess is that your still dancing. Now if you stay at number 86 for like a week or two then you need to start worrying. In my experience, when I get sand boxed I got to the very end of the search results (I'm talking like DEAD last) so unless your sitting in that position I wouldn't be too concerned unless you stay there for a long period of time.

    Have you changed anything on the site as of late?
    Signature
    You're going to fail. If you're afraid of failure then you do not belong in the Internet Marketing Business. Period.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3416886].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jordan Kovats
    Your dance could be longer than 2 weeks. I just went through a 2 month dance for one of my terms. My legs are a little tired, but at least I came back.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3416916].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author theemperor
    Check this - google seems to give different results if you are logged in versus not logged in, and depending on your actual geo location, any geo location in the query string and the geo extension e.g. .co.uk versus .com.

    Yes also there is the google dance, and the sandbox. But in the long term the sandbox is something you come out of.

    Signature
    Learn to code faster, and remove the roadblocks. Get stuff done and shipped! PM me and I can help you with programming tutoring, specialising in Web and the following languages: Javascript ~ HTML ~ CSS ~ React ~ JQuery ~ Typescript ~ NodeJS ~ C#.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3416955].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    I'll show the Google Dance when you start always remember to put your left foot in then take your left foot out ....

    Actual stats for one keyword phrase.


    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
    PS, Your position will balance out soon just try to enjoy the ride.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417002].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jordan Kovats
    What software is that? Your Yahoo rank stinks!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417014].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bhola badshah
    wait little bit and see the final results, this happens )
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417103].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    The software is Free Keyword Rank Checker Tool for Google, Check Keyword Position on Yahoo, Bing

    If you notice I was #2 on Yahoo at one time. I keep trying different SEO methods
    testing what works and what effects the other SE's.

    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417113].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rcritchett
    Hmm... like someone else asked, are you autoblogging?

    You said it was right from your head.. so that implies both that you're not autoblogging and your content is not scraped (two things the big G are targeting right now).

    There's so many variables. Have you built massive links fast?

    Do you have links from bad link neighborhoods? Places where links are pointing to each other, and to your blog or money site, that are totally irrelevant and offer no value?

    When people type searches using the keywords you're targeting, do you think that your website is giving them what they want? Or are you just trying to drive traffic for other purposes?

    Google pays particular attention to how long people stay on sites as well as whether or not people hit the back button and go back to the engines to continue their search.. meaning your site didn't deliver.

    If all of those things are straight and legit, though I find a dance of that capacity a bit nuts, it could be a dance.
    Signature

    We do mail-in iPhone Repair Services, Nationwide in the US. LCD/Digitizer Glass Replacement And More.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417159].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Dresden14
      You mean like interconnected link wheels? Most services on these forums interlink dont they? If your asking if alot of my links interconnect, then yes.

      As for my site, I put alot of verbage on it. Hell, I'll give you the URL (www DOT consolidate DASH debt DOT org).



      Originally Posted by rcritchett View Post

      Hmm... like someone else asked, are you autoblogging?

      You said it was right from your head.. so that implies both that you're not autoblogging and your content is not scraped (two things the big G are targeting right now).

      There's so many variables. Have you built massive links fast?

      Do you have links from bad link neighborhoods? Places where links are pointing to each other, and to your blog or money site, that are totally irrelevant and offer no value?

      When people type searches using the keywords you're targeting, do you think that your website is giving them what they want? Or are you just trying to drive traffic for other purposes?

      Google pays particular attention to how long people stay on sites as well as whether or not people hit the back button and go back to the engines to continue their search.. meaning your site didn't deliver.

      If all of those things are straight and legit, though I find a dance of that capacity a bit nuts, it could be a dance.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417183].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author rcritchett
        Originally Posted by Dresden14 View Post

        You mean like interconnected link wheels? Most services on these forums interlink dont they? If your asking if alot of my links interconnect, then yes.

        As for my site, I put alot of verbage on it. Hell, I'll give you the URL (www DOT consolidate DASH debt DOT org).
        I'm asking if you have links from irrelevant websites. NOT here in the forum but from websites that OFFER NO REAL VALUE through content, and are there for the purposes of linking.

        Additionally, you have 10 thousand something inlinks. That's great, but a lot of the sites linking to yours are filled with ads and seem a bit confusing.

        Quality of links matters now more than quantity. If you have 100 super relevant authority sites linking to your site, organically and because the blog or website owner believes it's valuable to their readers or visitors, you'll kick the crap out of search ranking in a super positive way.

        Who knows. I only checked out a handful of your links and where they were coming from.

        I've studied this extensively, however, over the last year and there's no secret why this is happening to many people. We all know Google has implemented some heavy search algorithm changes in favor of their favorite word, quality. Could this have something to do with this? Maybe. Is it just dancing around? Maybe.

        Let us know what your page is doing in a couple of weeks! I'd love to see what happens friend!
        Signature

        We do mail-in iPhone Repair Services, Nationwide in the US. LCD/Digitizer Glass Replacement And More.

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417376].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author 4morereferrals
          We all know Google has implemented some heavy search algorithm changes in favor of their favorite word, quality. Could this have something to do with this? Maybe. Is it just dancing around? Maybe.
          Well I still come across far too many serps where they are dominated with anything BUT quality... to accept this notion wholesale that Google has instituted some new'ish algo change that is all about sifting top quality content up to the top ....
          Signature
          Rank Ascend Network - High PR Links / Guaranteed Rankings Increase
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417699].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author BishopMartin
        Originally Posted by Dresden14 View Post

        As for my site, I put alot of verbage on it. Hell, I'll give you the URL (www DOT consolidate DASH debt DOT org).
        I think the problem is that your website contains 8 pages of low quality content that provide no real value.

        I don't even have to read your copy to know this - the headings alone give it away.

        "To begin the consolidate debt process" should probably be phrased as "To begin the debt consolidation process".

        "Here are a few key benefits to a debt consolidation programs:" try "Here are a few key benefits of a debt consolidation program".

        Its a thin crappy site that does not deserve to rank 3rd for any term. BUT apparently it deserves to rank 4th cause thats where I see it at right now on a search for "how to consolidate debt". Congrats!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3430994].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Dresden14
          Update.. I suppose it was a google dance from hell? Anyhow, it's at position 4 now going back and forth between 3-4. But it gets scary when you work work work on seo - it climbs, then gets kick down...
          Signature
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3432773].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jhonsean
    Everyone experiencing this kind of situation. As an seo we must have efforts and patience in order to survive in the competition.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417314].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author chasnsx
    Google is doing a new thing that folks are calling the shuffle. If you refresh Page 1, Google goes into your browser history and delivers up relevant sites that you have been to before. This was how I found my site on Page 1 while the rank checkers told me I was on Page 5 or 6. All of a sudden I thought I was on Page 1 for three longtails that were worth 40k to 60k searches a month each, and then I wondered why I was not seeing a huge traffic increase.

    If you google your own site, clean your browser first, get rid of all the cookies, do not log into Google, or better yet, use someone else's computer to get the real story.

    If you want an accurate, neutral check on your Google position, go here: Google Rank checker Rank Finder Position checker Google Position Checker
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3417874].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author jonrpatrick
      I'm having the same thing this week. Over the past several months my site's been steadily climbing Google.... been on page 1 or top of pg. 2 for a while, but suddenly, this week, I drop. webmaster tools says I've lost about 400 backlinks, while my seo firefox tool says my google backlinks are 7. Yes, 7.
      In my checks, I turn up page 4 now.
      I'm trying to be patient to see what happens, but geez...

      JP
      Signature
      TrimDown Global
      Weight Loss Affiliate program, pays to 3rd level, FREE to Join, No Autoship! Now in Pre-Launch!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3418049].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author rvdp
        That graph you showed is great. Anyone else with similar ones to show what the Google Dance actually looks like and how it converges to a good ranking in the end?

        I'm experiencing just the same as you did in early January. Going from #100+ to #12, back to #100+, back to#11 and so on, even within hours. So hope I will keep sticking in the top 10 as well like you did within a short time. Thanks for giving me hope lol!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3418564].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Dresden14
          As for my backlink quality, when I first starte to do this I blew it up with xrumer and blog posts. However, the past few months its been nothing but web 2.0s, and the more expensive services on here, wickedf and bhw. I was ranking #3, it would ocassionally go back and forth between like 3-, 10, 3, 10, and numbers in between - but im just a bit pissy to wake up to see an 86 position.

          As for the google shuffle, im aware of it - I use proxies or vpns to check my rank (but im also subscribed to sescout). IT kinda sucks seeing I dropped alott money on services. I dont see why it droped dramatically the way it did overnight

          When I search for my domain, it is there- so I suppose i wasnt sandboxed or anything

          \

          Originally Posted by rcritchett View Post

          I'm asking if you have links from irrelevant websites. NOT here in the forum but from websites that OFFER NO REAL VALUE through content, and are there for the purposes of linking.

          Additionally, you have 10 thousand something inlinks. That's great, but a lot of the sites linking to yours are filled with ads and seem a bit confusing.

          Quality of links matters now more than quantity. If you have 100 super relevant authority sites linking to your site, organically and because the blog or website owner believes it's valuable to their readers or visitors, you'll kick the crap out of search ranking in a super positive way.

          Who knows. I only checked out a handful of your links and where they were coming from.

          I've studied this extensively, however, over the last year and there's no secret why this is happening to many people. We all know Google has implemented some heavy search algorithm changes in favor of their favorite word, quality. Could this have something to do with this? Maybe. Is it just dancing around? Maybe.

          Let us know what your page is doing in a couple of weeks! I'd love to see what happens friend!
          Signature
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3419930].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Corvinus
    I think the best thing you can do is be patient and continue on doing what you think is good for your site.

    @Michael
    great tool...
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3420066].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author derh
    Same thing is happening to me...highly frustrating....I've been told it's all about consistency...keep building regardless of what google's doing
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3420107].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rcritchett
    Look man, look everyone, stop.

    Why is it that I never have a problem with this?

    Why is it that in all of the SEO clients I've ever had, I've never had this challenge? And why, even now, with the recent search algorithm tweaks that took place around January 25th, I still, and the people that I'm affiliated with, dominate in the engines?

    I never have done anything other than organic SEO, period.

    Sure, other methods will help a computer system to, based on signals, display your data closer to the top of the results on the engines, but does it stay like that? And better yet, what kinds of ups and downs do you have to deal with?

    It's no secret. So many people are way to "quick rank" conscious that they're completely blind of the fact that deep down, they're not organically building votes, popularity and quality links.

    Listen, if my blog, and 10 other blogs that talk about internet marketing, start linking to your blog with the anchor text of your choosing, based on words you want to rank for, you'll rank, stay ranked and others will have a hard time getting you out of there. That isn't the only factor, but it still appears to be king.

    How is that achieved? You get out of the DARK, and start interacting with people in your niche. If you're about being shady (which is another word for stupid in this context), you'll always deal with crap from the engines.

    Though they can't human edit everything, they build signals that can.

    I would fall inlove with this post if it stopped the nonsense posts about these new search algo shifts and people started realizing that there IS a way to NEVER get tossed around the engines, it just takes longer and requires more genuineness.
    Signature

    We do mail-in iPhone Repair Services, Nationwide in the US. LCD/Digitizer Glass Replacement And More.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3426320].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dburk
    Hi Dresden14,

    This sounds like classic QDF (Query Deserves Freshness).

    This feature of Google does a mind trick on a lot of folks that are new to SEO. You see your page ranking high up in the SERP and you begin to think that you have really earned those rankings. Next thing you know your page has dropped to position #86 and you are wondering WTF?

    Bottom line, this is normal fluctuation for new pages that haven't been around long. A temporary boost from QDF sends your page to near the top of SERP then, when it wears off, your page drops to it's current earned position.

    Now it's time to go out and earn the higher rank by a solid promotional effort.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3426478].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author rcritchett
      Originally Posted by dburk View Post

      Hi Dresden14,

      This sounds like classic QDF (Query Deserves Freshness).

      This feature of Google does a mind trick on a lot of folks that are new to SEO. You see your page ranking high up in the SERP and you begin to think that you have really earned those rankings. Next thing you know your page has dropped to position #86 and you are wondering WTF?

      Bottom line, this is normal fluctuation for new pages that haven't been around long. A temporary boost from QDF sends your page to near the top of SERP then, when it wears off, your page drops to it's current earned position.

      Now it's time to go out and earn the higher rank by a solid promotional effort.
      This could, to the converse of what I'm saying, be the case.
      Signature

      We do mail-in iPhone Repair Services, Nationwide in the US. LCD/Digitizer Glass Replacement And More.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3430521].message }}

Trending Topics