Penalized for EMD?

by 12 replies
14
So, im kind of confused. I was ranking on the first page for all my keywords until one evening I was dropped back to page 2 for two of my keywords. The two keywords that dropped to page 2 all happen to have a keyword thats in my domain name. I rank very, very well for my other keywords (and even rank well for keywords I dont target) besides from the keyword in my domain. I honestly believe Google is sort of penalizing me for having an EMD. Do you think this is possible? I tried switching up my title description which bumped those two keywords to page 1, then fell back to page 2 a week later. I dont understand why this is happening. I know that based on my link building strategy I should be in the middle of the first page (and indeed I have been for quite some time besides more recently). What do you guys think?
#search engine optimization #emd #penalized
  • Maybe it is a google dance. keep adding content and keep building links.
  • Maybe it`s some over-optimization , but i`m sure your rankings does not dropped because of EMD,EMD it was and still it is a positive factor in ranking.

    Or maybe Penguin is striking again?Who knows..?
    • [1] reply
    • Those were my thoughts-over optimization. Thats why I removed some parts of my title description and my rankings soared. Then it came back to the second page a week later. It's very odd.

      I feel as though I do have some sort of penalty for that keyword and I can't quite pinpoint it!
  • Why not try link pruning, the removing of low ranked backlinks that hurt your site? I think EMD doesn't directly affect your ranking problem.
  • So i went through my site and took down some exact match phrases that i used. We'll see if it helps! I've tried every combination of keywords and im almost positive im being penalized. Im on the first page for every keyword combination except for the one thats in my domain. I took down the sentences on my site that start with the keyword in my domain (although its a little hard since my companies name is actually that keyword-instead I replaced it with We-we'll see if this has an effect).
  • Unless we know EXACTLY what you did, it is impossible to give accurate feedback. Everyone is just guessing, including me by sayig that maybe page 2 is where your secondary keywords belong.
    • [1] reply
    • Would you mind checking out my homepage and giving me your thoughts, if thats not too much trouble? I can message you or email you my URL (since I dont feel comfortable putting it on display).
  • There are so many factors involving you linkbuilding strategics and Googles algo, so its impossible to know. Wait to see if its a dance, and add more content (as u should do regularly).

    My opinion is that it is not related to the EMD.
  • are the 2 keywords including the EMD or the other ones that kept their rank?
    • [1] reply
    • All of them have kept their rank besides the EMD one's which leads me to believe that im penalized for those keywords. Its the only plausible explanation. Oddly enough, the EMD keyword is plural, if you make it singular (take off the s) im one of the first few in the SERPS. This has to be a penalty of some sort.
  • So in case anyone is curious: my rankings soared back up (better than ever actually) after I replaced my EMD keyword out of my title description with "we" (since the keyword is literally the name of my company).

    Some final thoughts: Google really, really dislikes you putting your keywords in your title descriptions more than once. Keep it to one keyword in your description. The less the better. One is ideal though.

    Anyone else experience anything like this?
  • So you used the main keyword twice in the title description? What does that have to do with being penalized for an EMD?
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    Penalized for EMD?

    So, im kind of confused. I was ranking on the first page for all my keywords until one evening I was dropped back to page 2 for two of my keywords. The two keywords that dropped to page 2 all happen to have a keyword thats in my domain name. I rank very, very well for my other keywords (and even rank well for keywords I dont target) besides from the keyword in my domain. I honestly believe Google is sort of penalizing me for having an EMD. Do you think this is possible? I tried switching up my title description which bumped those two keywords to page 1, then fell back to page 2 a week later. I dont understand why this is happening. I know that based on my link building strategy I should be in the middle of the first page (and indeed I have been for quite some time besides more recently). What do you guys think?