gadget26
msg:4464636 | 12:22 am on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
netmeg: Fine. Thanks for all your help. I'll go away now. I've been talked down to enough for one day.
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Planet13
msg:4464647 | 1:40 am on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
| netmeg: Fine. Thanks for all your help. I'll go away now. I've been talked down to enough for one day. |
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even though netmeg is the last person on this board who needs someone to stick up for them, I am gonna stick up for her anyway (hopefully I won't embarrass myself too much).
netmeg's advice on this forum has probably been the main reason that I come back to theses boards (along with the advice from a select few others). Peel back the emotion, and everything she says makes sense.
Yeah, I hate being kicked to the curb by google as much as anyone on this board. But the way I see it, I've only got two choices; call my mom up and have her console me and tell me that everything is going to be fine, or get some REAL advice that will help me become impervious to the whims of google.
Doesn't seem like that hard of a choice, really.
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netmeg
msg:4464876 | 12:36 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
Sorry, gadget26. Good luck to you.
(thanks, planet13)
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Planet13
msg:4464909 | 1:17 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
I totally sympathize with gadget26 (which I am sure you and everyone else who has posted in this thread does to). And I totally want to see him or her succeed.
But I think that all of us who have been affected have to check our emotions and realize that everyone on this forum who is trying to help is doing so VOLUNTARILY. And for that, I am truly grateful.
Yeah, there are a couple people on these forums who give off the impression that they are mostly here to try and solicit clients, but even those people can't help themselves and often give out constructive advice for free.
It sucks being kicked to the curb by google. But we have to be thankful for EVERYONE who is trying to help, whether we like the message or not.
(Besides, nobody is allowed to give attitude to ANYONE who used to hang out with the Ramones.)
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atlrus
msg:4464966 | 2:30 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
netmeg:
| If someone came up behind you and held a gun to your head and told you you have five seconds to name three compelling reasons why you're better than all your competitors, could you do it? |
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I don't think Google works on this principle. I wish it were.
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danimalSK
msg:4464967 | 2:30 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
I've (or my company - where i'm responsible for SEO) recovered from Panda, and has not been hit by Penguin. Basically my strategy was to ignore Google and build up other traffic sources; Facebook, Twitter, iPhone app, Droid app, referrals through widgets, partnerships, affiliates etc. I haven't looked at GWT in months (seriously). Since basically saying "f*ck Google" our traffic has never been better (or more diversified).
Site is pretty big, around 6m UVs / month, 30m+ PVs.
Our business has never been better. Google's dying anyway, it's time to embrace the new platforms / traffic sources.
BTW we also haven't touched +1 with a bargepole. Huge waste of time. Despite Google asking me several times to implement it!
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danimalSK
msg:4464971 | 2:34 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
Sorry, should have also stated we invested a lot in building a better product / user experience / customer support (i.e. #*$! that users and customers care about). No investment in SEO at all.
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netmeg
msg:4464985 | 3:17 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
| I don't think Google works on this principle. I wish it were. |
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See I think it does, or at least it's trying to. I'm always running across really great companies with really lousy (or best, really bland, or routine) websites. There's nothing wrong with the company, and there's nothing really wrong with the websites, except they don't adequately point out what makes the company (or website owner or the content) special.
And I'm of the opinion that if you can't convince the users you're special at first glance, you're going to have a hard time convincing Google too. Because the sites look like all the others, and there's no reason to think it's different.
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davedm
msg:4464988 | 3:34 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
Yes there is - Google.
Pretty much every update in the last two years has been self serving; if not to boost the prominence of their products then to make life hard for those that compete by pushing them down.
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Planet13
msg:4465010 | 4:22 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
| I don't think Google works on this principle. I wish it were. |
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There was a recent video featuring googler Maile Ohye where she stated that the biggest SEO mistake sites make is not having a unique value proposition. She lists that as "mistake number 1" so it is probably important in google's eyes.
Check the 20 second mark at:
[youtube.com...]
Hope this helps.
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Planet13
msg:4465012 | 4:25 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
| Pretty much every update in the last two years has been self serving; if not to boost the prominence of their products then to make life hard for those that compete by pushing them down. |
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Yes, they are a profit driven company; it would be foolish for them NOT to be self-serving. And I would be a fool if I didn't try and push my competitors down (by elevating our business).
We have become too entitled upon google to provide "free" traffic to our sites. Now look at us. We are full of bitterness and resentment. We've got no one to blame but ourselves.
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bobsc
msg:4465017 | 4:38 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
| There was a recent video featuring googler Maile Ohye where she stated that the biggest SEO mistake sites make is not having a unique value proposition. She lists that as "mistake number 1" so it is probably important in google's eyes. |
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I think a UVP is great to have.
However, what's unique about:
Low prices
Free shipping
Great customer service
Are you going to rank higher using these terms?
I doubt it.
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Planet13
msg:4465025 | 5:27 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
Are you going to rank higher using these terms?
I doubt it. |
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I think that if you have a compelling UVP you will get more natural links and you will get more mentions / linkless citations in authority sites, which probably will lead to better position in the SERPs.
Also, IF google is taking user metrics into account, then I think that having a compelling UVP will lead to better user metrics, which will also boost position in SERPs.
Are these guaranteed results? Nope.
But since a compelling UVP is good for boosting sales and should be done anyway, I don't see why it shouldn't be a priority.
I think it is also important that the UVP is CLEARLY presented to visitors - both through on page design and off-page branding.
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bobsc
msg:4465034 | 5:36 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
| Also, IF google is taking user metrics into account, then I think that having a compelling UVP will lead to better user metrics, which will also boost position in SERPs. |
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Having a VP in meta description definitely should help get the click.
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Planet13
msg:4465051 | 6:17 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
| Having a VP in meta description definitely should help get the click. |
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Great point!
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Scurramunga
msg:4465163 | 10:53 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
I have a similar experience as planet13. Many user improvements since being hit by the original panda. The better I make the "user experience" and increase the conversion rate, the more my traffic drops.
When I study the sites that outrank me, I'm stunned by how bad many of them are. I have no idea where to go from here. |
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After reading this and some of the other posts above I felt compelled to post, as I too fit into this category.
I am referring to two websites here which I will dub 'site A' & 'Site B'. Site A is my main website which saw a drop in traffic by around 80% by April. Both sites had overlapping content and were located in separate physical locations.
Early in May, I merged A & B, consolidating, streamlining and de-optimisng to create a more positive user experience and win back rankings. I used proper redirects and followed recommendations made by Matt Cutts etc.
By the beginning of June, traffic began to steadily climb somewhat to about 30% to pre March levels, before plummeting again. Traffic is still declining and will (at this rate) will fall back to where it had fallen in April (or worst)
I am out of ideas and am tired of chasing my tail.
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andrewshim
msg:4465164 | 10:56 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
| I am out of ideas and am tired of chasing my tail. |
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Panda chewed my tail. Penguin ate it up. There is no more tail to chase. Am going to sit tight for a while to see how the serps pan out. Then a revamp is in the works... but this time... hopefully never... to depend on Goog again.
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Scurramunga
msg:4465171 | 11:20 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (gmt 0) |
| ...but this time... hopefully never... to depend on Goog again |
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Yes. I guess the emergence of social mediums is a blessing in disguise.
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