Order in which Factors are applied in the Google Algo

Trying to make sense of big changes in SERPS through the update

[BikeMan]

The previous update had seen my site slide from page 2 of the SERPS to nowhere. Didn't bother me too much because I was sure that the problems with the index/algo would be sorted out and I would be back probably on page 1 with the links I had added.

Having monitored this update closely I have seen myself not listed in the top 100, 94th, 8th and now 56th for my main two key word search term.

checking for allinanchor: for the search term lists me 9th on the SERPS.

Keyword density is no more nor less than other pages on the first page.

PR is similar to other sites listed on the 1st couple of pages of the SERPS.

Links are obtained from almost the same sites.

Title Tag contains the search term

H1 Tag with the search term.

Good quality content

No cloaking, hidden text used

As I am quite lost as to where I am losing out I am hoping someone with a clue as to how the algo works would be able to shed some light.

[BikeMan]

I am seeing the same thing.... but why?

What is the factor that they have now taken into consideration that has put the site back up where (if I may say so... <grin> ) it belongs.

While I am happy to be back on the 1st page I would also love to figure out what has changed.

Or did removing the font size tag from within the H1 tag do the trick?

[nippi]

I have styled <h1> tags to make them smaller with no problem, even through most recent google updates.

What I have noticed, is any site I manage with a search term in the url has all of a sudden taken a big jump.

Internal pages especially.

Anyone else noticed this?

[jaffstar]

Bikeman,

The weird thing is, I dont have a H1 tag on my homepage, and I am ranking right at the top.

From what I have learnt, do not use a font size tag for H1, rather CSS to help clean up the code.

I had redesigned my entire site trying to do "something" to get back up there. Luckily that site will remain on ice now.

The only thing I can confirm is the reduction in links for me from about 500 to 108 with the recent updates.

[needhelp]

After having read about semi-penalty and such...I've noticed that for the 4 major keywords where I ranked #1-#2 for so long and now have been dropped or disappeared, these are the same 4 keywords that I ask everyone who wants to link to me use in their anchor text. Coincidence? I know it makes no sense since these 4 keywords describe my site's content perfectly, so logically would be the best ones to use for anchor text to tell users what the site is about before they actually click to go there, but looks like perhaps Google is penalizing for repeated anchor text? I know, I know, that doesn't seem right, but huge coincidence don't you think? My site is totally clean, so the anchor text is the only thing I can think of. The #1 site now for my keywords has lots of variations on the anchor text of inbound links, and has survived this fiasco, so...

[steveb]

needhelp, where do you rank on those terms for allinanchor:keyword?

As of yesterday Google changed my allinanchor ranking dramatically, apparently just correcting an error it had made. It wouldn't surprise me if you weren't getting credit for the anchor text that you should.

[needhelp]

well, i hate to say it, but allinanchor for major keywords shows me at #1...but allintitle & allintext, which used to show me as #1-#3, show me as no where to be found...so now I'm totally confused since my content and title are pretty darn good...any thoughts? anyone? ugh! I guess the anchor theory was wrong?

[James_Dale]

My guess is that whilst you might rank perfectly well for allinanchor: you have lower PR than your competitors? Allintext and allintitle are different though.

Some observations for my phrases:

1. Allintitle, I'm seeing a typical three word phrase used in a title of 7-9 words.

2. A definite boost for sites with variety of inbound link text. i.e. instead of one hundred thousand inbound links for "pig widgets", they might have an equal proportion, say 50000 inbound links for "frog widgets", and some others.

3. I'm also seeing a boost for sites with varying description (surrounding link) text. i.e. some sites will say "pigwidgets.com - offering pigs, widgets, and pig-widgets for all the family.", whilst others will say "PigWidgets - we're blinkin' pig widgittin' mad", etc. Varity seems to be the key.

4. Pages I'm seeing at the top have an average of 200 words body text, with a typical two-word keyphrase mentioned around 7 times, i.e. a density of around 7%

5. I'm also seeing, across those phrases, an average of one example in bold, one example in italics, several in link text, one in an H1 (yep, still seeing those), and H2's.

[needhelp]

james_dale, my pr is same or better. one site that ranks very well has high keyword density, but varies anchor text alot. I've changed my index page to be less dense, and have gotten lots of anchor text changed..let's see if it works and I'll report. I'm also participating on adwords now... while things are messed up. IMHO, this is sad. So many good sites getting bombed, not just falling in ranking, but getting devastated, and we can't figure out why...especially since we thought we were following all the rules!

[needhelp]

quick update: back to great rankings today (yesterday nowhere to be found). Had asked link partners to vary anchor text,lowered index keyword density big time, and got rid of all but 1 <H> tags. Not sure if it was just timing and I could have just waited without doing anything, or if the changes actually did anything. For now, I'm not touching a thing, until...I'll report if I get lost again, even with the new changes (which means I'll put everything back to the way it was)