Losing Rankings & Need Help

[journeybeyondtravel]

Hi Guys, I am not sure if anyone else is suffering from the July 4, 2013 update. I know many of us are awaiting to see what happens once the dust settles. I have a couple of issues/questions/statements below. This is the first time any Google update has every affected me negatively and I'd love some ideas or input.

1. I have ranked quite well for nearly 10 years for all my top keywords. Now, after this update, I am disappearing for my top keywords in the SERPS - definitely getting pushed to page two, etc. Can anyone help me discover the reasons? I have a great SEO expert helping me and I know quite a bit, but this has me baffled. My website is Journey Beyond Travel.com I have read MOZ's ranking factors for 2013 and also the recently published report from SearchMetrics. In the last few days, I've added more quality text to the homepage and shortened my page title on the homepage (although Google has been changing my homepage browser title to put my brand name first in the title - and they haven't for my competitors).

Over the past few months, I've really cleaned up my link profile to the best of my ability. I've never really taken part in any negative or black-hat practices. I am trying to get more links that use my 'brand' name rather than exact anchor text. I believe I have a natural profile - any thoughts?

2. One thing I notice is the higher ranking of larger brands now (at least in my field). Just because a domain with higher authority creates one page of content, how can that outrank me? I mean, I've got ten years and 600+ darn good articles of content on my website. How can one domain that is very 'general' (for example, well known in the world of travel and not specialized or niche like mine) outrank me? How can it be that Google allows larger brands to outrank smaller ones just because they have more backlinks and domain authority, but no real content to support these pages? Is content truly king? I am thinking about an article: "Google, Brands, and the Death of Small Business Online." Anyone wish to collaborate here? I am not being hatelful or resentful, but I foresee the day when an 'alternative' search engine emerges, doesn't allow crap ads, allows users more flexibility, and brings search to the next level. Not all of us want the big brands and are searching for alternatives that stand out. I ignore them when I am searching mostly.

Any thoughts or elaborations? Thanks!

[BrightHealth]

First off, sorry that you're running into ranking problems. It's never fun, but always turns into a learning process.

Upon inspection, it seems as though your link profile is lacking a set of links with integrity. Those that come from natural evolution of the lifespan of a linkworthy site. Looking at your link profile, sorting by external links to the root domain shows top links are from directories in large part. Granted, they are directory links with good authority, I would surmise that there are a lot of competitor links you could obtain as well as the ever-sought-after editorial-type links.

You're right. Big brands have these and they will continue to grow in SERP saturation within your vertical. The best thing you can do is be dynamic, target time-sensitive news items, provide better content and build your network of bloggers, social authorities, youtube users and grow your footrpint the right way.

Look to the link profiles my friend.

[journeybeyondtravel]

Hello There,

Thanks so much for your response. You are correct. I do have some quality links but a good portion do come from directories (albeit higher quality ones). I do need to balance those out with some better editorial links, connecting with bloggers, and may even start doing some more YouTube stuff. I will work this into the plan and will stay positive. Thanks so much!

[BrightHealth]

Glad I could help!

Here are some good sources to get your feet wet:

1. Top four ways to earn links with Social Media - White Board Friday
2. Utilizing Footprints - 5 Fundamentals of Large Scale Link Building - WordTracker Resource
3. Broken Link Building Bible - YouMoz
4. Advanced Guide to Link Building - Neil Patel's Free E-book

[journeybeyondtravel]

This is just superb information. Thanks so much for sending it my way. I am going to read through this carefully. I have a lot of work to do : )