I'm I being penalize? I fell off SERP for main keyword

[Nicktaylor1]

I have been making minor changes to my site like fixing 404 pages and adding site maps etc.

I have ranked as high as 3rd for the query 'private equity firms' but now Im showing the site around the 10th page and some times never.

any ideas what could be going on?

[brad.s.knutson]

It looks like you used to have a domain 301 redirect to your domain (pedatabase.com) but that no longer is the case.  I'm showing a lot of links to this domain, even some .edu links.  If Google has disassociated this domain with your domain, you rankings could be dropping as a result.

Of the linking domains in your link profile, many of them link to the pedatabase.com domain: http://www.opensiteexplorer.org/links.html?page=1&site=privateequityfirms.com&sort=page_authority&filter=equity&source=external&target=domain&group=1

[Nicktaylor1]

Thanks for response and link.

But why would I rank for the query 'privateequityfirms' with no spaces on the first page and then rank so far back without spaces?  when its essentially the same query.

Thanks again

[brad.s.knutson]

It's possible that the Google Hummingbird update is assuming that when you search for "privateequityfirms" you are really trying to search for privateequityfirms.com because of a lack of other relevant results.

It's also possible that the fact that it's an EMD has something to do with it.

[Felip3]

Can you place the 301 again?

[Nicktaylor1]

Yes, I can. Im Still not understanding 100%. Did it break?

[Felip3]

Maybe, Links play a big whole on your ranking, and without this 301 you loss big part of your link profile.