Why is my local page is ranking better than yellow pages for that particular search?

[Thomaspdt]

My search query is "façadier bastogne" in google.be which in English would translate as "plasterer" and bastogne being the local city I am targeting. I can't seem to understand why my site peintre-plafonneur-facadier-bastogne.be/fr would rank higher than our local directory "Pages d'or" (Yellow Pages) which has a high DA and almost always ranks first for similar searches as "peintre bastogne" (painter)?

Not to mention my site was created by Pages d'Or. How did they manage to rank this so high whereas if you look at it you'll see that they have not made any SEO work on it whatsoever.

Could anyone help me understand this or tell me which way to look in order to get that information?

I really need this as I am paying a lot to this directory for my site and was planning to launch my own WordPress website.

[Nigel_Carr]

Hi Thomas

I would be very proud of myself that I am number 1 for that term to be honest.

Simply that Google serves the most relevant result from what is listed in the search results. Clearly, for this term, your website is more relevant for the term façadier bastogne than the Yell equivalent beneath you.

Don't forget this, you are a plasterer based in Bastogne whilst Yell is a listings directory. Forget the DA this has little to do with that. It is because your website is more relevant and more useful for the searcher. A directory will just list professions and locations so their results are more diluted - you are a plasterer and you are in Bastogne, great result!

Don't forget also that your site is receiving some benefit from the Yell site because of the link from them to you - this is a 'follow' link which of course passes some link juice to you as a very relevant back link so their listing is helping you be number 1.

I would think very carefully about dropping your listing from them as you might just see someone else jump over you for that coveted top spot.

I hope that helps.

Regards

Nigel

[Thomaspdt]

Thank you!

You've been really helpful indeed. I know it's very risky to remove our website out of the listing, but the thing is we currently pay a 8,000 euros a year just for being in their listings and they're supposed to do SEO, write articles but you cannot see one article on it.

I've recently started a carrer in SEO and created this wordpress website facadesetpeintures.be. Don't you think I could do better and maybe regain that #1 position by creating valuable content.

And when you look at the search results of "facadier bastogne", you have like 4 adwords results, the local results and only then the website yell made for us.

In this case, even in the first position I would think that we lose a lot of click-through rate opportunities being so low under Adwords and Google my Business.

Plus we summed up the number of client emails coming from Yell in 2016. The number adds up to 8 and we did not even get the contract for all the clients.

At this point, I was thinking of optimizing my wordpress website and making my own Adwords campaigns.

What would you be your recommendation now that I have told you more about our website?

[Nigel_Carr]

If that was me I would not be paying anyone 8000 Euro for a listing - that seems very excessive. There must be other directories where you can list and achieve the same result. So with the new information, I would:

Strengthen the content on my page - if you are learning about SEO then you will know that you must optimize the meta tags and written content which must be minimum 300 words but in your case, I would say 1000+.

I would add images of the town centre with Alt tags saying the name of the town. I would have text and images talking about plastering with images and Alts describing the process.

I would then list the page on a number of other local directories - do not pay! Unfortunately, Whitespark does not cover France (https://whitespark.ca/best-citations-by-city/) but have a look you must have similar directories! Get listed on them and do not pay. Do not forget Google My Business (GMB) Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Pinterest, Flikr, Instagram - get your NAPS (Name Address Phone and Site address) Listed in about 20 White Hat - free directories & Socials - don't list in bad directories or those you have to pay for.

When you have done all of this - it may take a month - dump the paid Yell. Don't do it before.

Then you will be number 1 for sure and for free.

Regards

NIgel

[Thomaspdt]

Thank you again!

I'll follow your advice. I sure did not want to continue paying for the poor service they offer, the only problem I found was this "façadier bastogne" keyword which they somehow managed to rank high. I'll keep working on my new website and let go off theirs.

Your answers were very helpful and comprehensive.

I wish you a good day.

Thomas

[Nigel_Carr]

Hi Thoma

Just make sure you use that Key phrase on your page: façadier bastogne

I'm sure you do - but check,

Thank & Regards

Nigel

[Thomaspdt]

Yes, I sure will

Thank you for caring.

Regards,

Thomas