Why Is this Website Not Ranking?

[AllieMc]

HI There - I have been working on this site: http://limohireauckland.co.nz - primarily for our keyword phrase 'limo hire Auckland' - I am running a campaign for this site from the Pro tools and using the pon-page report card this url achieves an A grade for that particular phrase. The client is working on links in the local community etc but we are not appearing in the SERPS at all for most of the phrases we are optimising for.

There has recently been a huge redesign on the site (approx 6 weeks ago) and the old content was not great.

Am I missing something really glaringly obvious?  Or am I being too impatient?

[jesse-landry]

Couple quick things here:

1.) OSE is showing 3 Linking Root Domains. 3. That's... like... not enough, man. Sorry.

2.) I hate the all-in-one-seo pack. Try Yoast, you'll see a ton of better features for your Wordpress site.

Honestly though, you just need to create some content and build some links. You have very few links at all and the just-discovered report shows zero meaning none of them are recent. Google will not see your site as authoritative until you start resolving this. Also consider launching your Google + pages and all other socials.. Get listed in relevant places (BUT DON'T search for random directories, these won't help.) Only get listed if you truly think a potential customer will come across your link.

Build content, make it great, unique, and authoritative, and gain links organically after shopping around what you offer to relevant niche sites.

Good luck!

[AllieMc]

Hi Jesse,

Thanks for the feedback - unfortunately the client has said they will look after the links! So a bit stuck there.  I have been reading a lot of great stuff about yoast so will update that asap.

Cheers

[jesse-landry]

No problem... what kind of client is this? They want you to get them ranked but don't want you to build links? Those two things can not be separated and you need to explain this to them. That site will never ever be ranked at the rate it's generating backlinks. Period. No matter what Wordpress SEO plugin you use.

Don't expect Yoast to get it ranked. It's just easier to use and more feature-rich, that's all.

You need to convince these guys to let you handle links.. It doesn't make sense to me why they would care at all about this facet. Can you elaborate? My curiosity is piqued.

[AllieMc]

Hi Jesse,

Can't really go into too much detail about the client lol. Suffice to say they have a great local network which they will be tapping into.

Didn't think Yoast was going to be the answer but knew it had greater depth than All in One.

[jesse-landry]

Whatever they have could be bolstered by a true SEO campaign. Local resources and local networks sound like low authority links with little-to-no value.

I sincerely doubt they will succeed with this approach and I can't for the life of me figure why they would care if someone else was building links for them. They do realize I could go out and build links for their site on my own right this second, right? It's not some sort of weird intrusive/sacred ground or anything.... Wish I knew their reasoning but in the end I'd be absolutely shocked and amazed if this campaign succeeded and if I were you I'd respectfully decline knowing I couldn't do anything to help them if I can't even create links as an SEO... ?!

But good luck anyway!!