Disappearing from Search Results? Then You Must Read This...

For keyword stuffing, title cramming and low quality content, I found a listing on Etsy that makes for a great example of what Google will frown upon. Please note, this is in no way intended as an affront to anyone nor to diss a competitor (I don't buy or sell jewelry with the exception of a few one-time pieces). This is merely for the purpose of providing an example to hopefully make things clearer:

TITLE: Beautiful Picasso Black Czech Dangle Earrings, Black Earrings, Black Picasso Dangle Earrings

On top of that, the description for this item is seriously lacking and stuffs a list of keywords at the end that should have been incorporated in the paragraph as part of the "conversation" describing the earrings:

• This pair of unique and versatile dangle earrings are complete with beautiful picasso black round czech coin beads (16mm) and hypoallergenic surgical stainless steel earring wire. Earrings measure approximately 1 1/4 inches from the top of the ear wire.
  
  Modern, Retro, Chic Black Dangle Earrings.

The SEO practices used in the above example simply are not going to work for this listing. With Google rolling out all of these updates over the past few years, this listing is seriously suffering in search results. I tried various searches and found the following:

• Beautiful Picasso Black Czech Dangle Earrings, Black Earrings, Black Picasso Dangle Earrings (exact title) -- Top result
• Black Czech Dangle Earrings -- Not found within first 5 pages, but another Etsy seller has the 6th spot.
• Black Picasso Dangle Earrings -- 3rd result
• Black Dangle Earrings -- Not found within first 10 pages.
• Chic Black Dangle Earrings -- Not found within first 5 pages, but one of this seller's other listings for a different pair of earrings with that exact title are found in the 6th spot (but not in any other search).
• Modern Black Dangle Earrings -- Not found within first 5 pages.
• Retro Black Dangle Earrings -- Not found within first 5 pages.
  

While the exact title had the top spot and "Black Picasso Dangle Earrings" had the 3rd spot, who searches for similar earrings using those search terms? The last four sets of search terms are more likely being used when searching for a pair of black dangle earrings and this listing failed to be found within the first 5 pages.

Notice how the seller's listing titled "Chic Black Dangle Earrings" popped up in the 6th spot, but didn't point to the listing I was looking for. It's also worth noting that this listing did not appear anywhere within the first 5 pages of any of the other searches (first 10 pages for the "Black Dangle Earrings" search).

Yes, the jewelry market is a highly competitive one, but if better SEO practices are used, you have a better chance of being visible in organic searches. As you can see, between the title and description, the title seems to be the most important factor. Somewhere in the links I've provided, Google even says to tell the bots within your title what the item is and, in this case, that would be "black dangle earrings."

In this example, it would be more effective sticking to a simple title like "Black Dangle Earrings with Czech Beads" without any descriptors that Google bots find irrelevant to the product type (ie, beautiful, unique, versatile). Expanding on and complimenting the title with a longer description that incorporates all related keywords in a conversational paragraph or two might peak the attention of the Google bots because it is of higher quality. That way they're not just relying on the title alone when matching search terms.

As the title and description are currently written with the keyword stuffing, title cramming and low quality description, they are obviously written for SEO only, not to provide the browser any value. That is something Google also specifically mentions somewhere in the links I've provided -- if it's obviously written for SEO purposes only, then the Google bots will ignore your page.

So, you need to provide quality content that makes sense to users and something written for SEO purposes only is considered nonsensical, low quality content by the Google bots. So, when writing your titles and descriptions, just keep in mind that Google is sincerely trying to produce better quality results that will engage and make sense to users.

That means no more keyword stuffing, title cramming, short descriptions, low quality content, or duplicate content. Using multiple instances of keywords is still encouraged by Google, but only in a conversational manner that makes sense to the reader and relates to the listed product, whether in your title or description. Although, there should only be one instance of a keyword in the title and it should start with the product type (ie, black dangle earrings).

In the description, using bullet points and then repeating that content in paragraph format is no longer acceptable as it is now deemed to be keyword stuffing. While bullet points are still acceptable, the description paragraph(s) should include other long tail keywords and descriptors. Leave the bullet points for things like size, dimensions, material, and key features (ie, zippered pockets) that aren't easily seen or summed up in paragraph format.

Yes, the paragraph should still mention things like key features and material, but include that info in a different manner, using different keywords and descriptors than what's in the bullet list. Plus, the bullet list should ONLY include key points and NO descriptors. For example, "ornate buttons down the front" should be in the paragraph and "button front" should be in the bullet list.

Anywho, I hope that helps clear things up a bit. I'm going to research my own listings to see how they do in search results and may provide more examples. Particularly as I change things where necessary to appease the Google bots since it will give me a before and after sample to provide. Of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them because, like I told kenoticket, that's what we're here for.

Catcop, there are a lot of words here in this thread throughout posts.....it is the length that more than likely is feeling difficult and/or the unknown words that have been mentioned or both......but it is not as bad as what it appears to be.

We are among friends here. The beauty is that we can take our time in understanding and friends want to see friends succeed in overcoming an obstacle.

___________________________________

Nicole, I'm this close to doing away with bullets...

This is all so distressing. When I manage to get my internet back, I'll catch up on all the links and decide what to do.
Thanks for all the footwork on researching this...

Moms....

This is pretty revealing...just got this in email on the Bonanza Store.
From June 2 to June 8
• 205 total visitors -12%

•194 new visitors i.e. 94.6% of total -12%

•295 pages viewed -23%

•Your average visitor spent 1 minute and 49 seconds on your site +1%


I've only had 16 booth views this week. And 5200 item views. Shaking my head here.

PickyChicky Yep, I'm deciding to do away with bullets other than on rare occasions. No big deal for the ones that are there right now though.....just no new ones for me.

I had to include in my email for Presto to add the end part (the div part) of the nocontent to my boiler plate....it did not go in there the first time around. I noticed that after the fact. Now it is in there.

Here is Presto's response back:

"PrestoBiz response: 06/10/2014

Hello Sharon,

I am glad to help.

Google does not give any weight to the meta description when it comes to page rank. The meta description has been discontinued because it is not visible content on the page.

It was tricky to accomplish in a "bulk update" but I managed to move the "</div>" to the end of all of your boiler plate content. In response to your question, the ending "</div>" is required because otherwise Google continue down the page skipping content below your boiler plate content - essentially it will treat all text below as "nocontent".

Regarding your keywords for the meta keyword box, you will want to format the keywords exactly as you listed them. Keywords should be separated by commas (but no commas should be used other than separating one keyword from another).

Therefore this was perfect: casserole dish,1950s Fire King,1950s glassware,bakeware

Lastly, we have corrected the issue with the word "Newsletter" appearing your meta keywords. The keyword generator will use titlebar content but not grab the last word or phrase in your header content.

Best regards,

Peter C. | PrestoBiz Webmaster"

Well, Here I am. So where do I start?

I guess step one is to look at a large sample of listings on the net and see if they are showing up, and if so, how well.
So that is where I will begin. Getting a late start because of all the craziness ones computer goes through when it is vacationed for awhile and needs a new antivirus program installed to boot.