Page 1 on Google, lower than expected visitors

lakitu · 17 Mar 2013 at 15:20

I am currently 1st on Google.com and google.co.uk for a couple of keywords which total global monthly search results of 450,000.

I have only been top for a couple of days but my visitor count is averaging about 50 visits per day. Is this normal considering how many people are searching the keywords? Will this likely increase greatly in the near future? It just seems like I should be expecting more visitors as 15,000 people per day are searching my keywords which I am placed 1st.

Redrum · 17 Mar 2013 at 16:33

Are you sure you're first and Google isn't just putting you first when you search because they know you go through to that site a lot? They do this sometimes. If you haven't already, I'd try the search again using your browser's private browsing mode.

You can also log into Google Webmaster Tools to check how many impressions you're getting (and how many clicks in case your tracking has malfunctioned).

fez · 17 Mar 2013 at 16:43

First question is what does your website do and what keywords are you targeting?

lakitu · 17 Mar 2013 at 17:12

Thank you for that. I've just checked and I'm top of page 2 so this might explain why I have so little visitors.

lakitu · 17 Mar 2013 at 17:13

fez said:
First question is what does your website do and what keywords are you targeting?

We repair and service wrist watches. keywords 'watch repair' and 'watch repairs'

AHarvey · 17 Mar 2013 at 17:53

Timpson for me is first for "watch repairs"..

lakitu · 17 Mar 2013 at 17:58

AHarvey said:
Timpson for me is first for "watch repairs"..

Thanks AHarvey, I can see I am not as high up as I thought, top of page 2 is good though and I hope to build on this. I guess this explains why I only get 50 uniques a day.

aln · 17 Mar 2013 at 20:18

lakitu said:
Thanks AHarvey, I can see I am not as high up as I thought, top of page 2 is good though and I hope to build on this. I guess this explains why I only get 50 uniques a day.

Anything outwith top 5 will barely even register as a legitimate choice to me unless I'm trying to find something really specific which I know exists but can't find.

dmsims · 17 Mar 2013 at 21:07

If I have the correct site!

You have no Meta description

http://www.phpjabbers.com/seo-tool.php

AHarvey · 17 Mar 2013 at 21:41

it'd probably be easier to just tell us the site so people can advise help. You aren't promoting your business, your asking for dev advice

lakitu · 17 Mar 2013 at 21:58

The website is www.watchrepairuk.com I don't want to appear to advertise as I'm honestly not. I would like advice on whether or not 50 unique visitors a day is normal for the position I am for these keywords.

Does the meta description make a difference to google rankings? should I add some keywords to this meta description?

dmsims · 17 Mar 2013 at 22:37

Meta description is certainly used by Google and you should use it.

Keywords are not used any more

rsatd · 18 Mar 2013 at 12:32

It depends on a more things then how top you are, if you search for my domain, its first on the list, but that doesn't mean its popular

Ewaf · 18 Mar 2013 at 13:07

Firstly, if you are using Google Keyword Tool to see that search volume, I guarantee you are doing it wrong. Make sure you have the check box on the left under Match Types ticked to "exact" (not broad). Also, I would only really pay attention to Local search volume as opposed to Global.

I would focus on sorting out your Onsite SEO, I can see you do indeed have missing meta descriptions, as well as lots of duplicate page titles. You also have a couple of 404's:

http://watchrepairuk.com/battery-reseal/ (linked to from homepage)
http://watchrepairuk.com/services/battery-replacement/battery/ (linked to from here: http://watchrepairuk.com/watch-services/battery-replacement/)

This is just after 30 seconds of looking. I would recommend giving SEOMoz guide a read:

http://www.seomoz.org/beginners-guide-to-seo

EDIT: You are using WordPress? It looks like you don't have an SEO plugin installed, this is the best one: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-seo/ . Google for guides on how to set it up.

lakitu · 18 Mar 2013 at 18:10

Ewaf said:
Firstly, if you are using Google Keyword Tool to see that search volume, I guarantee you are doing it wrong. Make sure you have the check box on the left under Match Types ticked to "exact" (not broad). Also, I would only really pay attention to Local search volume as opposed to Global.

I would focus on sorting out your Onsite SEO, I can see you do indeed have missing meta descriptions, as well as lots of duplicate page titles. You also have a couple of 404's:

http://watchrepairuk.com/battery-reseal/ (linked to from homepage)
http://watchrepairuk.com/services/battery-replacement/battery/ (linked to from here: http://watchrepairuk.com/watch-services/battery-replacement/)

This is just after 30 seconds of looking. I would recommend giving SEOMoz guide a read:

http://www.seomoz.org/beginners-guide-to-seo

EDIT: You are using WordPress? It looks like you don't have an SEO plugin installed, this is the best one: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-seo/ . Google for guides on how to set it up.

Hi Ewaf, thank you for your advice. Do you do this for a living? Are you able to help me? I'm not so hot with IT stuff.

Ewaf · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:02

Yes I'm an SEO Consultant at an agency. Happy to answer any SEO related questions you have

lakitu · 19 Mar 2013 at 06:59

Ewaf said:
Yes I'm an SEO Consultant at an agency. Happy to answer any SEO related questions you have

Thank you Ewaf!

TheAlex · 21 Mar 2013 at 20:28

I can back up everything Ewaf has said (at least so far

).

I'd recommend you target some 'longer tail' search terms. You'll be more likely to rank on page 1. Particular brands perhaps, or something like [vintage watch repair]. If you've checked Exact match in Google's Keyword Tool by now you'll have seen there are only 210 searches a month in the UK for [watch repairs], so is it even a term worth ranking for?

Some of your links go to http://themeforest.net/, so sort that out. Also, stuffing your keywords in as many places as possible (I see 'repair' an unnatural amount of times) doesn't work these days.

With the YOAST plugin that Ewaf recommended, make sure the title tag on each of your pages is unique. As you have the same keywords on every page, all of your pages are competing against each other. Registering with Google Places, listing your address on the Contact page (or even on every page in your footer) and having the title on the Contact page as something like "Manchester watch repairs" will help you rank in the Manchester area.

As for the Meta Description, most SEOs believe it DOESN'T make a direct difference to your Google rankings. BUT - it displays in the search results and should entice someone to click through to your site. Searched for keywords appear bold on the search engine results page and getting more clicks can lead to you rising up the rankings (but you can't game this yourself, Google will know!).

There's another minute or two of help.

lakitu · 22 Mar 2013 at 06:58

Thank you for your help TheAlex. All made sense. I installed YOAST last night and it looks great. There is a lot of room for improvement but it will take me time. I will update in a few weeks/months on the progress.

lakitu · 23 Mar 2013 at 14:09

If I type 'Watch Services' I notice the top result shows an image in the description. Does anyone know who to do this? Surely this would attract attention.