Website won't rank in home country (but does in others).

[Jeff_Baker]

I have a bit of an odd scenario for you.

I'm working with a content marketing company based in Sydney, AU**.** Oddly, this web property ranks for almost 4x as many keywordsin the US than the AU. (See attached). It also ranks much more favorably for target keywords in NZ.

This is despite having an AU ccTLD, proper geolocation targeting in GSC, and Google My Business and other NAP citations pointing towards an AU address.

To add to this geo-targeting issue, the site has absolutely bombed in search visibility over the past year. We are talking more than halving our search exposure.

**What's been done: **

1. Sitemap created and submitted.
2. All versions of GSC created and verified.
3. New site structure for top level landing pages.
4. Redirects okay.
5. Internal link structure okay.
6. Robots.txt and other indexing issues fine.
7. Google My Business fixed (Incorrect NAP previously).
8. No duped content.
9. No known penalties
10. Site crawl - no major issues.
11. html lang changed from "en-US" to "en-AU".
12. Reduced load speed by over 100%.
13. Fixed an issue with Yoast creating duped pages for media files (same title tags on orphaned pages).
14. Currently auditing and working through citations.
15. Removed .js banner causing indexing issues.
16. Removed a sitewide footer link from an external site, sending 20k inbound links w/same anchor.
17. http --> https redirects okay.
18. Title tags structured properly, and targeting well-researched KWs.

**Despite these necessary corrections, I haven't seen a blip of life. **

TL;DR,

• Poor visibility in general, especially over the past year.
• More favorable rankings in foreign search (not AU).
• Stumped!

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[kanueui87]

If your website ranks well in other countries but not in your home country, it could be due to several factors. Here are a few areas to investigate:

Geotargeting Settings: Ensure that your website's geotargeting settings in Google Search Console are set correctly for your home country.

Content Relevance: Check if your content is tailored to your home country's audience. This includes using local keywords, cultural references, and addressing local needs or trends.

Local Backlinks: Build more [backlinks] from websites within your home country. Local backlinks can significantly improve your site's authority in the eyes of search engines for that specific region.

Hosting Location: If your site is hosted on servers located outside your home country, it may affect load times and SEO. Consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) or hosting within your country.

Competition: Analyze the competition in your home country. If it's particularly strong, you might need to refine your SEO strategy to better compete.

Technical SEO: Check for any technical SEO issues, such as hreflang tags, that might be affecting how your site is viewed by search engines in your home country.

Local Listings: Make sure your business is listed in local directories like Google My Business and other country-specific directorie.

[jbsiiuhr76]

It's perplexing when a website struggles to achieve high rankings in its home country while performing better internationally. To tackle this issue, begin by reviewing your SEO strategy to ensure it's tailored for local keywords, acquiring backlinks from domestic websites, and creating content that resonates with your target audience in your home country. Additionally, consulting with SEO professionals who understand the search trends and algorithms specific to your region can help refine your strategy and enhance your website's visibility where it counts most.

[jbsiiuhr76]

@jbsiiuhr76 said in Website won't rank in home country (but does in others).:

There are several reasons why a website may not be ranking well in its home country. These include:

Here are some reasons why a website may not be ranking well in its home country:

Technical SEO issues: This could include slow loading speeds, broken links, mobile-unfriendliness, or difficulty for search engines to crawl and index the site.
Lack of local relevance: Search engines prioritize content relevant to the user's location. If the website doesn't have local addresses, phone numbers, or cater to the specific needs of the local audience, it might rank lower.
Content issues: Thin or irrelevant content, keyword stuffing, or content that isn't optimized for the target audience can all hurt rankings.
User Experience (UX) problems: A website that is difficult to navigate, slow to load, or not mobile-friendly will likely have a high bounce rate and be penalized by search engines.
Backlink issues: Backlinks from high-quality websites are a signal of trust and authority to search engines. A lack of backlinks, or backlinks from irrelevant or low-quality sites, can hurt rankings.
Competition: If the website is in a competitive niche, it may be harder to rank for relevant keywords.

[malikbahi713]

It's quite puzzling when a website fails to rank well in its home country but performs better in other regions. To address this, start by analyzing your website's SEO strategy, ensuring it's optimized for local keywords, backlinks from domestic sources, and relevant content for your target audience in your home country. Consider consulting with SEO experts familiar with your region's search trends and algorithms to fine-tune your approach and improve your website's visibility where it matters most. I am also working on a website named capcutgeeks.

[Mprus]

@effectdigital said in Website won't rank in home country (but does in others).:

https://d.pr/i/ddx8Jt.png (Ahrefs screenshot)

Certainly seems like a possibility but would need a lot more work to prove. Basically download all backlinks for the site from all sources (SEOSpyGlass, Moz, Ahrefs, Majestic SEO etc) and then re-crawl to see which ones are live. Split them by origin country, then put metrics (Page Authority, Citation Flow, Trust Flow etc) against all the links and see what 'region' most of the 'authority' (not the link count, the sum of SEO auth) is coming from
That's what I'd do next

Yes, this is an interesting question. Indeed, it is possible that the volume and quality of links from Australia are smaller or smaller than incoming signals from other regions. This could explain why sites from Australia tend to rank lower in search engines.

To prove this, you will need to collect data on all backlinks to sites from Australia. You can do this by using various SEO tools such as SEOSpyGlass, Moz, Ahrefs and Majestic SEO. Once you've collected the data, you'll need to analyze it to determine which links are active and have the most authority.

[jbsiiuhr76]

There are several reasons why a website may not be ranking well in its home country. These include:

• Competition: One of the main reasons for low ranking could be high competition within the same industry or niche. If there are already established websites that have been around for a long time, it can be difficult for newer websites to compete and rank well.

• Poor SEO: Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for website ranking. If a website is not optimized properly, it will have difficulty ranking high on search engines. This includes factors like keyword usage, content quality, and backlinks.
  Technical issues: Technical issues such as slow page loading speed, broken links, and duplicate content can also negatively impact a website's ranking.

• Lack of local relevance: Search engines often prioritize locally relevant content. If a website does not have enough local relevance, it may struggle to rank well in its home country.
  Inconsistent or incorrect information: If the information on a website is inconsistent or incorrect, search engines may have difficulty understanding and ranking the site properly.

• No social media presence: Social media can also play a role in website ranking. Without a strong presence on social media, a website may struggle to gain traction and rank well.
  Lack of mobile optimization: With the increasing use of mobile devices for internet browsing, websites that are not optimized for mobile may have difficulty ranking well.

• Limited or poor quality content: Content is king when it comes to website ranking. If a website has limited or poor quality content, it will not be able to rank well on search engines.
  Penalization by search engine: In some cases, a website may have been penalized by a search engine for violating its guidelines. This can significantly impact its ranking and even lead to being removed from search results entirely.

In order to improve website ranking in its home country, it is important to address these issues and make necessary improvements. This may include enhancing the website's SEO, fixing technical issues, creating locally relevant content, and building a strong social media presence. Regularly monitoring and analyzing website traffic and performance can also help identify areas for improvement and track progress. By addressing these factors, a website can increase its chances of ranking well in its home country and reaching a wider audience.

[jbsiiuhr76]

There are several reasons why a website may not be ranking well in its home country. These include:

Competition: One of the main reasons for low ranking could be high competition within the same industry or niche. If there are already established websites that have been around for a long time, it can be difficult for newer websites to compete and rank well.

Poor SEO: Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for website ranking. If a website is not optimized properly, it will have difficulty ranking high on search engines. This includes factors like keyword usage, content quality, and backlinks.
Technical issues: Technical issues such as slow page loading speed, broken links, and duplicate content can also negatively impact a website's ranking.

Lack of local relevance: Search engines often prioritize locally relevant content. If a website does not have enough local relevance, it may struggle to rank well in its home country.
Inconsistent or incorrect information: If the information on a website is inconsistent or incorrect, search engines may have difficulty understanding and ranking the site properly.

No social media presence: Social media can also play a role in website ranking. Without a strong presence on social media, a website may struggle to gain traction and rank well.
Lack of mobile optimization: With the increasing use of mobile devices for internet browsing, websites that are not optimized for mobile may have difficulty ranking well.

Limited or poor quality content: Content is king when it comes to website ranking. If a website has limited or poor quality content, it will not be able to rank well on search engines.

Penalization by search engine: In some cases, a website may have been penalized by a search engine for violating its guidelines. This can significantly impact its ranking and even lead to being removed from search results entirely.

In order to improve website ranking in its home country, it is important to address these issues and make necessary improvements. This may include enhancing the website's SEO, fixing technical issues, creating locally relevant content, and building a strong social media presence. Regularly monitoring and analyzing website traffic and performance can also help identify areas for improvement and track progress. By addressing these factors, a website can increase its chances of ranking well in its home country and reaching a wider audience.

[jbsiiuhr76]

If you're frustrated with your website's inability to rank in your home country, don't panic! There are steps you can take to improve your website's visibility and gain traction in your local market. Even though Aus is good country to rank. First, evaluate your website's content and ensure that it aligns with local search terms and language preferences. Next, leverage the power of local SEO techniques and create local listings to improve your visibility on search engines. Additionally, consider partnering with local influencers and businesses, as this can increase your credibility and authority within the community. With some effort and persistence, your website can make its mark in your home country, just like it has in others. My gaming website is not rank I emplement all thing that you do.

[Suvidit-Academy]

If your website is ranking well in other countries but not in its home country, there could be several factors at play. Here are some common reasons why this might happen:

• Content Relevance: The content on your website might not be optimized for the specific keywords or topics that are relevant in your home country. Ensure that your content is tailored to the language, culture, and preferences of your local audience.

• Local Competition: The competition for specific keywords and phrases in your home country might be more intense than in other countries. Analyze your competitors' websites and strategies to understand how you can differentiate your website and content.

• Local Search Trends: Search behavior can vary between countries. What is popular in one country might not be as relevant in another. Research local search trends and adapt your content to match what your home country's audience is searching for.

• Technical Issues: Technical issues on your website, such as slow loading times, broken links, or poor mobile optimization, can negatively affect your rankings. Make sure your website is technically sound and user-friendly.

• Backlink Profile: The quality and quantity of backlinks from websites in your home country can influence your rankings. If your backlink profile is stronger in other countries, it might be worth focusing on building high-quality local backlinks.

• Local Citations: Citations (mentions of your business name, address, and phone number) from local directories and websites can improve your local SEO. Make sure your business information is consistent and accurate across these platforms.

• Google My Business (GMB) Profile: Having a well-optimized Google My Business profile is crucial for local rankings. Ensure that your GMB listing is complete and regularly updated with accurate information, photos, and reviews.

• Language and Cultural Relevance: If your website's content is not culturally relevant or accurately translated, it might not resonate with the local audience. Make sure your content is culturally sensitive and aligned with the language and preferences of your home country.

• Server Location: The physical location of your website's server can affect its local search rankings. If your website is hosted on servers located outside your home country, it might impact its local visibility.

• Algorithm Differences: Search engines might have different algorithms and ranking factors for different countries. What works well in one country might not work as effectively in another. Study the local search engine's guidelines and best practices.

To address this issue, consider taking the following steps:

• Keyword Research: Conduct thorough keyword research for your home country and optimize your content accordingly.

• Local SEO Optimization: Focus on local SEO techniques such as optimizing for local keywords, creating location-specific landing pages, and getting listed in local directories.

• Quality Content: Create high-quality, relevant, and engaging content that addresses the needs of your local audience.

• Backlink Building: Build authoritative and relevant backlinks from websites in your home country.

• Technical Audit: Conduct a technical audit of your website to identify and fix any issues that might be affecting your rankings.

• Local Engagement: Engage with local online communities, forums, and social media platforms to increase your website's local visibility.

• Google My Business Optimization: Optimize your Google My Business profile to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date.

• Monitor and Adjust: Continuously monitor your rankings and traffic, and be prepared to adjust your strategies based on the results you see.

Remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and it might take time to see significant improvements in your rankings. Patience and consistent efforts are key to achieving success in SEO, especially when addressing challenges related to local rankings.

Warm Regards
Rahul Gupta
www.suviditacademy.com

[Deff12421]

Has the website previously experienced positive rankings and substantial traffic in Australia? Is there a specific point in time when this situation started to decline, or has the gaming website consistently faced challenges in this region? Your insights into the historical performance of the website in the Australian market would be valuable in understanding its trajectory.

[MonaLisa4]

Still, after so many times, this problem happens with every home website. I have tried many methods of SEO to rank like Onpage and LInk building but face the problem.

[effectdigital]

Am still following this by the way, seems to be quite the mystery!

[katemorris]

That only goes back to 2017, any data before then? Is there any information before the 2017 changes? I doubt they tracked it, but here is to hoping.

I truthfully don't like the average position metric site-wide, at least for my business. It doesn't tell a complete story. What does the average rank look like over time for 1) the homepage and 2) a product page like https://www.castleford.com.au/amplify/social-media/

Also, I tried to find blog/article content and came across a 404. Resources >> Content Marketing Library >> Under Ads "Read 25 tips for better Google Ads campaigns."

https://www.castleford.com.au/whitepaper-adwords-campaign-download - broken

Are there articles still?

[Jeff_Baker]

No they never performed all that well. Here's a chart of the avg. keyword position and impressions for AU-based searches over the past 16 months.

Strangely, here's the average keyword position for NZ-based searches (where we don't target at all).

[katemorris]

Did they ever see good rankings and traffic in Australia? Do you have a date that things went south or has it always been like this?

[Jeff_Baker]

They changed the blog URL pattern, and changed to secure in around November of 2017.

[katemorris]

When did you change the URLs on your site? A crawl is showing some older URLs so I'm curious.

[Jeff_Baker]

Woo, thanks for the help!

We have not changed the domain, except for switching over to a secure site in November of 2017. The footer link was removed about 30 days ago.

[katemorris]

Huh. Okay, we are going to figure this out.

Did you change the domain recently? Within the last year? When was that footer link removed?

[Jeff_Baker]

I took a deeper look. This doesn't seem to be the issue. My competitors have similar inbound link profiles by region origination. Scratch that one off the list!

[Jeff_Baker]

1. Demand in AU for the targeted terms is sufficient (I'm really only targeting the AU) - the demand is definitely there. See image.
2. Competition - as shown above, the terms I'm targeting have an average difficulty of 21, our DA is a 42. In looking at the domains ranking for each target term, we should have zero problem ranking in the top 5 for each.
3. **Local Pack - **We now rank in the local packs. There is a significant amount of competition for our HQ in Sydney. Lots of content marketing agencies in the same area, and ranking in the local pack and maps.
4. **Technical - **I'm 99.9% sure this is technical problem rather than a competition or demand problem. I just can figure out what it is.

Correct, this content does not exist on any other domain.

[katemorris]

Huh. Let me be clear, this seems odd. Here are some questions to see if we can narrow a few things down.

1. What's the demand like for these terms US vs AU vs NZ? Do you have a set list to compare the three countries?

2. What is the competition in each country? About the same or are there new players in each one?

3. What are the local packs in each country for each term? Strong, weak, or non-existent?

I'm trying to get down to if this is a competition and market problem or a technical problem bc it sounds okay technically.

And to be 100% clear, none of your content exists on another domain right?

[Jeff_Baker]

That's good thinking. I took a cursory look in AHREFs and found the inbound links to be fairly similar in origin to local competitors, but I didn't really evaluate them as thoroughly as this. Thank you!

[effectdigital]

That's interesting, makes me wonder if it's the volume and quality of links from AU being smaller or lesser than inbound signals from other regions

• https://d.pr/i/ddx8Jt.png (Ahrefs screenshot)

Certainly seems like a possibility but would need a lot more work to prove. Basically download all backlinks for the site from all sources (SEOSpyGlass, Moz, Ahrefs, Majestic SEO etc) and then re-crawl to see which ones are live. Split them by origin country, then put metrics (Page Authority, Citation Flow, Trust Flow etc) against all the links and see what 'region' most of the 'authority' (not the link count, the sum of SEO auth) is coming from

That's what I'd do next

[Jeff_Baker]

I don't think that would be the problem because we are only targeting the AU and English language, so we never set up any regional redirects (there would be nothing different to redirect to). We only use the ccTLD '.com.au'

[effectdigital]

If you have regional redirects in place which are snatching up first time users and pushing them to their own regional page(s) or sub-site(s), those can interfere with Google's crawling which in turn affects rankings and indexation.

I answered a slightly different (yet highly similar) question here: https://moz.com/community/q/branded-product-dropping-from-1st-position-why#reply_392487 - so this answer might help you too!

Basically Google was crawling their site from the wrong data centre and then their bot was being bounced away, stopping a certain page from indexing very well. Google were even caching a page from one language, as the same page from another language :')

Could be that you need to exempt user-agent GoogleBot from your regional redirects. It's been floating around as an issue for a few people lately so... may be worth checking?