Homepage not ranking in Google AU, but ranking in Google UK?

[AdaptDigital]

Hey everyone,

My homepage has not been ranking for it's primary keyword in Google Australia for many months now. Yesterday when I was using a UK Proxy and searching via Google UK I found my homepage/primary keyword ranked on page 8 in the UK. Now in Australia my website ranks on page 6 but it's for other pages on my website (and it always changes from different page to page). Previously my page was popping up at the bottom of page 1 and page 2.

I've been trying many things and waiting weeks to see if it had any impact for over 4 months but I'm pretty lost for ideas now. Especially after what I saw yesterday in Google UK. I'd be very grateful if someone has had the same experience of suggestions and what I should try doing.

I did a small audit on my page and because the site is focused on one product and features the primary keyword I took steps to try and fix the issue. I did the following:

• I noticed the developer had added H1 tags to many places on the homepage so I removed them all to make sure I wasn't getting an over optimization penalty.
• Cleaned up some of my links because I was not sure if this was the issue (I've never had a warning within Google webmaster tools)
• Changed the title tags/h tags on secondary pages not to feature the primary keyword as much
• Made some pages 'noindex' to try and see if this would take away the emphases on the secondary pages
• Resubmitted by XML sitemaps to Google
• Just recently claimed a local listings place in Google (still need to verify) and fixed up citations of my address/phone numbers etc (However it's not a local business - sells Australia wide)
• Added some new backlinks from AU sites (only a handful though)

The only other option I can think of is to replace the name of the product on secondary pages to a different appreciation to make sure that the keyword isn't featured there. Some other notes on the site:

1. When site do a 'site:url' search my homepage comes up at the top
2. The site sometimes ranked for a secondary keyword on the front page in specific locations in Australia (but goes to a localised City page). I've noindexed these as a test to see if something with localisation is messing it around.
3. I do have links from AU but I do have links from .com and wherever else.

Any tips, advice, would be fantastic.

Thanks

[JaneCopland]

Hi Adam,

Would you be comfortable sharing the site and the queries involved with me? You can PM them to me if you'd rather - I can take a look at the backlink profile to see if something telling lies there.

Cheers,

Jane

[AdaptDigital]

Hey Jane,

No messages in webmaster tools recently or penalties ever. I initially thought it would be due to an algorithmic change but it really just doesn't add up as to why a secondary page is ranking from my primary keyword (my homepage has more authority). It could be something to do with the backlink profile but I'd like to get a solid understanding of the problem before I go and attempt to get backlinks.

Thanks again

[JaneCopland]

Hi Adam,

Just looking at the circumstances again, I'd be surprised if Google thinks your site is targeted for the UK - page 8 is a long way back in the SERPs are you often see otherwise irrelevant results that far back, including results intended for other countries.

Have you received any messages in Webmaster Tools recently about the site, including any notifications of penalties?

[AdaptDigital]

Hi Jane.

Thanks for your reply. Yep I've set up Australia in geo target webmaster tools.

Hmm

[JaneCopland]

Hi there,

Have you geo-targeted the site to Australia in Webmaster Tools (assuming that Australia is the only market you want to rank very well in, i.e. target market)?