Pigeon Droppings and Onpage Performance

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Pigeon Droppings & Onpage Performance

Adam Dorfman

SIM Partners

SVP - Product & Technology

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http://www.dipity.com/phixed/Google-Local-Updates/ http://www.dipity.com/phixed/Google-Local-Updates/

http://www.dipity.com/phixed/Google-Local-Updates/

http://www.dipity.com/phixed/Google-Local-Updates/

http://www.dipity.com/phixed/Google-Local-Updates/

The Path to Pigeon

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Sample Size: 5,000 Location Pages

Image: http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/pigeons.jpg

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Image: http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/pigeons.jpg

• Pre Pigeon: 7/11 - 7/23

Data Collection Timeline

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Image: http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/pigeons.jpg

• Pre Pigeon: 7/11 - 7/23

• Pigeon: 7/24

Data Collection Timeline

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• Pre Pigeon: 7/11 - 7/23

• Pigeon: 7/24

• Post Pigeon: 7/25 - 8/7

Image: http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/pigeons.jpg

Data Collection Timeline

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INTRODUCING

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Image: http://blogs-images.forbes.com/peterubel/files/2013/01/pigeon.png

“The goal of many of our ranking changes is to help

searchers find sites that provide a great user

experience and fulfill their information needs. We also

want the “good guys” making great sites for users, not

just algorithms, to see their effort rewarded.”

Matt Cutts http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2012/04/another-step-to-

reward-high-quality.html

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Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon

Traffic

-5.71%

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Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon

Traffic

-5.71%

Conversions

-5.97%

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Pre Pigeon vs Today

Traffic

-6.32%

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Pre Pigeon vs Today

Traffic

-6.32%

Conversions

-2.25%

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Image: http://giphy.com/gifs/funny-cartoon-teacher-QSmTTINa5qVQ4

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What to Measure?

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1. Business Detail

2. Offsite Factor

3. Onsite Factor

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Here’s What We Weren’t Looking For

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Number of Words on a Location Page

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Image: http://blogs-images.forbes.com/peterubel/files/2013/01/pigeon.png

“Google said that this new algorithm improves their

distance and location ranking parameters.”

Barry Schwartz http://searchengineland.com/google-makes-significant-changes-local-

search-ranking-algorithm-197778

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Miles From City Center – Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon

-1.4

-1.2

-1

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0 5 10 15 20 25

Small Population Medium Population Large Population

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Miles From City Center – Pre Pigeon vs Today

-1.4

-1.2

-1.0

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0 5 10 15 20 25

Small Population Medium Population Large Population

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Locations in small towns were hit hardest when Pigeon first was

released but that has since evened out

Google is pushing the urbanization of suburbs

Google is showing a preference for unique business locations

that are on the edges of large cities

Post-Pigeon ongoing clean up is starting to make a difference in

quality of traffic

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Mozscape External Equity

-0.7

-0.6

-0.5

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

1.125 1.375 1.625 1.875 2.125 2.375 2.625 2.875 3.125 3.375 3.625 3.875 4.125 4.375 4.625 4.875 5.125 5.375 5.625

Ch

an

ge

Mozscape External Equity Score

Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon

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Mozscape External Equity

-0.7

-0.6

-0.5

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

1.125 1.375 1.625 1.875 2.125 2.375 2.625 2.875 3.125 3.375 3.625 3.875 4.125 4.375 4.625 4.875 5.125 5.375 5.625

Ch

an

ge

Mozscape External Equity Score

Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon Pre Pigeon vs Today

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Mozscape Page Authority

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

36.5 37.5 38.5 39.5 40.5 41.5 42.5 43.5 44.5 45.5 46.5 47.5 48.5 49.5 50.5 51.5 52.5 53.5 54.5 55.5 56.5 57.5 58.5 59.5 60.5 61.5

Ch

an

ge

Mozscape Page Authority

Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon

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Mozscape Page Authority

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

36.5 37.5 38.5 39.5 40.5 41.5 42.5 43.5 44.5 45.5 46.5 47.5 48.5 49.5 50.5 51.5 52.5 53.5 54.5 55.5 56.5 57.5 58.5 59.5 60.5 61.5

Ch

an

ge

Mozscape Page Authority

Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon Pre Pigeon vs Today

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Page authority (usually) matters

Internal >>> External

Domain strength has grown in importance

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Image: http://blogs-images.forbes.com/peterubel/files/2013/01/pigeon.png

“Don’t underestimate how powerful on-page

optimization can be for local and local-organic

results.”

Adam Dorfman (Post Venice Update to Current Day)

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-35.0%

-30.0%

-25.0%

-20.0%

-15.0%

-10.0%

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

1 2 3 4 5

Pct.

Ch

an

ge

Number of Zip Codes Listed on a Location Page

Number of Zip Codes Displayed

Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon

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-35.0%

-30.0%

-25.0%

-20.0%

-15.0%

-10.0%

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

1 2 3 4 5

Pct.

Ch

an

ge

Number of Zip Codes Listed on a Location Page

Number of Zip Codes Displayed

Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon Pre Pigeon vs Today

Aim for 3 zip codes listed

on your location pages or

website!

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-35.0%

-30.0%

-25.0%

-20.0%

-15.0%

-10.0%

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Pct.

Ch

an

ge

Neighborhoods/Surrounding Suburbs/Landmarks/etc Listed per Location Page

Number of Areas Served

Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon

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-35.0%

-30.0%

-25.0%

-20.0%

-15.0%

-10.0%

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Pct.

Ch

an

ge

Neighborhoods/Surrounding Suburbs/Landmarks/etc Listed per Location Page

Number of Areas Served

Pre Pigeon vs Post Pigeon Pre Pigeon vs Today

Add 3 hyperlocal

locations served in

addition to your

businesses’ city!

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On page optimization still matters

Over-optimization is being targeted

Keep experimenting

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Signals of Pigeon were apparent in hindsight

Pigeon update ≠ Improved SERPs

Where your business is still matters

Attach your business to strong domains

Don’t over optimize your website

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Some days you are the pigeon…

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Some days you are the pigeon…

Some days you are the statue.

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