SEO issue

grahamphoto

I moved my site over to Smugmug a year ago, and SEO results are so-so.
The problem--I have dozens of old pages from my previous website that Google keeps telling me to fix--but I can't, as the pages are now dead. How do I respond to Google and fix the problem?

Hikin' Mike

Are you saying that other people have linked your old pages and Google is saying they are not found (404)? If so, then the only 'fix' is to contact the site owners for the new pages. Unfortunately SmugMug doesn't allow editing the .htaccess to do a 301 Re-direct.

grahamphoto

My old site has the 404s and Google is mad about them. The site is now dead, different host, and I have no way to alter them. What to do?

Hikin' Mike

Where are the old links coming from?

Having 404 aren't really bad. If those 404's are not from pages/sites that are still valid, then don't worry about it. The only issue is if as an example, somebody with a site liked one of your OLD site/page. Now your old site is dead, but that guy doesn't know you've changed your site. In that case, you will need to contact that person and give him the new page.

Does that make sense?

grahamphoto

It makes sense, it just concerns me when Google writes and says to fix errors that I can't fix--and then I watch rankings go down, not up! Frustrating!

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
It makes sense, it just concerns me when Google writes and says to fix errors that I can't fix--and then I watch rankings go down, not up! Frustrating!

I doubt having 404's are the reason of your falling rankings.

What is your website and what are you trying to rank for?

grahamphoto

http://grahamandgrahamphotography.com Manhattan Beach photographer
any ideas?

Hikin' Mike

Looks like you are on the second page around #3, so that's pretty good so far.

You actually have content (text) on your home page....good for you! You don't have a h1 (title) on your home page, so I would suggest adding a title block to your home page.

rainforest1155

If you're still worried about what Google says, perhaps you could include a screenshot of what exactly Google displays? It may just be of the informational type that you can ignore.

grahamphoto

Hikin Mike, I was on the first page, and it's gone down. Trying to solve what's wrong and get it back up. I thought I had title pages, so will jump in and try to fix. Thanks for looking.
Any other ideas?

grahamphoto

Hikin'Mike--I had filled out everything on the SmugMug search
page. Is there something I've missed that jumps to your mind?

grahamphoto

This is the error message from Google. Again, the old site is dead, but the pages live on and I have no way to kill them. Ideas?

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
Hikin'Mike--I had filled out everything on the SmugMug search
page. Is there something I've missed that jumps to your mind?

You DO NOT NEED to fill in the keyword metadata. Most search engines quit using those years ago. The only benefit I can see is if I (or your competitor) wanted to know what keywords you're tying to rank for, all you need to do is view your source code.

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
This is the error message from Google. Again, the old site is dead, but the pages live on and I have no way to kill them. Ideas?

That is normal, especially if you've recently changed platforms. It may take a long time until you quit seeing those.

Again, the only concern would be if those old pages have links to OTHER pages.

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
Hikin Mike, I was on the first page, and it's gone down. Trying to solve what's wrong and get it back up. I thought I had title pages, so will jump in and try to fix. Thanks for looking.
Any other ideas?

It's going to go up and down, that's normal. Currently you are on the top on page 2. Give it a good month.

grahamphoto

the site is 14 years old, and has never gone down like this. I think it's this Google issue.

grahamphoto

You said I was missing the title H1 tag--where on Smugmug can I put it, if it's not already there?

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
the site is 14 years old, and has never gone down like this. I think it's this Google issue.

Could be, but when you change a site/platform unless you put the same content word-for word, code-by-code etc, your ranking will change.

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
You said I was missing the title H1 tag--where on Smugmug can I put it, if it's not already there?

Just checked and you DO NOT have one. Just add a Title Block to your home page.

grahamphoto

Where do I do that? "Just add a Title Block to your home page." Didn't I fill in everything on the Smugmug Discovery page?

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
Where do I do that? "Just add a Title Block to your home page." Didn't I fill in everything on the Smugmug Discovery page?

In Customize.

grahamphoto

I think this is in Customize, right?
a Title Block

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
I think this is in Customize, right?
a Title Block

Yes. You can edit the title if you need to. If you leave it blank, it will use the page's title.

grahamphoto

Hey Mike--I took a look at your website and got inspired by your use of photos and text. I added some more text to my front page--what do you think? http://www.grahamandgrahamphotography.com/

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
Hey Mike--I took a look at your website and got inspired by your use of photos and text. I added some more text to my front page--what do you think? http://www.grahamandgrahamphotography.com/

A couple of issues I see.

First you changed your header (logo text) to read 'Graham & Graham Photography - South Bay Photographers'. That isn't you name. Isn't your photography name 'Graham & Graham Photography' correct? Because that is going to display on ALL pages, I suggest changing it back to 'Graham & Graham Photography'.

Then use a Title Block on your home page like I mentioned previously. Something like 'Manhattan Beach Headshots, Weddings, Mitzvahs & Portrait Photography'.

Last (for now), looks like you changed your home page's title meta to read 'Manhattan Beach photographer | Graham & Graham Photography |Headshots, Weddings, Mitzvahs, Portraits'. Google only displays around 60-70 characters and that title is too long. I would suggest using 'Manhattan Beach Photographer | Headshots Weddings Mitzvahs Portraits' instead.

grahamphoto

Thanks Mike--how about the extra text I added? Yay or Nay? And thanks so much for your input,.

Hikin' Mike

@grahamphoto said:
Thanks Mike--how about the extra text I added? Yay or Nay? And thanks so much for your input,.

Looks good.

sbrannon

I must be doing something wrong. I only come up on Google when I put in my business name but not for other things. Is the title page what the search engines look for? and not the files that go under the title page? (gallery). I am not good at doing nor understanding this stuff. Any hints to bring my level up when people search for Portland Photographer or something..sigh

Hikin' Mike

@sbrannon said:
I must be doing something wrong. I only come up on Google when I put in my business name but not for other things. Is the title page what the search engines look for? and not the files that go under the title page? (gallery). I am not good at doing nor understanding this stuff. Any hints to bring my level up when people search for Portland Photographer or something..sigh

And your website is?