Knowledge Graph SEO Factors
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I notice when I search for my clients brand name it pulls up the Google local info and Google+ stuff, knowledge graph etc, as well as a section at the bottom, 'People Also Search For' and lists a number of the clients competitors. However when I search one of the competitors no Google local or knowledge graph stuff comes up. Client obviously wants to limit promotion of the competitors. Does anyone have any experience with this? I know Google Author rank seems to play a factor in knowledge graph results? Are the competitors doing anything on their end SEO wise?
What can be done to limit this?
Thanks for any help!
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First of all Author Rank is not existing as a ranking factor (yet), so it would be better talking about Authorship.
When it comes to Knowledge Graph, the specific case you are referring to is all about Google Plus Local, hence if you want to appear in box on the right you should have your Google Plus Local page well configured.
in the case of being in the knowledge graph for your own name, be aware that you should be a node in the knowledge graph for really appearing there in a not personalized search. If not, you will appear in the Knowledge box only in personalized searches and to those users who had circled you on Google+. Hence, if you want to appear there - in a personalized environment - the best is being very active on G+, becoming relevant there so that you have a lot of people circling you.
Related to the carousel "Users also searched....", that is build by Google using its own Knowledge Base. Somehow it is a sort of "related searches". For instance, if you search for Danny Sullivan, in that carousel you will find Matt Cutts, Vanessa Fox and others search marketers or people related to search marketing.
So, if you are not seeing yourself in the carrousel, that means that Google does not have such a significant search volume metric for you so to justify you appearing there. But if you are able to do branding so that users start using your name/brand name to search you/your brand, then there's a chance for you to appear also there.
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So that's what influences the knowledge graph?Good to know. Is there official word from Google on that?
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Hi there,
My best advise would be to obliterate the competition with positivity. Get a logo or photograph in that knowledge graph section, get as many reviews as you can and make your own website as good as possible.
Google will always recommend competitors (or other results you don't want to be associated with) in one way or another. I think the best course of action is to make your site as good and valuable as possible, if your site is optimised and has a high click-through rate you shouldn't need to worry about the competition.
Hope that helps!
- Andrew
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