How does my competitor website jump from a natural ranking of 10 to 1 in a matter of days?
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OK this has really got me baffled, and I really hope the MOZ community can give me the answers I am seeking....
My statements and queries below are my own opinions and thoughts. I am not an experienced SEOer and I am learning all the time, so if I have written something incorrectly, please feel free to correct me
I have been told that natural rankings take time, and I have read with the recent algorithm changes from Google, that purchased links do not have an effect like they used to. I have also read somewhere that google has clamped down on bogus article writing (MOZ please clarify)
But what I am seeking some clarification on is, how does my competitors website, that has had a natural rank of #1 in the past, suddenly drop off; for a lengthy period of time, then suddenly re-appear at #10 on page #1, then some three/four days later, hit #1?
I have read that natural rankings are purely natural. I.e. a domain owner cannot pay google to boost their natural ranking. But is this really true?
Why is it when I speak to a close colleague of mine in the same industry, he mentions that his maps listing has dropped off, and after making a couple of phone calls to his SEO guys in India, maybe a day or two later, magically his maps re-appear?
I really am starting to question is a "natural ranking" really "natural?"
I have heard that some of these SEO agencies do have some tools that dramatically effect the natural ranking of a domain.
What are these tools?
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Agree with Sam...if you can give me your competitor's web site and the keywords he is ranking with I might be able to provide you with some further information.
In the meantime you might find this post useful as they list 5 unusual reasons you might be getting beaten in SERP http://www.atladasmedia.co.uk/blog/5-seo-reasons-you-may-be-getting-beat-in-rankings-by-websites-that-are-no-better-than-yours/
Is your competitor using any of the techniques mentioned?
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Are you able to provide the search criteria as well as the competitor and your site to which you are referring?
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