Dumb SEO Questions

(Entry was posted by Kenneth Villegas on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 10/19/2013).

Do you have any idea why our website is not ranking for our main keyword?

Hi guys! I need help! Do you have any idea why our website is not ranking for our main keyword, which is promotional products and even promotional items, merchandise.. It is a UK base website. c-mb.codotuk is the site. But I guess it is because of the content and the other services that confuses google and major search engines.. Just want to hear your analysis as well. Thanks!
This question begins at 03:20:29 into the clip. Did this video clip play correctly? Watch this question on YouTube commencing at 03:20:29
Video would not load
I see YouTube error message
I see static
Video clip did not start at this question

YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

  • Kenneth Villegas: Hi guys! I need help! Do you have any idea why our website is not ranking for our main keyword, which is promotional products and even promotional items, merchandise.. It is a UK base website. c-mb.codotuk is the site. But I guess it is because of the content and the other services that confuses google and major search engines.. Just want to hear your analysis as well. Thanks!
  • Brent Wildman: Haven't looked too far into your site but it looks like you're having a problem with your SSL certificate. Also if you're using https then you really should enforce it across your entire site, instead of having some pages not secure.
  • Simon Fryer: Hi +Kenneth Villegas ;

    Results of a 30 second spot-check:

    It's likely you have some duplicate content issues at play. ;

    Homepage renders at www.c-mbdotcodotuk and at www.c-mbdotcodotuk/index.php. ;

    There's no canonical link elements in place. ;

    It's very likely that this issue extends to other areas of the site. You want to get a self-referring canonical on every page of the site, that way when ever any unforseen duplications occur (like /index.php) the duplicated page has a canonical pointing to the correct version. ;This has been pretty important since panda 3.4 way back in April 2012.

    There could be other factors but i'd put my money on this. ;
  • Simon Fryer: +Brent Wildman ;Only the checkout page should be https imo. ;
  • Kenneth Villegas: HI Bent! Thanks for your advice.. How to get the SSL certificate or how to implement it and the https?
  • Brent Wildman: +Simon Fryer ;I feel like it could go either way. But no matter what you choose you have to be consistent. Either all https or only https for transactions.

    +Kenneth Villegas ;I'm no expert on SSL's but that's something that should be handled through your hosting company. Right now if I force the certificate this is what it returns ;http://i.imgur.com/CpIMXqe.png
  • Kenneth Villegas: +Simon Fryer ;Yes, I already redirected the /index.php but it seems like it still exists. SMH.. Actually, we are having problems with the site because of duplicate url's and non-SEF url's as well. can you please help me how to fix the /index.php? Thanks
  • Kenneth Villegas: +Brent Wildman ;Yes, I tried to checked it as well. Thanks for your help!
  • Simon Fryer: +Kenneth Villegas ;

    rel=canonical links are the solution to all your problems. They remove the issues of duplicate URLs and /index.php - you won't even need to get the redirect working properly. ;

    Provided your SEF urls are the canonical versions it will get rid of your non-SEF url problems. ;

    Get them sitewide asap, and get G to recrawl. They are the ultimate duplicate content safety-net. ;
  • Kenneth Villegas: +Simon Fryer i tried to implement the rel canonical attribute before in the home page but  ;the the subpages will duplicate the home page canonical attribute. Do you have any idea how to avoid this issue? I'm really having a hard time fixing the site since it is joomla platform. Thanks!
  • Simon Fryer: +Kenneth Villegas I'm afraid I can't help you there :( I have some awesome devs who wave their magic wands and make good things happen for me. Perhaps someone here can help you, but I'd recommend heading to some Joomla forums.
  • Jordan Manchev: Are you using any SEO plugin ? There are tools for the canonical rel for that CMS. Take your time and test some, and always keep an eye on the Google Webmaster Tools
  • Kenneth Villegas: +Simon Fryer ;@brent wildman we already have an SSL certificate but the site have both http and https.. We should set it up a redirect to either http or https right?

View original question in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 10/19/2013).

All Questions in this Hangout