Hello, a month ago I started a new personal site. The unique thing about this blog is that is run off of Jekyll a static content generator.
The issue is after I wrote a pretty popular (for my standards) blog post and after a week of full of views (5000!) and plenty of tweets including one from Chris, I still can't find my post by copying and pasting the title in Google or even my name followed by "web design". Something isn't working. I have a sitemap with my posts and homepage. Yet I don't exist. Does it take that long for Google to index my site? I have submitted my link to Google and wrote meta descriptions and keywords for every post.
Previously I wrote a WordPress blog that got maybe 20 views a day, but a day after I published something I could find my post by typing my title or even just the first part and my site would show up on the first page.
Does WordPress do something that I don't with Jekyll?
Looks like webmaster tools was setup already. It claims "No new messages or recent critical issues." You mentioned index checking, is there a more in depth option somewhere that I am missing?
My two cents are: don't try and over think it on the micro scale. I've had clients who go nuts until they adjust to a macro view of their website and look for healthy trends (more links, more involvement, more traffic, overall higher placement month to month, etc). None of us are privy to the thousands of algorithmic decisions Google goes through to provide what comes up in a search. What we do know is pretty consistent though. Just get the basics right continually and everything works pretty well.
Don't forget that not every search is the same (far from it). I work with a large insurance company and we'll do a set of searches to see where their sites show up and all of the sites can literally be in completely difference places for the 5 or 6 people that do searches, sometimes even a whole page back or forward.
And actually thought of something else: As I assume you have analytics, check around there how your visitors find you. It might be that as JoshWhite is saying, that you're overthinking it on the micro scale.
Hello, a month ago I started a new personal site. The unique thing about this blog is that is run off of Jekyll a static content generator.
The issue is after I wrote a pretty popular (for my standards) blog post and after a week of full of views (5000!) and plenty of tweets including one from Chris, I still can't find my post by copying and pasting the title in Google or even my name followed by "web design". Something isn't working. I have a sitemap with my posts and homepage. Yet I don't exist. Does it take that long for Google to index my site? I have submitted my link to Google and wrote meta descriptions and keywords for every post.
Previously I wrote a WordPress blog that got maybe 20 views a day, but a day after I published something I could find my post by typing my title or even just the first part and my site would show up on the first page.
Does WordPress do something that I don't with Jekyll?
Is it the same domain that you were using before? Did you set up any 301 redirects? Have you set up Google Webmaster Tools?
I am using a new domain, and no I didn't use 301 directs, I want the sites to be separate with different content. No webmasters tools.
Definitely set up webmaster tools right away - it'll give you great information on indexing status.
When I search 'marshall ford web design' you are the 2nd result on Google.
Twitter? I am worried about my actual site.
http://cl.ly/image/1V2R413V3f3x
Looks like webmaster tools was setup already. It claims "No new messages or recent critical issues." You mentioned index checking, is there a more in depth option somewhere that I am missing?
What is going on??? I saw your image. I am not seeing that. Both on my computer and a public computer, or my phone.
Health > Index Status http://cl.ly/image/0z0H2O171M13
http://i.imgur.com/GBoKX0m.png
Would you mind searching for "Windows workflow for web designers and front end developers" and taking a screenshot?
FORDINARY! I knew I recognized the name from somewhere.
Google optimizes your results based on where you are located, I'm sure that's all it's doing here.
Yeah, you used to help me when I was newbie (I might still be).
Based on location? So my name only comes up outside of Minnesota? That's the one place I might want my results to show up!
You have 9 indexed pages on that site according to my search
I can't find too many people linking to your site, though, which might be influencing your lower ranking.
When I search for Marshall Ford Web Design you show up there, but fairly low.
My two cents are: don't try and over think it on the micro scale. I've had clients who go nuts until they adjust to a macro view of their website and look for healthy trends (more links, more involvement, more traffic, overall higher placement month to month, etc). None of us are privy to the thousands of algorithmic decisions Google goes through to provide what comes up in a search. What we do know is pretty consistent though. Just get the basics right continually and everything works pretty well.
Don't forget that not every search is the same (far from it). I work with a large insurance company and we'll do a set of searches to see where their sites show up and all of the sites can literally be in completely difference places for the 5 or 6 people that do searches, sometimes even a whole page back or forward.
And actually thought of something else: As I assume you have analytics, check around there how your visitors find you. It might be that as JoshWhite is saying, that you're overthinking it on the micro scale.