Donna's Kooky Theory

[earlpearl]

Donna:

Good you posted on this. Let's get the facts from the expert. Amazing traffic patterns. But then they reflect the subject matter of the site.

I recall you mentioning this similar ranking pattern about a year ago...and someone else commenting upon that w/ some similar experience suggesting there is some kind of seasonal/holiday Google filter/algo in effect.

Are you saying that the other holiday sites don't have the same ranking craziness as the Christmas site has.

Its confusing to me on one level.

Are these specific Christmas keyword phrases? Your ranking roller coaster over the course of a year would be wierd on that basis.

I've seen your holiday sites. They are through and through themed to the holiday(s). When your site drops in the rankings for various keywords...what type of sites replace them?

Do the rankings nearer the Christmas season reflect sites that are 90-100% themed Christmas sites...and do the rankings during the rest of the year reflect (possibly) bigger sites with more bls?

Its a very fascinating phenomena.

dave

[dazzlindonna]

Good questions, Dave.

The other holiday sites don't have the same kookiness happening to them. So, it is either site-specific or season-specific.

The sites that replace them are relevant - but not bigger/better sites. Usually lower PR, with much less links pop up in there. All the sites listed either onseason or offseason are christmas-specific sites.

These are specific Christmas keyword phrases.

[Too Bad]

It's a difficult one. There could be a season specific type of algoritm, it even makes sense if there would.

On the other hand, it could just as well be one of the million other factors... What intriges me is why your rankings climb, if it was season specific then the competition would gain just as much in importance so your rankings wouldn't climb.

If it's 'seasoning' then it would mean that your competition is less on-topic. If that's the case it would also make sense that your site gets a higher CTR which would explain your higher ranking.

Strange... but fun :-)

[earlpearl]

Well then...I'm stumped. I guess the Google/Christmas gods like you...for about 3 months every year.

Hey...wait...Do your adsense ads go into overdrive on a ctr basis over the holidays?

Could your site rise in rankings w/better ctr activity? Could big G be adjusting rankings w/ evaluation of your clicks?

If I was a money making google...I'd be adjusting natural rankings to reflect the sites that will generate more adsense income? But then I'm a business dude thinking about maximizing revenues every day!

[dazzlindonna]

Yes...at least this year. Didn't notice last year. 4-5% to 18-20%. But I assumed that was just because of the increased interest due to the season. G might not be taking that into account, however. Maybe they just see raw numbers.

[earlpearl]

Interesting. It was just an idea. Might be worth storing away that info for further reference though.

Dave

[Robert Paulson]

Hmmm.... This is interesting - feels like trying to solve one of those mind-benders.

I'm working from the assumption that despite all of these sites having the same theme, there is something different about yours relative to your competition. Maybe a different feel to the copy, maybe more comfy feeling graphics, something.

I'm also working with an assumption that there's some sort of rolling average that G tallies on CTR on their SERPs.

With that assumption, I'm wondering if people search differently during the holidays than they do during the rest of the year. I know I do. During the better part of the year I'm more of an information mercenary, viewing a cached version of a page so I can see my desired terms highlighted and easy to find, so I can immediately see if the page I'm viewing is relevant or not. If not, I move on to SERP result #2. If I get down somewhere around 5-8, I figure I ran a bad search and try again, modifying my search and starting at result #1. But when I'm shopping for Christmas presents, I'll dig. I'll dig several pages deep - I've gone as far as 30 pages in to find something I'm after. I'm sure there are some reasons I search that way, but I can't access that part of my brain right now.

If there is a large segment of the search population that searches the way I do, they'll get to results 20-30 during the holidays, and if there's something in the listed result text from your site that grabs me, I'll look. If a rolling average CTR does exist in the SERPs, and you do have that "it" quality that begs further investigation during the holidays, I could see it bumping you up, then dropping you back down afterward.*

I'm glad to hear the site did so well, and am amazed at the traffic jump the site saw.

*Disclaimer: This hypothesis was built on assumptions that may or may not be verifiable.

[dazzlindonna]

interesting thoughts rp.

[Robert Paulson]

Unfortunately, that's about all they are. Straight from the horses backside. Sure has me curious, though.

[skitzzo]

Does anyone have any valentine day dedicated sites or sites that are affected by that holiday? If so, I would like to hear what you see happen in the coming months. I would imagine that if there is some sort of calendar or holiday aspect to the algo, the commercial holidays would be the ones to experience it, not necessarily Presidents Day or Labor day etc....