Weird google rankings for "joomla"

[baldidiot]

Not gambling related, but I thought it was interesting from an SEO perspective. Right now if you search for "joomla" on google.co.uk the first result is joomla.co.uk - a thin site without much content and only 12 linking domains.

The official joomla site is now number 2, despite it's 322,000 linking domains - the majority of which will probably use some anchor text variation of "joomla".

Thoughts? Seems really weird to me and I can't figure out why joomla.co.uk is out ranking joomla.org for its primary keyword, the only thing it could have in its favour for google.co.uk is the .co.uk TLD - is google placing much more weight on ccTLDs these days?

[universal4]

For me the joomla search returned the .org site #1 and the uk site is NOT on the first page.

In fact it didn't show up in the first 5 pages on my search.

My guess is that it is ranking partially on it's newness factor, with an extra boost from the TLD, since it clearly appears it isn't content.

Rick
Universal4

[baldidiot]

Rick - was that on google.com or .co.uk? Here's what I see, maybe I'm just special!

[universal4]

My search was performed on google.com

What is also interesting is that on the .com search the wiki ranked second and on the .uk search it landed #6.

Rick
Universal4

[thebookiesoffers]

i've got co.uk at number 1 as well

at first glance I would guess it is the UK in the title putting it there at the minute not the TLD

[FictionNet]

I search using google.co.uk, although I'm in Tenerife. I see joomla.co.uk at number one, .org is at number two.

[baldidiot]

This is making me want to run out and buy a bunch of ccTLD's though - a huge authority site with millions of highly relevant backlinks is getting outranked by a two page throw-up site.

[lots0]

In the states I see joomla.org, I don't see the co.uk domain at all in the first 3 pages.

IMO what your seeing has more to do with Google's pushing local search, so the co.uk will out rank the .org.... IN THE UK, for most searches.

I do believe some googler will be twisting the knobs over the next few weeks to trying get the balance between local search and relevant results a little better for you guys.
This most likely has to do with joomla setting their webmaster tools to target the UK with the co.uk in their google webmaster tools.

In the States the Google search results don't look at all like the SERP you guys are seeing in Europe.

Under the joomla.org search there are 6 listings all grouped together that are nothing but interior pages from the .org.

We are even getting Google+ related search results in the left side bar, for some searches instead of the usual google adds.

You guys outside the USA, are going to be seeing a LOT of MAJOR changes coming to YOUR Google SERP this year.

[usaonlinecasino]

I got the same search results as baldidiot did on Google.co.uk.

I think the hosting in the UK (sorry I just doubt but did not check it) may be another reason for it to be ranked higher besides its local top level domain name.

[lots0]

joomla.co.uk is hosted in the UK

joomla.com is hosted in the States

[BHL]

jup it's local
wish they got a severe penalty. but they don't
finding help for joomla related problems is frustrating enough without their non-responsive forum. if you get a link to their site in the search results, it's either a question without a follow up or the same guy asking if anyone is reading it. or 1 in 20 maybe, some other guy answering he has no clue either lol

[SlotsAff]

Yep, Joomla.co.uk is top too for me!

[leo29]

HI

it may be because of tld and also may be because of keyword "joomla uk" used in linking


Thanks

[baldidiot]

No one else finds this really weird?

You have a huge authority site getting outranked for not only its primary keyword but also it's trademark by a throw up site with a handful of links. It's madness.

Here's a comparison of the two sites from OSE. Bear in mind that the majority of the anchor text for both sites is related to the primary keyword.

[lots0]

Baldy,
As your example shows...

google SEO don't work like it used to anymore.


Local search
google+ search
Personal Search
Geo location search

This is what the NEW google SEO is all about.

You guys in Europe and Asia have yet to see ALL the NEW google... But it is coming to a screen near you very soon...

[Kasinas]

Maybe it thinks joomla.oc.uk is official Joomla's site in the UK?