Hi Peter, I’ve had a message from Google console saying you’ve taken ownership of my domain – please can you change it back to myself? I can then add you as admin.
With Google Console, Ive noticed that clicks and impressions are down compared to last period and same time last year.
My enquiries are virtually 0 with no new clients and keywords like:
medical website design have dropped massively to Avg. position is actually: 46.5 – Where I used to be third.Is there anything you can do to help as my business is truly in financial trouble!
That whole ownership thing is a major misnomer on their part. I definitely haven’t taken over anything! I simply added myself as a full user to the Google Search property you set up. You are also a full user.
The way Google words those messages does freak people out–it looks like someone is essentially stealing their website, when really it’s just adding an extra admin user to look at the data.
So, here’s a few things.
1) Ignore average rank
That whole stat is a weird one, and sort of means the opposite of what you’d expect. The best way to explain it is this – because Google can index your site for any single word or phrase it has, as your site grows in popularity they will index you for more things – but a lot of those are not your core terms and in fact you’ll find your average rank appears to be getting worse.
But it’s really an indication that your site has more visibility and SEO authority.
I recommend people instead look at the top 20 search queries for their site (ordered by impressions) and find the average there. Then repeat when needed.
That gives a better impression of your average position for things that are important.
2) I’m surprised you have so few enquiries
Your site ranks really well, with 1,000s of impressions for competitive terms. So firstly, have you double checked your forms and enquiry lines work?
3) You need to consider how you target
I have the impression you sell yourself as a general web design firm that specialises (or used to) in the medial practice field. You mention that you’ve dropped for ‘medical website design’ but your content I believe also shifted. The word ‘medical’ doesn’t even appear on the homepage!
I also think, SEO aside, there is a confusing message for potential clients. People looking for, say, a GPs website are going to be put off because you don’t appear to be specialising in that anymore. But general website design clients are also likely to be confused because of how many of my clients clearly are in the medical field.
If ‘medical website design’ is a key term for you then the website needs to be focused on sites for people in healthcare. Not just that one page you have.
The extra thing to consider here is how well you are doing for general searches relating to your area and ‘web design’ )which is – very well!). It would be a shame to throw that away.
If I were you, I would split the site into two. One website for general site design, and a completely second one for the medicine focus.
That way you can make the most of everything you’ve got–including your potential, without confusing the message to potential clients.
Cheers,
Peter Mahoney
WordPress SEO & AI Search (GEO) Expert