Defies all guideline recommendations to achieve top rankings

I have a competitor's site that employs a big text file for the title tags, description tags and continuously ranks in the top 3 positions on google for all keywords.

The title tag is in excess of 397 characters (approx 60 words) and the description tag is comparable. The metatags are also text files running the same.

the decription tag is listed first and then the title tag sits at the bottom of the tag file. Any and everything reference about writing strong tags for SEO... suggests concise, limited titles, descriptions.

The site has a pr 5 and a good supply of links.

It appears that the only page with major tagging and links back to is the homepage.

I and others have tried to figure it out.. doesn't appear to use cloaking or any other covert strategy... yeah... I have comparable links... albeit a little less.. but a pr 6 from google and I can't get close on the rankings. We do use the same keyword phrases.

Does anyone have any insight... it's a technique that has been used by this site for over a year... so it's clearly getting reviewed and ranked despite the contradition to conventional SEO? The site is www.hiking.com.

Thanks.

Alan

So, you aren't even asking for a review of your site, but instead you want us to go and check out your competitor?

Pretty pathetic. Read the posts here and learn how to improve your site instead of trying to copy your competition.

We don't need to copy our competition. The success of our site, with a PR 6, hasn't come about without a lot of hard work and the efforts and advice of SEO people for over 8 years.

However, I am of the opinion that learning from example is a great teacher...isn't this the point of this board and the myriad of discussion sites amongst SEO's to better understand new and different techniques being used and. I have also passed this problem by two SEO consultants (one of whom writes SE algos), both members of this board and they made the suggestion to post it. .

If the material in the posts had shed any light on this technique, I wouldn't being wasting anybody's time. If you have any insight, I would be appreciative.

a

A bit harsh...

A good way to improve is to analyse why people are beating you and do better. You need to know what you are up against to know what areas to work on.


Ahwayler

Can you say what the main Kws you are competing for and what is your URL?


.

When you see somebody doing something better, you find out why and then do those things better. It is essential.

So what are those keywords that your looking for?

maybe its not his title tags that hes being ranked for?
Your position is not determined by your title or description tags, although i wonder if it does help to match keywords in title with incoming link anchor text.

there is no rule saying that your title needs to be short, my title tags are not very short, and i still rank well for my niche.
Its your anchor text that you want to keep short.

perhaps he has varied anchor text to his home page (a good thing to do) For example, not only anchor text of 'Widgets' in backlinks, but also 'Blue Widgets' and 'Red Widgets'.
If he has diversified his anchor text, and they match up with the keywords he has used in his title, surely thats gotta be a good thing. Even though a long title is simply an eyesore, i dont believe he is doing anything wrong.

just throwing some thoughts out.
sh** i ramble...

i gotta say though, the fact that he may have better optimised anchor text in his backlinks than you IS the reason he is ranking higher.

Hi Thanks for your help. My URL is www.fitwoman.com.

The keyword terms are: health spa, health spas, weight loss program, healthy weight loss, weight loss spa.

I should also mention that the competitor has approx 6 other URL's, all of which refer back to the homepage. Obviously this is a source of additional linking to the main core site.

I also notice that many of her site pages are not tagged.. .with the main page being the primary... again, another contradiction to conventional wisdom. If you look at the site, you will notice that all the keywords reside on the homepage... which makes it even more impressive.

I should add that my competitor is someone who offers a good product and service and someone I respect. While we are philosophically different in our program approaches. They deserves to do well. I am curious and intrigued... and no one has been able to help with dissection out the core elements that make them so successful.

Thanks for any and all consideration.

Ahwayler

Hi Thanks for your help. My URL is www.fitwoman.com.

The keyword terms are: health spa, health spas, weight loss program, healthy weight loss, weight loss spa.

I should also mention that the competitor has approx 6 other URL's, all of which refer back to the homepage. Obviously this is a source of additional linking to the main core site.

I also notice that many of her site pages are not tagged.. .with the main page being the primary... again, another contradiction to conventional wisdom. If you look at the site, you will notice that all the keywords reside on the homepage... which makes it even more impressive.

I should add that my competitor is someone who offers a good product and service and someone I respect. While we are philosophically different in our program approaches. They deserves to do well. I am curious and intrigued... and no one has been able to help with dissection out the core elements that make them so successful.

Thanks for any and all consideration.

Ahwayler

Hi Thanks for your help. My URL is www.fitwoman.com.

The keyword terms are: health spa, health spas, weight loss program, healthy weight loss, weight loss spa.

I should also mention that the competitor has approx 6 other URL's, all of which refer back to the homepage. Obviously this is a source of additional linking to the main core site.

I also notice that many of her site pages are not tagged.. .with the main page being the primary... again, another contradiction to conventional wisdom. If you look at the site, you will notice that all the keywords reside on the homepage... which makes it even more impressive.

Is there a program to search for anchor text.. other than linking pop counts? Any suggestions or good references on anchor text beyond what's here at SEOchat?

I should add that my competitor is someone who offers a good product and service and someone I respect. While we are philosophically different in our program approaches. They deserves to do well. I am curious and intrigued... and no one has been able to help with dissection out the core elements that make them so successful.

Thanks for any and all consideration.

Alan