Issues with Site Name Display in SERPs
I’m not referring to the title tag, but rather the Site Name and logo that appear above the title in search results.
Last year, we transitioned from multiple country-specific TLDs (like example.pt) to a single .com domain with language-specific folders (like example.com/pt). The redirects were successful, and the migration itself went smoothly.
However, we encountered a notable issue: the Site Name (not the title tag) is now displaying as “[Brand] USA” on all international versions of our site.
We suspect a few potential reasons for this:
– The .com domain may have previously been used as a US retail site.
– The Site Name wasn’t set explicitly beforehand, and it may have been auto-extracted during crawling.
– We employ geo-redirects, which may not be considered by the crawlers.
In response, we made a series of changes, including updating the Site Names in our schema and disabling the geo-redirects for the US. Additionally, I migrated every page in Google Search Console to the new folder structure.
Initially, this resolved the problem. However, six months later, the issue resurfaced, this time displaying the .uk Site Name instead.
2 responses to “Incorrect Site name in SERPs”
It sounds like you’ve put a lot of effort into resolving this issue, and it’s frustrating to see it resurface. Here are a few suggestions you might consider to address the “Site Name” problem in the SERPs:
Schema Markup: Ensure that your schema markup explicitly sets the correct “name” property for your organization. This should reflect your desired site name format (e.g., “[Brand] – International”). Double-check that the markup is correctly implemented and validated using Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool.
Google Search Console (GSC): Continue to monitor GSC for any indexing issues. Also, make sure that the settings for your website are correctly reflecting the international structure. Use the “International Targeting” feature to set the preferred country or region for each version of your site.
Canonical Tags: If you have different language versions of the site, ensure that canonical tags are correctly implemented on each page. This helps Google understand the preferred version of your content.
Server Configuration: Check if your server configuration or geo-redirects may inadvertently be affecting how Google perceives your site. Ensure that the geo-redirects are correctly set up and not conflicting with the indexing of other versions of your site.
Check for Backlinks: Since the .com domain was previously used as a US shop, it might have backlinks that are still directing users and crawlers to that version. Use a backlink analysis tool to see if those are still affecting your visibility.
Monitor for Changes: After making adjustments, keep an eye on how the changes impact the SERPs over time. It can take time for Google to recrawl and reflect those changes, so patience and continuous monitoring are key.
Contact Google Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Google Support for help. They may be able to provide additional insights or identify any underlying issues that you haven’t considered.
Since this issue has recurred, a thorough approach to diagnose all possible causes may be necessary. It can be a process of trial and error, but hopefully, with these steps, you’ll be able to achieve the desired site name across all international versions. Good luck!
This is a fascinating discussion on a nuanced aspect of SEO that often goes overlooked! The situation you’re describing highlights the complexities involved in international SEO, especially when migrating domain structures.
When it comes to the Site Name displayed in SERPs, it’s crucial to ensure that your website’s schema markup reflects your desired branding correctly. It might also be worth considering a deeper dive into the structured data to ensure that there are no remnants of the previous TLDs that could confuse search engines. Additionally, you might explore if there are any user-generated content elements or third-party platforms linking back to your site that could unintentionally influence how your Site Name appears.
Another potential avenue to consider is the implementation of hreflang tags if you haven’t done so already. They not only help in directing users to the appropriate regional pages but may also assist search engines in understanding your site’s structure more clearly, potentially influencing how your brand appears across various regions.
Lastly, keep an eye on Google Search Console for any crawl errors that might indicate ongoing issues with how your site is being indexed. It’s an ongoing process, and maintaining clear communication with Google through the Search Console will be vital as you continue to refine your site’s presence in SERPs. Good luck, and keep us updated on your progress!