151969
•
20-minute read
•
Google Ranking Dropped Dramatically? Here Are 17 Reasons Why
Imagine you wake up one morning, look at your Google ranking report, and see that your site's hard-earned Google rankings dropped.
This list of find-and-fix SEO tips will help you stay on the safe side. No panic, no messing things up — just be ready to recover from whatever has caused your website ranking to drop.
Quick note: How to check your Google rankings quickly
Step 1. Launch Rank Tracker, create a project for your site, and add the keywords you need to track.
If you don’t have such a keyword list, you can put it together by looking into Ranking Keywords in the Keyword Research module.
Step 2. Then, move to Rank Tracking > Tracked Keywords. Make sure to add the Google Difference column and check which pages lost their positions for your tracked keywords.
If you're short on time, check these common reasons why your Google ranking dropped dramatically:
- Your content quality is doubtful
- You’ve overlooked user experience
- Your meta tags aren’t in order
- You structured your URLs in a wrong way
- Your backlinks are shady
- You suddenly have lost some backlinks
- Your website is slow and unresponsive
- Something is not indexed the way it should
- Your website is not secure enough
- Google has updated its algorithms
On-page factors
Let’s first check if the drop in ranking happened because you did something wrong on-page. Usually, these issues are the easiest to fix by yourself — without involving any third parties, be they developers or partners.
1. Your content quality is doubtful
The quality factor is the major one for ranking well on Google (besides backlinks, of course). There are a couple of content issues that may get your site out of the top search results:
- Duplicate content. Duplicate content can mess with search engines. When there are several similar pages on your site, it confuses the search engines. This can cause keyword cannibalization and result in dropped rankings.
- Keyword stuffing. Using too many keywords is a no-go for Google. Stuffing your content with keywords can get you in trouble with Google's algorithms.
- Lack of freshness. Google's Caffeine update puts a premium on fresh content, giving websites that are regularly updated a better chance of ranking higher.
How to spot the issue:
Well, content quality is quite a subjective concept that is difficult to analyze. However, you can still pay attention to those three issues above.
First, check your site for duplicates. To do that, audit your site with WebSite Auditor. In the Site Audit module, find the On-page section and see if there are pages with duplicate titles and descriptions.
Next, analyze whether your affected page is too heavily stuffed with keywords. To do that, move to Page Audit > Content Audit and find the Keywords in body report in the Body section.
As for content freshness, this issue requires your manual review. Look at the last update date of your content that dropped in rankings and decide whether it needs a refresh.
How to fix the issue:
The solution is obvious. Depending on the specific issue you’ve detected, you should consider:
- Removing duplicates. Ensure each page has unique content, titles, and meta descriptions.
- Reducing keyword use. Aim for a natural keyword density and ensure your content reads well to human users, not just search engines.
You may use Content Editor when working on your content. It shows the keywords and the perfect number you need to use based on your competitor’s keyword usage.
- Updating old content. Regularly update your content to reflect the latest information and trends.
2. You’ve overlooked user experience
Google is exceptionally user-focused. It’s no wonder user experience (UX) is critical for site performance in search rankings. Here are some key UX aspects that can “eat” your rankings:
- High bounce rate. High bounce rates mean users aren’t finding what they’re looking for on your page. This can be seen as a negative quality signal by Google’s RankBrain algorithm.
- Low dwell time. Like bounce rate, low dwell time suggests that users don’t find the content engaging or valuable. According to the latest data leak, Google may be using these signals to adjust rankings.
- Poor engagement metrics. Engagement metrics like clicks, shares, and comments reflect true content value. Poor engagement signals search engines about poor content quality. This, in turn, can lead to dropped rankings.
How to spot the issue:
The best way to understand user satisfaction is to go to Google Analytics and find the Engagement report. There, you can check the basic engagement metrics for each page.
How to fix the issue:
The first and foremost tip for enhancing user engagement is, of course, to improve content relevance. You need to ensure that your content matches user intent and provides clear and valuable information that answers their queries.
However, that’s not all you can do. Here are some other things you can try:
- Enhance page design. Use a clean, intuitive design with easy navigation, clear CTAs, and minimal distractions.
- Use interactive elements. If possible and appropriate, add interactive elements like quizzes, polls, and surveys to engage visitors. By the way, you can find a real-life example at the end of the article (look sharp!).
- Add multimedia. Use videos, infographics, and high-quality images. These elements improve readability and encourage users to stay on a page longer. However, remember to make your images SEO-friendly. That’s important.
- Improve internal linking. Internal links also keep visitors on your site longer and help them discover even more relevant content.
3. Your meta tags aren’t in order
Meta tags define what your site will look like in the SERP. So, missing or poorly written/implemented meta tags can be a real problem for a website trying to rank #1 on Google.
Note: Meta tags are not only titles and descriptions
There are also:
- Meta Robots
- Canonical Tag
- Hreflang Tag
- Viewport Meta Tag
- Open Graph Tags, etc.
You can always consult Google’s ultimate list of supported meta tags.
How to spot the issue:
Use the Site Audit tool in WebSite Auditor to check for issues with your meta tags.
If you’re using Semrush, here’s how to check for meta tags problems. Go to the Site Audit tool: Under the SEO section, navigate to Site Audit from the main dashboard or from the left-hand menu. Once you set up the audit and it’s finished, go to the Issues section to see a list of potential SEO problems.
How to fix the issue:
Сraft unique titles and descriptions for each page. Make sure they are within the recommended character limits (50-60 characters for titles, 150-160 characters for descriptions) and include relevant keywords.
Also, don’t forget to take care of the other HTML tags you add to your pages.
4. You structured your URLs in a wrong way
Though lightweight, URLs are still a ranking factor for Google. So, if you initially made a mistake structuring up your URL, your page may have a hard time making it to the top.
Here are the two reasons you fail at URL structuring.
- Non-descriptive URLs. Google’s best practices recommend using descriptive URLs as they provide better context to both users and search engines. So, if your URLs don’t reflect the content on the page, it may become the reason for lower Google rankings.
- Dynamic parameters. Dynamic URLs can be less user-friendly and harder for search engines to index properly. This, in theory, leads to ranking issues.
How to spot the issue:
Use WebSite Auditor. In the Site Audit module, find the URLs report and check the number of dynamic pages. Scan the list of pages to spot any that aren’t supposed to be dynamic.
You can also move to Site Structure > Pages and scan the URL list for those that do not describe the content inside them.
How to fix the issue:
Follow Google’s Guidelines to make it easy for the crawlers to understand what your pages are about. Here are a couple of common best practices:
- Use descriptive URLs. Ensure that your URLs are descriptive and include relevant keywords that reflect the page's content. For example, instead of www.example.com/page?id=123, use www.example.com/blue-widgets.
- Avoid dynamic parameters. Where possible, use static URLs instead of dynamic ones. If dynamic URLs are unavoidable, use URL rewriting techniques to make them more readable and SEO-friendly.
- Keep URLs short and simple. Shorter URLs are easier to read and share. Avoid unnecessary words and keep the URL structure straightforward.
- Use hyphens to separate words. Use hyphens (-) to separate words in URLs. Avoid using underscores (_), spaces, or other characters.
5. There are some advertising issues
Advertisements on your site should enhance user experience, not detract from it. Intrusive ads, especially on mobile devices, can negatively impact user experience and subsequently affect your SEO.
How to spot the issue:
Manually review your site on different devices (desktop, tablet, and mobile) to see how ads are displayed and if they disrupt the user experience. Pay particular attention to pop-ups, interstitials, and ads that cover the main content.
You can also use Google Analytics to monitor bounce rates, average session duration, and pages per session. Sudden spikes in bounce rates or decreases in session duration can indicate that ads are negatively impacting user experience.
How to fix the issue:
- Review ad placement. Ensure ads do not obstruct content or navigation. Place ads strategically so they do not interfere with the user’s ability to consume content.
- Optimize for mobile. Test how ads appear and function on mobile devices. Ensure they are easy to dismiss and do not cover essential content or navigation elements.
- Balance ads and content. Prioritize user experience by balancing the placement and frequency of ads with the quality and relevance of your content.
Off-page factors
Off-page factors (yes, read backlinks) are just as crucial as on-page elements when it comes to SEO. Hear me out, these are powerful and can significantly influence your rankings.
6. Your backlinks are shady
Backlinks do play a critical role in your site's SEO, but not all backlinks are beneficial. Here are common issues with backlinks that could negatively impact your rankings:
- You show some unnatural link patterns. Google penalizes unnatural link-building practices. Sudden spikes in backlinks are suspicious.
- You’ve over-optimized your anchor texts. Over-optimized anchor text can signal manipulative link-building tactics, which Google’s algorithms are designed to penalize.
How to spot the issue:
Use SEO SpyGlass to analyze your backlink profile. First, look for sudden spikes in backlinks in the Summary section.
If you see there is a spike, analyze it further. Go to Backlinks and check the list for an unusual number of links from unrelated sites or links from low-quality (with low Domain InLink Rank metric) sites.
Next, check the anchor text distribution of your backlinks. Identify if you overuse exact-match keywords in your anchor texts, which could indicate over-optimization.
Besides, SEO SpyGlass provides a toxicity score for each backlink, helping you identify potentially harmful links that could be hurting your SEO. To check the toxicity score of the backlink in question, move to the Penalty Risk section.
How to fix the issue:
Google says it doesn’t penalize sites for getting too many backlinks from suspicious sites; it’d rather ignore them. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry, right? So, let’s see what you can do to minimize the risks of downranking.
- Remove unnatural links if possible. If your resources allow, you can contact webmasters to request the removal of unnatural or spammy links pointing to your site. Focus on removing links from low-quality or irrelevant sites.
- Diversify anchor text while doing link building. There should be a natural variety of anchor texts. Avoid using the exact keyword-rich anchor text repeatedly. Instead, use a mix of branded, generic, and long-tail keywords.
- Disavow toxic backlinks/domains in an extreme case. Use Google’s Disavow Tool to inform Google to ignore certain backlinks to your site. This is useful only if you believe there are too many links harming your site's rankings. To save time, use SEO SpyGlass to generate a disavow file and then upload it to Google Search Console.
7. You suddenly have lost some backlinks
Sometimes, backlinks are removed because of website updates or changes in the content itself.
Losing backlinks can be a significant issue as it can lead to a drop in your site's authority. That’s exactly what Google takes into account when ranking sites.
How to spot the issue:
Again, in SEO SpyGlass, go to Historical Data > Backlinks. Here, you can track changes in your backlink profile over time. Look for sudden drops in the number of backlinks on the upper graph.
Then, you can go to the Lost Links report to identify which specific links have been removed, from which referring domains, and for what reason.
How to fix the issue:
In this case, all you can do is try to reclaim lost backlinks and earn new ones.
- Contact webmasters. Reach out to the webmasters of the sites that removed your backlinks. Politely inquire about the removal and see if they can reinstate the link. Explain the value of your content and how it benefits their audience – just in case.
- Update and improve content. If the content that initially earned the backlink has been outdated or changed, consider updating and improving it. Again, inform the webmasters about the improvements you’ve made to persuade them to relink.
- Run new link-building campaigns. There are a lot of strategies you can use.
9 Powerful Link Building Strategies
Technical factors
Technical factors may also affect your website's SEO performance in the SERP. Poor technical performance can lead to a negative user experience and dropped search engine rankings.
8. Your website is slow and unresponsive
If your website shows poor performance, that’s not to Google's liking. These two factors may become the reason behind lowered rankings:
- Slow loading speed. Google takes care of page experience and considers loading speed a ranking factor. So, slow sites usually show higher bounce rates and dropped rankings.
- Unresponsive design. It’s a mobile-first indexing era. This means that Google crawls and indexes the mobile version of the site, which in turn means that the quality of the mobile version of your site is taken into account when ranking.
Note that if you use CMS like WordPress, Shopify, and Wix, these issues will likely become a real reason why your Google rankings dropped.
Tip
If your website is on WordPress, I highly recommend using the AIOSEO plugin for website audit.
How to spot the issue:
Go to Google Search Console. Check the Core Web Vitals (CWV) report for metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), which indicate your site’s loading performance and stability.
Alternatively, you can use WebSite Auditor to assess your site’s overall performance, including page speed and mobile responsiveness. To find the report, go to Site Structure > Site Audit and scroll down to the Page Speed section.
The best part is that in WebSite Auditor, you can check all your pages on CWV in bulk at once. While in GSC you can only view pages separately.
How to fix the issue:
Work on loading speed. Most likely, you’ll have to delegate the task to developers.
- Compress images. Use tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim to compress images without losing quality.
- Enable browser caching. Implement browser caching to store static resources locally, reducing load times for returning visitors.
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. You need to remove unnecessary spaces, comments, and characters. Tools like UglifyJS, CSSNano, and HTMLMinifier can help.
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN). Distribute your content across multiple servers worldwide to reduce load times for users regardless of their geographic location.
- Optimize server response time. This may involve upgrading your hosting plan, optimizing your database, or using server-side caching solutions.
As for mobile issues:
- Use responsive web design techniques. Ensure your site adapts to different screen sizes. This includes flexible grid layouts, scalable images, and CSS media queries.
- Ensure interactive elements (buttons, fonts, and others) are appropriately sized for touchscreens. Use Chrome Lighthouse to identify and fix issues.
9. You’ve got minor technical SEO issues
Though I called them minor, these issues may be the reason why your rankings suddenly dropped. These are:
- Improper redirects. Incorrect redirects can cause crawl errors and negatively impact user experience, leading to ranking drops.
- Canonicalization issues. Improper canonicalization can cause duplicate content issues, which can dilute ranking signals and negatively impact rankings.
How to spot the issue:
Run site audit with Website Auditor to identify improper redirects and canonicalization issues.
How to fix the issue:
First, fix any problems connected with redirects. In brief:
- Use 301 redirects. For permanent page moves, use 301 redirects to maintain SEO value. Avoid 302 redirects unless the move is temporary.
- Fix redirect chains and loops. Ensure that redirects lead to a final destination without multiple redirects or loops that confuse both users and search engines.
And, of course, address your canonicalization issues:
- Set canonical tags. Implement canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page when there are multiple versions with similar content.
- Update internal links. Ensure all internal links point to the canonical version of a page to reinforce its priority.
10. Something is not indexed the way it should
Indexing issues can prevent your important pages from appearing in search results. If something is not rendered and indexed correctly, your page may even drop out of search results.
Here are some common indexing problems:
- Robots.txt blocking
- Noindex tags
- Some other crawl errors.
How to spot the issue:
Obviously, go to GSC and check out the Indexing report. Look for pages excluded from indexing: tagged as Blocked by robots.txt or Submitted URL marked ‘noindex’.
Click on any of these issues to see which pages were affected.
You can also check the exact info in WebSite Auditor (in a more convenient way, though):
How to fix the issue:
- Modify the robots.txt file to allow search engines to crawl and index the important pages.
- Remove noindex tags from important pages that you want to be indexed. Ensure that only pages that should not appear in search results (e.g., admin pages, thank-you pages) have noindex tags.
- Identify and fix broken links that lead to 404 errors. Redirect these URLs to the relevant page using 301 redirects.
- Ensure your server is configured correctly to handle search engine crawlers. Resolve any server errors (e.g., 500 errors) that may prevent indexing.
A special case: Rankings dropped after changing the web host
Sometimes, it may happen that a site’s rankings declined after it moved to free shared hosting. The website owner may come up with the idea that the reason for the spoiled rankings could have been a spammy neighborhood of shared hosting.
However, John Mueller dismissed it as a myth, saying that “Moving hosting results in a temporary slow-down in crawling, but that catches up quickly and doesn't affect rankings”.
Still, it's a must to choose your web hosting provider wisely because it affects the speed, reliability, and security of your website, which in turn influences user experience and trust.
11. You applied structured data incorrectly or never did it at all
Structured data, or schema markup, helps search engines understand your content better and can enhance your presence in search results with rich snippets.
Proper implementation of structured data can significantly improve your visibility and click-through rates. This way, missing or incorrectly implemented schema markup can result in missed opportunities for visibility.
How to spot the issue:
Go to GSC and see the Enhancements report. Here, you will find any detected issues with your structured data. This report will highlight errors and warnings related to your schema markup.
You can also use the Rich Results Test tool in GSC to test specific pages to implement structured data correctly.
How to fix the issue:
Well, you need to write the correct structured data. You can use tools like ChatGPT to help generate the correct structured data for your content. Provide details about your content, and the tool can help create the appropriate schema markup.
In any case, follow the guidelines provided on Schema.org and Google’s structured data documentation to avoid errors and implement the correct schema types.
Besides, it’s always a good idea to validate your structured data. You can use the Structured Data Testing Tool to test your structured data. This tool will identify any errors or warnings that need to be addressed.
Once you’ve implemented the corrected structured data, recheck it using the validator to ensure it’s correctly interpreted by search engines.
12. Your website is not secure enough
Google prioritizes secure sites (HTTPS). Sites without SSL certificates (HTTP) are marked as “Not Secure” in browsers, which can deter users and impact rankings.
How to spot the issue:
Check Google Search Console for security alerts. To do this, go to the Security & Manual Actions section. Check for any security issues or alerts related to your site’s security status.
How to fix the issue:
- Install an SSL certificate. If your site is currently using HTTP, get an SSL certificate to enable HTTPS encryption. This will secure the data transmitted between your users and your website.
- Verify HTTPS Configuration. Ensure that HTTPS is correctly configured on all site pages. Use tools like SSL Labs’ SSL Test to check the SSL configuration and identify any issues that need to be fixed.
- Address security vulnerabilities. If your site has been hacked or compromised, take immediate action to secure it. Remove malicious code, update software and plugins to the latest versions, and strengthen access controls.
External factors
External factors are the most dangerous ones. They are beyond your control and can significantly impact your site's rankings. In these cases, all you can do is understand and adapt to these factors. And then maybe (only maybe) you’ll be able to maintain and improve your search performance.
13. Google has updated its algorithms
Google frequently updates its algorithms to enhance search quality and user experience. These updates can cause significant ranking fluctuations. This can be:
- Google core updates. Google releases broad core updates several times a year. These updates can impact various factors, including content quality, relevance, and overall site authority. Sites may see improved or declined rankings based on how well they align with the updated criteria.
- Specific algorithm changes. Google also rolls out updates targeting particular issues such as spam, page experience, mobile-friendliness, and more. These changes can affect sites that violate guidelines or fail to meet the updated standards.
How to spot the issue:
Follow reliable SEO news sources such as Search Engine Land, Search Engine Roundtable, and Search Engine Journal, or subscribe to some of these SEO digests. These sites and newsletters regularly report on Google algorithm updates and their potential impact.
Monitor official Google announcements on platforms like the Google Search Central Blog and Google’s Twitter account.
How to fix the issue:
Each case is different. Your actions will depend on the update. The first thing you should do is determine which aspect of your site is affected by the update.
If a core update impacts your site, focus on improving the quality and relevance of your content. Ensure it is comprehensive, well-researched, and provides value to users.
For updates targeting technical aspects, audit your site’s technical health. Fix issues related to site speed, mobile usability, and structured data.
For updates targeting spammy practices, review your backlink profile for unnatural links, ensure your content adheres to Google’s guidelines, and remove any low-quality or manipulative elements.
14. Your competitors don’t sleep
The competitive landscape in search engine rankings is constantly evolving. You should never forget that. Even if you reach the top, you can’t sit still. Otherwise, you will soon be pulled down from the throne and see a drop in rankings.
New websites or pages may enter your niche and start outranking your site by offering more relevant or better-optimized content.
At the same time, existing competitors may enhance their SEO strategies, update their content, and improve their website’s technical performance, gaining an edge in search rankings.
How to spot the issue:
You need to run a SERP analysis. Use SEO tools like Rank Tracker to perform SERP Analysis and identify which competitors are outranking you for your target keywords.
Look for new entrants or competitors climbing up the rankings.
Tip: Check the correlation between rankings and SEO factors
In the SERP Analysis module, you can see which ranking factor is predominant in this SERP. This way, you’ll discover which SEO aspect you need to pay attention to.
I also recommend regularly visiting competitor websites to see what new content they publish, what changes they implement in their site structure, or which updates they introduce in their offerings.
Besides, keep an eye on industry news and announcements related to your competitors. This can give you insights into their strategies and improvements.
How to fix the issue:
Whatever the reason is, you need to identify why your competitors, new or old, are outranking you. Look at the length, depth, and quality of their content. Analyze their use of keywords, multimedia elements, and overall content structure. Find the things that can be improved in your own copy.
Then, based on your analysis, update your content to provide more value. Make your articles more comprehensive, add up-to-date information, and include multimedia elements like images, videos, and infographics.
Want to generate more leads than your competitors do?
Various platforms can help you generate more leads and accelerate sales. I personally recommend the HubSpot Customer Platform. It offers a free plan, which you can use for as long as you wish.
15. Search trends are changing, and your strategy is not
Search trends can shift due to changes in user behavior, interests, or seasonal variations. If your SEO strategy doesn't adapt to these changes, your rankings may drop.
For example, new trends, technologies, or cultural shifts can change what users search for and how they phrase their queries.
Besides, some search queries have seasonal patterns. For example, searches for holiday gifts peak in November and December, while searches for tax services peak in early spring.
How to spot the issue:
You need to stay tuned to trends. Always. Continually.
- Use Google Trends. Use Google Trends to track changes in search interest for relevant keywords over time. Look for emerging trends or declining interest in specific topics.
- Check industry reports. Follow industry reports and research studies to understand broader shifts in user behavior and interests.
- Use social media and forums. Monitor social media and online forums to see what topics are gaining traction and how people talk about them.
11 Best Social Listening Tools
How to fix the issue:
You need to adapt to changing trends. But how?
- Update your keyword strategy. Conduct regular keyword research to identify new keywords and phrases that are gaining popularity. Incorporate these keywords into your content strategy.
- Refresh content. Revise and update your existing content to reflect current trends and user interests. Add new sections, update statistics, and ensure your content is relevant to what users are searching for now.
- Create seasonal content. Plan and create content around seasonal trends. For example, produce holiday-related content well before the holiday season to capture peak search interest.
- Diversify content. Expand your content strategy to cover a broader range of topics related to your niche. This can help you capture organic traffic from emerging trends and shifts in user behavior.
16. You’ve got manual actions (my condolences)
Manual actions, or penalties, are imposed by Google when a human reviewer determines that pages on your site are not compliant with Google Search Essentials. These penalties are probably the last thing you want to get from Google.
Here is the list of violations that may lead your site to Google’s manual actions:
|
|
|
|
Note
You may find it confusing that some of the points mentioned in the table repeat some of the points I already provided above. The matter is in the specifics of your violation.
For example, to get a manual action for structured data abuse, the markup on your pages must use techniques that are outside Google’s structured data guidelines, such as marking up content that is invisible to users, marking up irrelevant or misleading content, or other manipulative behavior. Plain incorrect implementation may lead to downranking but never to a manual action.
In the same way, if you buy links or participate in link schemes in order to manipulate ranking in Google Search results, it is a violation of Google’s spam policies. You can get a manual action for this. However, if there is just a spike in backlinks from unrelated sites, most likely, Google will just ignore them.
How to spot the issue:
In GSC, find the Manual Actions report under the Security & Manual Actions section. This report lists any manual actions applied to your site and provides details about the violations.
How to fix the issue:
- Expand the manual action description panel on the report for more information.
- See which pages are affected.
- Check out the type and short description of the issue, and follow the Learn more link to see detailed information and steps to fix it.
- Fix the issue on all affected pages.
- Once you have addressed all the issues, submit a reconsideration request in GSC. Explain the steps you’ve taken to fix the problems and ask for the manual action to be lifted.
- After the penalty is removed, ensure ongoing compliance with Google’s Search Essentials to avoid future penalties. Regularly audit your site for potential issues and fix them promptly.
17. There are local SEO factors you missed out on
Local SEO factors play a crucial role in how your business appears in local search results, especially for location-based queries. Addressing these factors can help improve your local rankings and visibility.
- N.A.P. Inconsistencies. N.A.P. stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. Inconsistent N.A.P. information across different online platforms, directories, or your Google Business Profile can confuse search engines and negatively impact your local rankings.
- Negative reviews. Negative reviews or low ratings on platforms like Google Business Profile can affect local SEO performance. Search engines consider reviews and ratings as signals of business reputation and trustworthiness.
How to spot the issue:
Log in to your Google Business Profile account and review your business profile. Ensure that your N.A.P. information is consistent and matches the details on your website and other online directories.
Of course, monitor the reviews and ratings section on your Google Business Profile. Look for negative reviews and assess their impact on your overall rating and local SEO performance.
How to fix the issue:
- Conduct a thorough audit of your business listings across all online platforms, directories, and social media profiles. Ensure that your N.A.P. information is consistent everywhere.
- Correct any inconsistencies in your business name, address, or phone number. Use the same format and spelling across all platforms.
- Respond to negative reviews professionally and promptly. Address customer concerns and provide solutions where possible.
- You can also encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on Google Business Profile and other relevant platforms. Positive reviews can improve your local rankings and offset negative feedback. Overall, brand reputation management is a good thing, you should try it.
Summary
Experiencing a sudden drop in your website's rankings can be alarming, but understanding the potential causes and knowing how to address them can help you recover swiftly.
Did you experience the sudden Google rankings drop? How did you recover? Share your thoughts in our Facebook group!
Article stats:
| Linking websites | N/A |
| Backlinks | N/A |
| InLink Rank | N/A |
Data from Seo SpyGlass: try free backlink checker.
