During the day to day of my life as a GrowFo, I delve into traffic statistics regularly. It isn’t always that we see flourishing traffic inclines and percentages flashing in green. Sometimes when we take a deep dive into the amount of traffic to a site, we notice that traffic is dropping. Don’t panic! SEO specialists like us, and business owners like you quite often face a decline in traffic and whilst on the surface it can seem like something to worry about, this blog is here to help you discover reasons for a decline in traffic and what to do if your site traffic is dropping.
Understanding the potential causes of a drop in site traffic and taking proactive steps to help you gain momentum is one of the key ways that you can get ahead and take your business to the next step.
Why is My Website Traffic Dropping?
Before jumping head first into what to do if your site traffic is dropping, let’s first explore some of the reasons we may be seeing a decline in traffic.
There are several common culprits to look out for if your site traffic is dropping.
- Algorithm Updates – Google and other search engines are constantly updating and refining the way their algorithm works. An update in the algorithm could impact your search rankings, thus leading to a decline in site traffic.
- Technical Issues – Visitors can be deterred and search rankings can be impacted by technical issues such as slow loading speed or mobile-responsiveness issues.
- Content – Consistency is key when it comes to your content marketing strategy. If a website has lots of outdated or irrelevant content, it can lead to lower search rankings and less traffic.
- Competitors – Increased competition in your industry can how many people visit your website.
- Seasonal Changes – Some businesses experience natural traffic fluctuations based on the season. Don’t be alarmed if you notice a seasonal pattern of traffic dipping.
What To Do If Your Site Traffic Is Dropping
Once you have noticed the potential cause(s) of your site traffic dropping, there are some strategies you could implement to boost traffic to your site.
Firstly, this is a good time for you to conduct a website audit, taking a look at the position of your technical SEO (check for broken links, slow loading times etc), on page SEO (ensure your pages are well optimised and the keyword is relevant) and content (evaluate your existing content for relevancy and engagement).
If algorithm updates are affecting your site traffic, our only real advice is to keep an eye on them! Algorithm updates come thick and fast, sometimes with little to no notice of when or what they may do. Stay informed about Google’s algorithm updates and be reactive – be willing to adapt your SEO strategy to maintain your rankings in line with the updates.
Create high quality content. I’m sure you’re sick of hearing me say – content is king! If your site traffic is dropping, it may be a sign to freshen up your content. Make sure you are producing valuable, informative and engaging pieces of content, optimising each article for relevant a keyword.
Another thing you can focus on if your site traffic is dropping is enhancing the user experience. Optimise your website for mobile devices and ensure that across the board, your website navigation and loading speed are good, improving the usability of the site, and attracting traffic to your site.
If your site traffic is dropping, offsite SEO tactics could be a way to rectify this. Acquiring high quality backlinks from reputable websites is a great way of boosting your website’s authority, counting toward that all important EEAT score. You can learn more about how to build backlinks here.
Something that I tell a lot of clients, and people I meet is that your social media channels should act as the speakers to your website, amplifying the work you put into your site. If you’re site traffic is dropping, turning up those speakers is a really good idea. Leverage your social media channels by promoting your web content, increasing visibility and hopefully driving traffic back to your site.
What We Can Do If Your Site Traffic Is Dropping
Working with an SEO expert (there are a few to choose from right here at GrowTraffic) can help give you a head start in tracking and analysing your website to find the most suitable solution for recovering your traffic.
An SEO agency has the right tools, knowledge and access to platforms that can help you find the cause, and solution if your site traffic is dropping. We can help you identify trends in your traffic and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Recovering and boosting website traffic isn’t an overnight fix, as with many things SEO, consistency is key.
If you need to know what to do if your site traffic is dropping and want to know how we can help, reach out to our team today.