[1]: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-search-ranking-drop/206678/ “”
[2]: https://www.webfx.com/blog/seo/seo-rankings-drop/ “”
[3]: https://www.pixelfish.com.au/blog/why-have-my-search-rankings-dropped/ “”
[4]: https://www.conductor.com/academy/ranking-drop/ “”
[5]: https://www.doubledome.com/blog/search-engine-optimization/what-to-do-when-seo-rankings-drop/ “”
[6]: https://medium.com/@SEOSimply/my-google-rankings-dropped-why-and-what-to-do-f993b297676c “”

Don’t panic! It’s not uncommon for search rankings to fluctuate. Here’s a 10-step process to help you identify why your organic search rankings have dropped and get your SEO back on track:

1. Start With the Basics:

• Check your site’s status codes. Ensure that your pages return a 200 status code, indicating successful communication.
• Verify that bots can crawl your site by reviewing your robots.txt file. Adjust any overly restrictive settings.
• Review on-page SEO basics like title tags, meta descriptions, and headings. Sometimes simple fixes directly on your site can make a difference.

1. Check SEO Basics:

• While title tags may not be a direct ranking factor, they still influence search results. Ensure your home page’s title and meta tags are optimized and display correctly in search results.

1. Verify Rankings:

• Confirm that your rankings have indeed dropped. Sometimes it’s a glitch in rank tracking tools. Check your tracker’s website and Twitter for known issues.

1. Scope the Impact:

• Assess the extent of the ranking drop. Is it across the board or specific pages? Understand the impact to prioritize your efforts.

1. Recent Website Changes:

• Review any recent changes to your website. Did you alter content, URLs, or site structure? These changes could affect rankings.

1. Technical Issues:

• Investigate technical issues like slow page speed, broken links, or server errors. Google penalizes poorly performing sites.

1. Google Algorithm Updates:

• Stay informed about recent algorithm updates. Adjust your strategy to align with Google’s new criteria.

1. SERP Layout Changes:

• Google occasionally modifies its search engine result pages (SERPs). Adapt to any layout changes.

1. Backlink Disavowal:

• If you’ve disavowed valuable backlinks, reconsider their impact. Sometimes disavowing can harm rankings.

1. Monitor and Adapt:
   • Keep an eye on your rankings. Implement corrective actions and monitor improvements.

Remember, SEO rankings are dynamic, and proactive troubleshooting can help you recover. Follow best practices, focus on user experience, and stay informed about industry changes. Your rankings will bounce back! 🚀¹[1] ²[4]

Source: Conversation with Bing, 4/29/2024
(1) Your Rankings Have Dropped – 10 Things to Do Now – Search Engine Journal. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-search-ranking-drop/206678/.
(2) Google Ranking Dropped Dramatically — Here’s How To Recover [2023]. https://www.conductor.com/academy/ranking-drop/.
(3) SEO Rankings Drop? Here Are 4 Steps to Recovery – WebFX. https://www.webfx.com/blog/seo/seo-rankings-drop/.
(4) Why have my Search Rankings Dropped & What Can I Do? – Pixel Fish. https://www.pixelfish.com.au/blog/why-have-my-search-rankings-dropped/.
(5) Recovering from SEO Mistakes: What to Do When Rankings Drop. https://www.doubledome.com/blog/search-engine-optimization/what-to-do-when-seo-rankings-drop/.
(6) My Google rankings dropped, why and what to do – Medium. https://medium.com/@SEOSimply/my-google-rankings-dropped-why-and-what-to-do-f993b297676c.

[1]: https://ahrefs.com/blog/seo-mistakes/ “”
[2]: https://www.reliablesoft.net/seo-mistakes/ “”
[3]: https://www.99signals.com/common-seo-mistakes/ “”
[4]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2021/08/30/10-of-the-most-common-seo-errors-and-how-to-rectify-them/ “”

Certainly! Avoiding common SEO mistakes is crucial for maintaining a strong online presence. Here are some pitfalls to steer clear of:

1. Not Doing Keyword Research:

• Randomly creating content without targeting relevant keywords can lead to low search traffic. Always ensure your pages focus on keywords with search potential¹[1]²[2].
• Solution: Use tools like Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer to find relevant keywords with traffic potential.

1. Not Matching Search Intent:

• Google aims to provide relevant results based on user intent. Align your content with what searchers are looking for.
• Solution: Analyze top-ranking results for content type, format, and angle to match search intent¹[1]³[3].

1. Targeting Keywords That Are Too Difficult:

• Going after highly competitive keywords can be challenging. Balance your keyword strategy with a mix of difficulty levels.
• Solution: Opt for long-tail keywords or focus on less competitive niches.

1. Not Building Enough Backlinks:

• Backlinks play a crucial role in SEO. Neglecting link-building efforts can hinder your rankings.
• Solution: Actively seek quality backlinks from authoritative websites.

1. Breaking Google’s Terms of Service When Building Links:

• Unethical practices like buying links or participating in link schemes can harm your site’s reputation.
• Solution: Focus on natural link-building techniques and adhere to Google’s guidelines.

1. Missing Internal Link Opportunities:

• Internal links improve site navigation and distribute link equity. Neglecting them can impact your SEO.
• Solution: Strategically link relevant pages within your website.

1. Not Letting Google Crawl Your Content:

• Blocking search engine bots from crawling your site can prevent indexing and ranking.
• Solution: Ensure your robots.txt file allows crawling of essential pages.

1. Not Letting Google Index Your Content:

• If you accidentally block indexing, your pages won’t appear in search results.
• Solution: Verify that your pages are indexable and not inadvertently excluded.

1. Having an Extremely Slow Site:

• Page speed affects user experience and search rankings. Slow-loading sites may lose visitors.
• Solution: Optimize images, use caching, and choose a reliable hosting provider.

1. Treating SEO as a One-Time Thing:
   • SEO requires ongoing effort. Neglecting it after initial setup can lead to ranking drops.
   • Solution: Continuously monitor, adapt, and improve your SEO strategy¹[1]³[3].

Remember, avoiding these mistakes and staying informed about SEO best practices will help you maintain a strong online presence and improve your search rankings! 🚀🔍

Source: Conversation with Bing, 4/29/2024
(1) 10 Common SEO Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them) – Ahrefs. https://ahrefs.com/blog/seo-mistakes/.
(2) 14 Biggest SEO Mistakes (And How To Fix Them) – Reliablesoft. https://www.reliablesoft.net/seo-mistakes/.
(3) 15 Common SEO Mistakes You Need to Avoid in 2024 – 99signals. https://www.99signals.com/common-seo-mistakes/.
(4) 10 Of The Most Common SEO Errors (And How To Rectify Them) – Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2021/08/30/10-of-the-most-common-seo-errors-and-how-to-rectify-them/.