The practice of search engine optimization is one that is constantly changing! This is especially the case when it comes to Google – it uses a wide variety of algorithms to assemble its search engine results pages, and these algorithms are updated frequently to help cater better to the user experience. One such change came in the form of Google’s helpful content update, which just concluded its rolling out this past September. While algorithm updates are only helpful for the future of SEO, there are definitely some side effects! Lost traffic after a Google algorithm update is more common than you’d think. If you’re looking for tips on how you can recover that lost traffic, we give you some helpful tips below!
Examine The Contents Of The Update
When your website loses traffic after a major Google algorithm change, it’s likely because something within that algorithm change made your website less favorable to the search engine. The first thing that you should do is examine the contents of the update to figure out what changed in Google’s thinking. Helpful Content algorithm changes, for example, aim to promote content written for users first and search engines last. This particular update rolled out changes to their machine-generated content guidelines as well as third-party content rules. Once you have an idea of what changed, you’ll be able to move forward with adjusting your strategy.
Identify Which Search Results Dropped
Keyword research is an important part of understanding where your business ranks on search engines, but it can also help you identify ways to improve your SEO strategy. Using the Helpful Content update as an example, conduct some research on the keywords you’re tracking and compare their position before the update versus when it ended. If you notice any significant dropoffs, make a note of them. It’s likely that something within the algorithm triggered the dropoff! Once you’ve narrowed down your results, you’ll have an idea of which pages to examine.
Audit Affected Pages For Improvements
Now that you’ve identified what changed about the algorithm and which results were affected, the next – and final – step is to audit each page that dropped and understand why it fell off. Using the helpful content algorithm as an example, there’s a possibility that your page wasn’t designed for people first but for search engines. You could also be violating their third-party content rules! Make a list of improvements to make to each page and then enact them accordingly. You may not see immediate boosts in rankings, but improvement over time will tell you that you did the right thing!
Constructing The Right SEO Strategy With Boston Web Marketing
If you’re looking for a search engine optimization company that accounts for any and all changes in Google’s algorithms, look no further than Boston Web Marketing! Our team is always up-to-date with the latest algorithm changes to ensure that your search result rankings stay intact. If you want to improve your business’s web presence, only experienced and dedicated professionals will give you the results you want. Contact Boston Web Marketing today for the best strategies and results for SEO!