How to Recover Lost SEO Keyword Rankings: A Step-by-Step Guide
2 May 2023
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It can be distressing to find that one of your website’s keyword has lost its rank and dropped out of the visual radar. While the change is dynamic, as an SEO specialist, you must always aim to keep your keyword’s ranking going up or, at least hold the position.
In this article, we are going to delve into the steps of recovering from a keyword ranking drop.
Keyword Ranking
Keyword ranking, also known as keyword position or keyword placement, refers to a web page's position in search engine results for a specific keyword or phrase. In other terms, it is the numerical ranking provided to a webpage when a user performs a search using specific keywords.
What does it mean when a keyword's ranking drops?
When a keyword's ranking drops, it means that the webpage associated with that keyword has dropped in the search engine results pages (SERPs) compared to its previous position. This drop in ranking can have a number of consequences and is usually a cause for concern for website owners and SEO specialists. Here are some of the reasons why a keyword's ranking may drop:
Algorithm Updates: Search engines change their algorithms on a frequent basis to improve the quality of their search results. If a search engine's algorithm is updated and the webpage does not satisfy the new criteria as well as it did previously, the ranking may suffer.
Changes in the Competitive Landscape: If your competitors improve their SEO methods or create more relevant and optimized content, they may beat your webpage in the rankings, causing your position to fall.
Technical Issues: Technical difficulties with your website, like as poor page load times, broken links, or server issues, can have a negative effect on your results. Websites that provide a smooth and consistent user experience are prioritized by search engines.
Content Quality: If the content on your website becomes outdated, irrelevant, or of lesser quality than competitors, search engines may drop it to a lower rank. Maintaining and boosting rankings requires high-quality, up-to-date information.
Backlink Changes: Changes in the quality or amount of backlinks pointing to your website might have an impact on your rankings. If authoritative sites link to your content, it can boost your ranking; on the other hand, losing quality backlinks might cause a drop in rankings.
Penalties: Violations of search engine standards or the use of black-hat SEO tactics can result in penalties, resulting in a significant drop in ranks. Google, for example, may penalize websites that engage in methods such as keyword stuffing, cloaking, or manipulative link-building.
How to Recover from a Drop in Keyword Ranking
We'll lead you through the process of recovering from a drop in keyword positions in this step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Conduct a Thorough Analysis
Before implementing any changes, it is important to identify the fundamental reason for the drop. Analytic tools can be used to identify specific keywords and sites that have been affected. Look for patterns or recent developments that may have caused the fall.
Step 2: Check for Algorithm Updates
Stay up-to-date on the latest search engine algorithm changes. Major algorithm updates can have a major influence on keyword rankings. Cross-reference your position drop timeline with known updates to determine if there is a connection.
Step 3: Analyze On-Page SEO Factors
Check the on-page elements of the pages that are affected. Examine the title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags for any changes. Maintain the relevance, value, and alignment of the content with your target keywords.
Step 4: Evaluate Backlink Quality
Check your backlink profile for recent changes. Remove harmful links and concentrate on getting high-quality backlinks from credible sources. A decrease in backlink quality might have a detrimental influence on your keyword rankings.
Step 5: Identify Technical SEO Issues
Conduct a technical SEO audit to detect any issues that may be hurting the performance of your website. Look for problems such as poor page load times, broken links, and crawl errors.
Step 6: Monitor Competitor Activity
Keep an eye on your competitor's strategies. Changes in their SEO strategies or content quality may have an impact on your keyword rankings. Identify areas where you may outshine them and get a competitive advantage.
Step 7: Optimize Content for User Intent
Ensure that the content aligns with the user's goal. Analyze the search intent associated with your target keywords and adjust your content accordingly. Concentrate on offering value and relevancy to your target audience.
Step 8: Utilize Social Media and Content Marketing
Promote your SEO efforts through social media and content marketing. Improved exposure and interaction can help your SEO efforts. Share useful information that encourages organic sharing and the acquisition of backlinks.
Step 9: Implement Schema Markup and Rich Snippets
Implement schema markup and rich snippets to improve your search results. This can increase the visibility and click-through rate of your pages, impacting keyword rankings positively.
Step 10: Monitor and Adjust
After making changes, keep an eye on your keyword positions. Use keyword position checker tools to determine the effectiveness of your efforts. Adjust your plan based on ongoing performances and keep improving.
