Sudden Decline in Website Clicks: How to Diagnose and Address the Issue
Experiencing a significant drop in website traffic can be concerning for any publisher or website owner. Recently, I observed a dramatic decrease in daily clicks, with figures dropping from approximately 150-200 per day down to fewer than 10—a decline that occurred between June 25th and June 28th.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, understanding how to investigate the root cause is essential for restoring your site’s performance. In this article, we’ll explore effective steps to diagnose traffic issues and identify potential causes.
1. Review Google Search Console Data
Start by analyzing your Google Search Console (GSC) reports:
- Check the Performance Report: Look at the clicks, impressions, click-through rate (CTR), and average position over time. Identify when the decline started and whether it correlates with any changes.
- Filter by Pages and Queries: Determine if specific pages or search queries are affected more than others.
- Compare Date Ranges: Use the performance report to compare periods before and after the traffic drop to spot patterns.
2. Investigate Website Changes and Technical Issues
Technical problems can directly impact your search engine visibility:
- Website Accessibility: Ensure your site is operational and accessible; check for downtime or server errors.
- robots.txt and Meta Tags: Verify that your robots.txt file isn’t blocking search engines from crawling your site.
- Indexation Status: Use GSC’s URL inspection tool to check if important pages are still indexed.
- Core Web Vitals: Assess site speed and user experience; declines here can affect rankings.
3. Examine Algorithm Updates and Search Trends
Search engine algorithms frequently update, impacting rankings:
- Check Google Announcements: Review recent algorithm updates around late June that might affect your site.
- Monitor Search Trends: Use tools like Google Trends to identify shifts in search behavior related to your niche.
4. Analyze External Factors
External influences can also impact traffic:
- Backlink Profile: Sudden loss of backlinks or spammy links being removed can affect rankings.
- Competitor Activity: Increased competition or new content from competitors might shift rankings.
5. Review External Traffic Sources
While Google Search Console provides search data, assess other channels:
- Referral Traffic: Check Google Analytics for referrals from other sources that may have changed.
- Social Media and Campaigns: Ensure that