Why SEO Rankings Drop & How to Fix It
Seeing your website rankings drop in Google search results can be alarming. Whether it’s caused by Google algorithm updates, technical issues, or content changes, an SEO ranking drop can lead to less traffic, fewer leads, and lost revenue. However, the good news is that recovery is possible—and often faster than you think with the right strategy!
Many businesses panic when they see a sudden ranking drop, but taking a structured, data-driven approach can help diagnose the problem and get rankings back on track. This guide will walk through the common causes of SEO ranking drops, how to recover from algorithm updates, and the importance of technical SEO fixes, backlinks, and content updates in the recovery process.
How to Find the Cause of a Ranking Drop
The first step in recovering from an SEO ranking drop is identifying the root cause. Before making any changes, use Google Search Console and Google Analytics to assess:
- Which pages lost rankings? Are specific pages or keywords affected, or is it a site-wide drop?
- Did the drop coincide with a Google algorithm update? Check SEO news sources for recent updates.
- Were there recent website changes? Did you update site structure, redesign pages, or migrate to a new domain?
- Have you lost backlinks? Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to check for lost inbound links.
- Is there a technical issue? Slow site speed, broken links, or indexing errors can cause ranking losses.
Once you diagnose the cause, you can apply the right recovery strategy.
Steps to Recover from Algorithm Updates
Google frequently updates its algorithm, and some updates can significantly impact rankings. If your rankings dropped after an update, follow these steps:
- Understand the Update: Read SEO industry reports to determine what changed. Some updates target thin content, poor UX, or link manipulation.
- Improve Content Quality: Ensure your pages offer value, are well-researched, and answer user intent.
- Enhance User Experience (UX): If Google prioritised Core Web Vitals, page speed, or mobile-friendliness, ensure your site is fast and user-friendly.
- Rebuild Lost Backlinks: If competitors outranked you due to stronger link profiles, focus on earning high-quality backlinks through guest blogging, digital PR, and outreach.
- Be Patient & Monitor Results: Algorithm recoveries take time. Keep improving your site and tracking rankings over 4-8 weeks.
Some businesses overreact to ranking drops, making unnecessary changes that worsen the problem. Instead, focus on Google’s long-term ranking priorities: quality content, strong backlinks, and user experience.
Fixing Technical SEO Issues That Hurt Rankings
Technical SEO problems are a hidden cause of ranking drops. If your rankings fell suddenly, check for:
- Crawling & Indexing Errors: Use Google Search Console to identify indexing issues. Ensure no critical pages are blocked by robots.txt or noindex tags.
- Slow Page Speed: Google prioritises fast websites. Use Google PageSpeed Insights to optimise load times.
- Mobile Usability Issues: With Google’s mobile-first indexing, sites that don’t perform well on mobile will lose rankings.
- Broken Links & Redirect Errors: Too many 404 errors or broken internal links can impact SEO. Use a site audit tool to identify and fix broken links.
- Duplicate Content & Cannibalisation: If multiple pages compete for the same keyword, Google may lower rankings. Consolidate duplicate pages or adjust keyword targeting.
Fixing these technical issues improves site performance and helps Google understand and rank your content correctly.
Why Backlinks & Content Updates Matter in Recovery
SEO isn’t just about fixing problems—it’s also about building authority and staying competitive. If rankings have dropped, focus on two major recovery factors:
1. Strengthening Your Backlink Profile
Google values high-quality backlinks. If your rankings dropped because competitors gained more authority, you need to earn new backlinks.
How to recover lost authority:
- Reclaim broken or lost links by reaching out to sites that previously linked to you.
- Publish high-value content that naturally attracts backlinks.
- Contribute guest posts to industry sites.
- List your business on high-authority directories if you rely on local SEO.
2. Updating & Expanding Content
If competitors outranked you by publishing more comprehensive content, it’s time to refresh your pages.
Ways to improve content:
- Add new data, examples, and case studies.
- Improve on-page SEO (title tags, meta descriptions, internal links).
- Structure content better using headings (H2, H3) and bullet points.
- Expand pages to cover additional user queries and FAQs.
These updates show Google that your content is fresh and valuable, improving rankings over time.
Case Study
How Stronger Together Foundation Recovered SEO Rankings After a Website Rebrand With the Help of Digital Presence
At a Glance:
- 15.17% increase in SEO traffic over the past three months
- 7 main keywords ranked in the Top 3 and 15 keywords on Page 1 (from zero before SEO implementation)
- Higher inquiries from the Hills District, leading to more families engaging with their therapy services
- Improved overall online visibility across Sydney and the Hills District
Challenges:
Stronger Together Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation supporting children with developmental delays and neurodivergent needs, faced a loss of rankings and traffic after a website rebrand and URL change. They needed to rebuild SEO authority and compete against established therapy service providers.
Objectives:
The primary goal was to restore lost SEO visibility and strengthen local search presence in the Sydney Hills District. This involved rebuilding rankings for speech therapy and occupational therapy keywords while increasing organic inquiries and website traffic.
Solutions:
Digital Presence implemented a structured SEO recovery strategy, including:
- Historical data analysis to identify lost rankings and traffic sources
- 301 redirects to retain SEO value and direct old URLs to new pages
- On-page optimisation for key service pages, targeting high-value therapy-related keywords
- Local SEO enhancements to boost Google Business Profile (GBP) rankings and increase visibility in the Hills District
Results:
Within three months, Stronger Together Foundation saw a 15.17% increase in SEO traffic, with 15 keywords ranking on Page 1 and 7 in the Top 3. The improvements led to higher inquiries from the local community, helping more families access their therapy services.
This case study demonstrates how a structured SEO recovery plan can restore rankings, boost online visibility, and drive real engagement.
SEO Recovery Checklist for 2025
If your website experiences a ranking drop, follow this step-by-step recovery checklist:
Step 1: Diagnose the Problem
✅ Check Google Search Console & Google Analytics for sudden traffic changes
✅ Identify specific pages or keywords that lost rankings
✅ Review recent Google algorithm updates
✅ Check for technical errors (broken links, slow speed, indexing issues)
Step 2: Fix Technical SEO Issues
✅ Ensure all important pages are indexed in Google
✅ Optimise Core Web Vitals and page speed
✅ Fix broken links and 404 errors
✅ Ensure mobile responsiveness and proper site structure
Step 3: Adjust Content Strategy
✅ Update underperforming pages with new information
✅ Improve on-page SEO (title tags, meta descriptions, structured content)
✅ Expand content to cover additional user search queries
✅ Remove or consolidate duplicate or cannibalised pages
Step 4: Strengthen Backlinks & Authority
✅ Reclaim lost backlinks from referring sites
✅ Publish new, high-value content to attract organic links
✅ Use guest blogging & PR outreach to build domain authority
Final Thoughts: Recovering from an SEO Ranking Drop
An SEO ranking drop doesn’t have to be permanent. By diagnosing the cause, fixing technical issues, updating content, and rebuilding authority, businesses can recover lost rankings and improve long-term search performance.
Need help recovering your SEO rankings? Contact Digital Presence at 1300 867 726 or visit our website for a tailored SEO recovery plan!
