Help with website traffic/rankings decrease

[icemetal]

Ok so I'm not sure what happened but a couple years ago I started a new site that I planned to turn into a large authority site with lots of articles. At first everything seemed to go fine.

I was writing 1000+ word articles and posting them and traffic was slowly but surely climbing (see screenshot below)

I did start creating backlinks. Nothing too crazy though just forum links and some comment links and a couple guest posts.

The problem started in August of 2020 as you can see. Google just decided for some reason (Still can't figure out why) to just knock my site down.

I had no penalties in Search Console or anything like that. There were no major changes around the time and I checked the google updates that happened around that time and could not correlate any of them to the sudden decline in traffic/rankings.

This unfortunately demotivated me and I stopped working on the site which I realize was a mistake. I''m now seeing a slight increase in traffic and rankings but nothing like before. It seems I'm just stuck on page 2 and 3 for most of my keywords.

I was hoping you guys could chime in and help me understand why this could've happened and what can be done to get back to the levels seen before. Maybe this has happened to you? I don't want to give up as the site still ranks for my keywords but just not on page 1.

I would really appreciate the wisdom any of you could offer. Would really love to get this site growing again. Thanks!

 

[tazarbm]

Nothing too crazy though just forum links and some comment links

what even are comment links??

I don't have a solution to your problem but most likely your competition has built more and better links, outranking you. That would be my first thought

 

[brandonwood]

You might start paid campaign likewise.

 

[icemetal]

what even are comment links??

I don't have a solution to your problem but most likely your competition has built more and better links, outranking you. That would be my first thought

Just links inserted into the comment section of certain blogs. Yeah, my competitors could be outranking me but would that entail such a drastic and quick decline? their back link profile was not much stronger than mine.

 

[tazarbm]

Just links inserted into the comment section of certain blogs

so blog comments. Shitty links

would that entail such a drastic and quick decline?

yes

their back link profile was not much stronger than mine

if they have PBN links that are hidden from google and SEO tools they will outrank you and you won't ever find out why

 

[icemetal]

so blog comments. Shitty links


yes


if they have PBN links that are hidden from google and SEO tools they will outrank you and you won't ever find out why

The funny thing is one of my competitors that started around the same time as me took off with nothing but comment links (shitty links) and just dominates the top ten to this day. I on the other hand actually purchased quality links here and there and diversified.

I think you have a good point about the hidden PBN and that's been by suspicion. The main thing I want to know is if it was anything related to a penalty or something like that I could change but perhaps I just have to continue adding content and building links.

 

[tazarbm]

I just have to continue adding content and building links

this! This always does the trick if your site is not penalized. As for your competitor that only has shitty links, I can bet that it's either a very authoritative website or has hidden PBNs

 

[icemetal]

this! This always does the trick if your site is not penalized. As for your competitor that only has shitty links, I can bet that it's either a very authoritative website or has hidden PBNs

Right, I don't think I'm penalized as I still hold a few top 10 rankings and lots of page 2 and 3 ranks. I bet my competitors are using PBN's so I'll have to get some of those too. Thanks for the advice I'm going to make it my goal to write at least three 1000+ word articles per day and build links!

 

[tazarbm]

Right, I don't think I'm penalized as I still hold a few top 10 rankings and lots of page 2 and 3 ranks. I bet my competitors are using PBN's so I'll have to get some of those too. Thanks for the advice I'm going to make it my goal to write at least three 1000+ word articles per day and build links!

good plan

And no problem!

 

[SERP Buster]

It is due to competition. Nothing to worry. I suggest you to just start working on off page SEO for your website. And start building high authority links to your website on your target keywords.

 

[seojen]

There's no penalty on your site IMO, you just needed more powerful links but you decided to abandon, now that traffic is climbing up again you have to continue posting new content and try to get links, strong ones this time and you should regain your rankings and even better.

 

[icemetal]

It is due to competition. Nothing to worry. I suggest you to just start working on off page SEO for your website. And start building high authority links to your website on your target keywords.

Yes, that's the plan. Thanks!

There's no penalty on your site IMO, you just needed more powerful links but you decided to abandon, now that traffic is climbing up again you have to continue posting new content and try to get links, strong ones this time and you should regain your rankings and even better.

Yeah, I don't think I got penalized and it definitely was a mistake to abandon the site. It's just so demotivating putting in all that effort only to drop in ranking. I will push through with more content and links! Thanks

 

[tazarbm]

It's just so demotivating putting in all that effort only to drop in ranking

it is! But it's the best alternative you have (probably), so look at it like the usual ups and downs that everyone goes through in life and you'll find it easier to resume working

 

[jackteam]

Just links inserted into the comment section of certain blogs. Yeah, my competitors could be outranking me but would that entail such a drastic and quick decline? their back link profile was not much stronger than mine.

Keep posting some articles, share them on social media.

Use graphics design work to grow your traffic. E.g Infographics.

Choose the related sites that receive good traffic, get some backlinks from them.

 

[Zakhej]

Build some guest posts and pbns