Explaining to employers and clients: Traffic drops through Google updates

[Loree]

I started a SEO position at a place that was doing rather well. The recent updates hit us hard, reducing traffic to less than half, after I've been here for a couple months.

I am so annoyed that I have an uphill battle on my hands now. Combine this with the suspicion the employer just has to have, that I may be somewhat responsible. After all, how would they know for sure?

How do you deal with that, how did you communicate the traffic drops and how did it go?

 

[tazarbm]

you can send them links to BHW threads that discuss this topic to prove that many sites get affected by google updates... or links to sites that address the latest Google changes (SEL, SEJ, Ahrefs' blog... even Google's updates page will be enough proof if they're not really paranoid, really stupid, or if they don't hate you and want to get rid of you)

I am also pretty sure that there is software that keeps track of your SEO tasks that your boss can check regularly, I've seen such software some years ago, but I don't remember what it's called. But it exists for sure, if they really want to keep you on a short leash they could use this software, although I don't think you want to give them the idea

Anyway, tough spot to be in, I've gone through this in 2015 and I got fired by my boss because of the same reason (google update and boss didn't believe me). I've learned my lesson after this incident and now - if I'll ever get hired again to do SEO (which I hope will never happen again) - I will simply tell my superior beforehand that google rankings are a constantly moving goal post and that they need to accept that, at any point, their rankings could vanish without reason. If they understand, and are OK with this, great! We can sign the contract, otherwise I'm outta there

 

[RMX]

you can send them links to BHW threads that discuss this topic to prove that many sites get affected by google updates... or links to sites that address the latest Google changes (SEL, SEJ, Ahrefs' blog... even Google's updates page will be enough proof if they're not really paranoid, really stupid, or if they don't hate you and want to get rid of you)

I am also pretty sure that there is software that keeps track of your SEO tasks that your boss can check regularly, I've seen such software some years ago, but I don't remember what it's called. But it exists for sure, if they really want to keep you on a short leash they could use this software, although I don't think you want to give them the idea

Anyway, tough spot to be in, I've gone through this in 2015 and I got fired by my boss because of the same reason (google update and boss didn't believe me). I've learned my lesson after this incident and now - if I'll ever get hired again to do SEO (which I hope will never happen again) - I will simply tell my superior beforehand that google rankings are a constantly moving goal post and that they need to accept that, at any point, their rankings could vanish without reason. If they understand, and are OK with this, great! We can sign the contract, otherwise I'm outta there

True, you can predict the outcome of SEO and you some how get the blame and be the scape goat for them to blame on, but efforts and perseverance
can help you with the rankings and organic traffic.