SilentAurora
Newbie
- Jun 23, 2026
- 24
- 5
I compare the lost keywords and pages. This helps me see whether the problem is affecting the whole website or only certain content.
What's Your First Step When a Website Loses Rankings?
- Thread starter SingWave
- Start date
- Mar 16, 2026
- 108
- 17
Check google search console first, then analyze algorithm updates, technical issues and backlinks.
- Oct 5, 2009
- 2,375
- 1,212
The first thing I check is whether the traffic drop aligns with a Google algorithm update. If it doesn't, I look for technical issues like indexing, crawl errors, robots.txt, canonicals, or server downtime. Then I review Search Console for affected pages and queries, check recent backlink losses, and finally compare any recent content or site changes. Most ranking drops can usually be traced back to one of these areas.
SeokingRanker
BANNED
- Jun 10, 2026
- 82
- 7
The first thing I'd check is Google Search Console for indexing issues, manual actions, or major drops in impressions before making any changes.
The first thing that I would check is whether it is just me who has shifted to HTTPS or whether other competitors has done it as well. In case everyone has shifted i would give it a couple of days before making any move.
- Jun 16, 2022
- 2,858
- 853
Improve both content and backlink building strategy. It will give result slowly and you need to be patient throughout the process. In case, you do not see any progress in 1 year or so., you need to move on to other projects.
- Jun 24, 2026
- 70
- 14
Your first step should always be to check Google Analytics and Google Search Console, as that information comes directly from Google as to why your page may be dropping in rank/overall traffic. Now, from there is there are no major alarms going off, I tend to check through my competitors with tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog to see if they maybe got some new links, put up some new content, etc...
CornaRanker
Newbie
- Nov 5, 2025
- 26
- 10
I’d check Google Search Console first to see if it’s a technical issue, manual action, or sudden indexing/ranking change.
The first thing that i check is whether the fall was site wide or on particular pages and queries using search console. if it happened suddenly i will check for technical and indexing issues before going for backlinking or the content.
rankflowmedia
Newbie
- Aug 8, 2026
- 24
- 7
The first step is checking Google Search Console to see if it's a site-wide drop or specific pages, then looking out for recent algorithm updates or technical errors.
Same for me, GSC is always the first place that I go. After that, I look at serch intent, content gaps, and competitor coverage of the needs of the users.
The first thing I check is whether there was a google algorithm update. Then I review Search Console for indexing or technical issues, followed by ranking changes, traffic sources, backlinks and content performance.
ProxyMania
Newbie
- Mar 31, 2026
- 19
- 2
Before doing anything else I'd wait a few days, sometimes it's just a temporary fluctuation.
Step one is to verify if there are any manual actions or index issues on the search console. If there are none and i can be sure that the google side is good then I investigate backlink losses or competitor updates.
