Moz Q&A is closed.
After more than 13 years, and tens of thousands of questions, Moz Q&A closed on 12th December 2024. Whilst we’re not completely removing the content - many posts will still be possible to view - we have locked both new posts and new replies. More details here.
Strange Traffic Movements
-
Hi there,
I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on this...
I'm working with a client whose website is experiencing some odd organic traffic patterns.
See screenshot attached.
As you can see, there was a sudden cliff fall about a month ago, and then it recovered (almost) entirely.
Then, a month to the day later, the same thing happened again.
What is the likelihood that this is a data glitch vs an algorithm thing?
Any light you can shed on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Marc
image url) -
@chuangmaeo Sorry for replying so late. you can contact me by visiting www.suvidit.com and please do add this communication reference.
-
@mhenshall said in Strange Traffic Movements:
Hi there,
I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on this...
I'm working with a client whose website is experiencing some odd organic traffic patterns.
See screenshot attached.
As you can see, there was a sudden cliff fall about a month ago, and then it recovered (almost) entirely.
Then, a month to the day later, the same thing happened again.
What is the likelihood that this is a data glitch vs an algorithm thing?
Any light you can shed on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
MarcThe sudden fluctuations in organic traffic on your client's website could be due to various factors, and without more data and analysis, it's challenging to pinpoint the exact cause. It could be a combination of both data glitches and algorithmic changes. Further investigation, including reviewing content, backlinks, and any recent algorithm updates, may help provide more clarity. (best digital marketing agency) ( SEO Expert) (SEO Services)
-
Strange traffic movements can encompass a wide range of unusual and unexpected actions on the road. These can include erratic lane changes, sudden stops without apparent cause, excessively slow driving in fast lanes, and aggressive maneuvers. Such behavior can be dangerous and may indicate impaired driving, distraction, or road rage. It's essential for all road users to stay alert, practice defensive driving, and report any suspicious or dangerous traffic movements to the appropriate authorities to maintain road safety.(Canada PR)(aviation jobs in Canada) (study abroad) PMP Exam Prep ( best digital marketing agency
-
Cultural experiences in the Maldives tour package also extend to the preservation of the natural environment. Many resorts and local communities actively participate in marine conservation and environmental protection efforts. Visitors can engage in eco-friendly activities such as coral planting and beach clean-ups, fostering a sense of responsibility for the Maldives' fragile ecosystems.
-
Strange traffic movements on a website can be a cause for concern, as they may indicate potential security issues, bot activity, or other abnormal behavior. It's important for website administrators to closely monitor their site's traffic patterns and investigate any unusual movements.
-
Strange traffic movements on a website can be a cause for concern, as they may indicate potential security issues, bot activity, or other abnormal behavior. It's important for website administrators to closely monitor their site's traffic patterns and investigate any unusual movements.
(best digital marketing agency)
Common examples of strange traffic movements might include sudden spikes in traffic from unusual geographic locations, a high number of clicks on specific links or buttons, or repetitive actions by users that seem automated.Addressing these strange movements promptly is essential to protect the integrity of the website, user data, and overall user experience. Implementing security measures like firewalls, anti-bot solutions, and regular security audits can help mitigate the risks associated with unusual traffic behavior.
SEO Expert
Additionally, analyzing website analytics and user behavior can provide insights into the root causes of strange traffic movements, allowing website owners to take appropriate action, such as blocking suspicious IP addresses or implementing CAPTCHAs to deter automated bot traffic. Overall, vigilance and a proactive approach to website security are crucial in dealing with strange traffic movements. -
@Rehman-Khan-0
I also faced the same issue on my client's website https://alhaqglass.com/
This website was performing well but suddenly its traffic dropped. I investigated some lacks and I improved them one after the other. And Boom! The site started getting the same traffic as before.I would recommend you to find drawbacks in your client's site and fix them. It will help a lot.
Regards!
-
@mhenshall said in Strange Traffic Movements:
Hi there,
I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on this...
I'm working with a client whose website is experiencing some odd organic traffic patterns.
See screenshot attached.
As you can see, there was a sudden cliff fall about a month ago, and then it recovered (almost) entirely.
Then, a month to the day later, the same thing happened again.
What is the likelihood that this is a data glitch vs an algorithm thing?
Any light you can shed on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
MarcHey Marc,
I understand your concern about the unusual organic traffic patterns your client's website is experiencing. It's difficult to determine the exact cause without more information, but I can offer some insights that might help you investigate further.
Firstly, it's essential to consider potential data glitches or tracking issues. Sometimes, sudden drops or spikes in traffic can occur due to inaccuracies in the data collection process. Double-checking your tracking tools and analytics settings can help ensure the accuracy of the data you're analyzing.
On the other hand, algorithm updates from search engines can also significantly impact organic traffic. It's not uncommon for search algorithms to be regularly tweaked or updated. These changes can cause fluctuations in a website's visibility and organic rankings, which might explain the patterns you observed. Stay updated with the latest industry news and search engine announcements to see if any major algorithm updates occurred around the time of the traffic changes.
Remember to consider other factors that could influence organic traffic. For instance, external events, seasonal fluctuations, changes in user behavior, or even technical issues with the website itself might contribute to the observed patterns.
To gain a better understanding of what caused the fluctuations, it's advisable to analyze additional data points such as referral sources, landing pages, and user engagement metrics. Looking for patterns in these areas might provide additional insights into the situation.
Lastly, reaching out to your client directly might be helpful as well. Inquire if they made any changes to their website, marketing efforts, or if they noticed any other unusual events during the periods of fluctuation. Their input can provide valuable context to support your investigative efforts.
I hope these suggestions help you in your analysis! Feel free to provide more details if you'd like further assistance.
i have been studying traffic in 2 different sectors i found this article very helpful
-
Hi Marc,
The fluctuations in organic traffic you're observing on your client's website can indeed be perplexing, and it's important to investigate the possible causes. I've seen your attached screenshot, I can provide some insights into potential reasons for such patterns.
-
Algorithm Updates: Google frequently updates its search algorithms, and these updates can have a significant impact on organic traffic. It's possible that your client's website was affected by an algorithm update that led to the initial drop in traffic. Subsequent recoveries may be due to adjustments made to the site's content or SEO strategy to align better with the new algorithm's requirements.
-
Seasonal Trends: Some industries and websites experience seasonal fluctuations in traffic. For example, e-commerce sites often see increased traffic during the holiday season. If your client's website is in an industry with seasonal trends, this could explain the recurring patterns you're observing.
-
Technical Issues: It's crucial to rule out any technical issues with the website, such as server downtime, broken links, or changes in the site's structure that might have occurred coincidentally. These technical issues can cause temporary drops in traffic.
-
Competitive Factors: Changes in the competitive landscape can also impact organic traffic. If competitors have made significant SEO improvements or launched marketing campaigns, it could affect your client's rankings and traffic.
-
Data Anomalies: While less common, data glitches or reporting errors can occur in analytics tools. It's essential to ensure that the data you're analysing is accurate. Verify if other analytics platforms or sources show similar trends.
To determine the cause of these traffic fluctuations, I recommend conducting a thorough SEO audit, including:
- Reviewing the website's technical health.
- Analyzing changes in content and backlinks.
- Monitoring Google Search Console for any messages or warnings.
- Checking for any recent algorithm updates from Google.
Additionally, consider tracking specific keyword rankings and engagement metrics to identify which pages or keywords may be affected the most.
In many cases, traffic fluctuations are part of the dynamic nature of SEO, and recovery can be achieved through strategic adjustments to your SEO approach. If the issue persists, it might be beneficial to consult with an experienced SEO professional who can provide tailored guidance based on a deeper analysis of your client's website and industry.
Remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and staying vigilant and adaptable to changes is essential for long-term success.
Best regards,
Rehman K. -
-
Hi Marc,
The fluctuations in organic traffic you're observing on your client's website can indeed be perplexing, and it's important to investigate the possible causes. I've seen your attached screenshot, I can provide some insights into potential reasons for such patterns.
-
Algorithm Updates: Google frequently updates its search algorithms, and these updates can have a significant impact on organic traffic. It's possible that your client's website was affected by an algorithm update that led to the initial drop in traffic. Subsequent recoveries may be due to adjustments made to the site's content or SEO strategy to align better with the new algorithm's requirements.
-
Seasonal Trends: Some industries and websites experience seasonal fluctuations in traffic. For example, e-commerce sites often see increased traffic during the holiday season. If your client's website is in an industry with seasonal trends, this could explain the recurring patterns you're observing.
-
Technical Issues: It's crucial to rule out any technical issues with the website, such as server downtime, broken links, or changes in the site's structure that might have occurred coincidentally. These technical issues can cause temporary drops in traffic.
-
Competitive Factors: Changes in the competitive landscape can also impact organic traffic. If competitors have made significant SEO improvements or launched marketing campaigns, it could affect your client's rankings and traffic.
-
Data Anomalies: While less common, data glitches or reporting errors can occur in analytics tools. It's essential to ensure that the data you're analysing is accurate. Verify if other analytics platforms or sources show similar trends.
To determine the cause of these traffic fluctuations, I recommend conducting a thorough SEO audit, including:
- Reviewing the website's technical health.
- Analyzing changes in content and backlinks.
- Monitoring Google Search Console for any messages or warnings.
- Checking for any recent algorithm updates from Google.
Additionally, consider tracking specific keyword rankings and engagement metrics to identify which pages or keywords may be affected the most.
In many cases, traffic fluctuations are part of the dynamic nature of SEO, and recovery can be achieved through strategic adjustments to your SEO approach. If the issue persists, it might be beneficial to consult with an experienced SEO professional who can provide tailored guidance based on a deeper analysis of your client's website and industry.
Remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and staying vigilant and adaptable to changes is essential for long-term success.
Best regards,
Rehman K. -
-
@Suvidit-Academy Can you check Google Analytics and Google Search Console regarding this oddity? there will answer everything. Learn more Ole777 Asia
-
The likelihood that the cliff falls in organic traffic are data glitches is low. It is more likely that they are caused by algorithm changes by Google.
Google makes changes to its algorithm all the time, and these changes can sometimes cause sudden fluctuations in organic traffic. The fact that the cliff falls happened on the same day of the month suggests that it is related to an algorithm change.
Here are some other possible reasons for the cliff falls in organic traffic:
- A new competitor entered the market and started ranking higher for your target keywords.
- One of your pages was penalized by Google for violating its quality guidelines.
- There was a technical issue with your website that caused it to lose ranking.
To determine the exact cause of the cliff falls, you can use a tool like Google Search Console to analyze your website's organic traffic data. You can also use a tool like SEMrush to track your website's ranking for your target keywords.
Once you have identified the cause of the cliff falls, you can take steps to address it.
- If the cause is an algorithm change, you may need to adjust your SEO strategy.
- If the cause is a new competitor, you may need to improve your content or your website's user experience.
- If the cause is a technical issue, you will need to fix the issue.
I hope it helps, for more help please feel free to interact.
Warm Regards
Rahul Gupta
Suvidit Academy
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Massive unexplained organic traffic drop; disappeared from Google
Hi there,
Search Behavior | | katelynroberts
Our site has experienced a huge organic traffic drop, specifically from Google. The drop occurred on Feb 19 and I've got no clue why it happened. We have not made any significant changes to the website and it doesn't look like there was an algorithm update last week. We don't have any Google penalties or indexing issues noted, and the drop isn't specific to any particular segment/region/keyword. What am I missing? Any advice or insight is super duper appreciated. Our site is a Wordpress/WooCommerice e-commerce site with a blog and long-standing #1 ranks for keywords related to our main product offering. Screen Shot 2024-02-26 at 3.12.25 PM.png
Screen Shot 2024-02-26 at 3.07.52 PM.png0 -
Spam Score Of Site Increased from 1 to 31% overnight
Hello There,
Technical SEO | | rohit.c
Few days back, Spam Score of two of my sites drastically increased from 1% to 31% for one site and from 1% to 36% for another site overnight. Here are the two websites https://simpalm.com/ ducknowl.com Site background for 2-3 months ABC link exchange campaign was started for both the sites. Links where built on high quality sites with DA40 above and most of them are Saas sites No reciprocal link exchange was done Same new pages are created on the site for on page SEO Both the sites are hosted on GoDaddy Can someone please tell me what is the reason of this Sudden increase in spam score of both the sites and at same time?1 -
Unsolved SEO And Digital Marketing Training
Hi Everyone, I have a basic SEO and Digital Marketing knowledge and looking for a course /training which will teach me step by step SEO and tools need to use with hand on training. I have a website (https://gemslearninginstitute.com/) which I need bring in Google Packs and on the first page of Google. I have attended a few courses but none of them offered in depth knowledge with hands on training so whatever I do it is not producing results. Thanks
SEO Tactics | | fslpso0 -
Will skipping <H> tags affect your SEO?
Will skipping <H> tags on a page have any impact on your SEO, e.g. skipping a <H2> so your page has a <H1> and then goes to a <H3>? Obviously a page must have a <H1>, but does it matter if you skip other headings?
Technical SEO | | ciehmoz0 -
Collections or blog posts for Shopify ecommerce seo?
Hi, hope you guys can help as I am going down a rabbit hole with this one! We have a solid-ranking sports nutrition site and are building a new SEO keyword strategy on our Shopify built store. We are using collections (categories) for much of the key product-based seo. This is because, as we understand it, Google prioritises collection/category pages over product pages. Should we then build additional collection pages to rank for secondary product search terms that could fit a collection page structure (eg 'vegan sports nutrition'), or should we use blog posts to do this? We have a quality blog with good unique content and reasonable domain authority so both options are open to us. But while the collection/category option may be best for SEO, too many collections/categories could upset our UX. We have a very small product range (10 products) so want to keep navigation fast and easy. Our 7 lead keyword collection pages do this already. More run the risk of upsetting ease/speed of site navigation. On the other hand, conversion rate from collection pages is historically much better than blog pages. We have made major technical upgrades to the blog to improve this but these are yet to be tested in anger. So at the heart of it all - do you guys recommend favouring blog posts or collection/category pages for secondary high sales intent keywords? All help gratefully received - thanks!
SEO Tactics | | WP332 -
Free Tool that allows you to compare traffic for multiple websites
I'm banging my head on this one. In the past I was able to use Compete.com, Quancast, Google Trends, and Alexa, but now all these sites either required you to have Pro membership (pay) or they discontinue it like Google Trends for website. I need to do this comparison for one of my client... their traffic versus 4 of their competitors. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Have a blessed Day, Benny
Search Behavior | | ACann1 -
More USA traffic than UK.
Hi there, I have a site www.nut-job.com and I am currently getting more traffic from the USA than uk. Is there anyway of not getting listed in the USA and telling google that the site is a UK site?
Search Behavior | | nutjobshell0