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Have you experienced the dreaded ‘traffic dip’?

As a business owner, there are very few feelings as terrifying as seeing a sudden drop in your organic traffic.

While there can be many reasons for a traffic drop, most of the time it’s due to one thing…

Lost keyword rankings.

If you are experiencing lost keyword rankings, we have some bad news and some good news for you.

The bad news? Losing your positions in Google can KILL your company’s revenue.

The good news? In many cases, lost keyword rankings are 100% reversible… you just have to hire the right SEO agency team to take care of it.

Here at First Page Hong Kong, we have over 10 years of experience helping businesses like yours retrieve their lost rankings, recover their traffic, and come back stronger than ever before.

Heck, we’ve even been able to diagnose the problem and get you MORE traffic than you had before.

As a top-rated Hong Kong SEO company, it’s just what we do.

If you are experiencing a sudden drop in traffic or lost keyword rankings, reach out to us now to see how we can help you get back on top of the SERPs.

How we get your rankings back - FAST!

To get your keyword rankings back, you need to work with someone who knows the Google algorithm like the back of their hand.

That’s where we come into play…

Our team of SEO-ninjas has mastered the Google algorithm, and our proprietary technology, SENTR™, allows us to go through huge sets of SEO data to predict future algorithmic movements.

Our team of experts will do a full-scale audit on your website, so we can quickly identify the problem, execute a solution, and watch your traffic recover in a spectacular fashion.

We never use black hat tactics – only white hat strategies that will help you recover your rankings and grow your business into the next stratosphere.

If you are ready for a bespoke, white-hat strategy to recover your lost keyword rankings, click the button below to speak with a digital strategist.

A brief overview of lost keyword rankings.

What are lost keyword rankings?

If you are experiencing lost keyword rankings, it means that your website is no longer ranking for keywords that it previously was. If you see a single webpage drop a few positions in Google, it’s usually not a huge problem. That’s just the nature of the SEO game. But if you are experiencing lost keyword rankings across your site (aka – multiple posts or pages), this is likely an indication of a larger, more dangerous problem.

While there are many reasons you could be losing your keyword rankings, the most likely answer is that your site has received some penalty, possibly from a recent algorithm update. Google’s algorithm changes can feel like a tornado – they come unannounced, are powerful, and can have devastating effects. But the good news is that you can fight back – you just need to hire a team who has the right talent and the right experience recovering rankings.

Are there other reasons I could be losing my traffic?

While the most common reason for lost keyword rankings is algorithm updates, there are a few other possibilities for why this could happen. One possible solution is that your website has some technical issues, such as your site being down or your server having limited availability. These problems often can impact your rankings, but they usually turn around relatively quickly.

Traffic drop can also be due to seasonality. If your industry is seasonal or particularly volatile and/or trendy, then this could also have something to do with it. Another potential issue could be your analytics platform, as they have been known to be glitchy from time to time and give incorrect keyword and traffic information. But at the end of the day, if you have seen a significant decrease in traffic, and it has lasted for longer than a few days, it’s most likely because of an algorithm update or Google penalty.

How do I recover my rankings?

Recovering your lost keyword rankings is an in-depth process that requires an entire team of SEO experts. Due to the complex nature of the process, it is not something we recommend handling yourself. Recovering your rankings begins with the hardest part of the process – diagnosing the problem. Google’s algorithms are highly complex, so there can literally be hundreds of reasons why your rankings have diminished. Be sure to investigate all recent Google updates and previous ones in case there was some sort of delayed effect.

You will also want to do a complete website audit. This audit will look at every aspect of your site’s SEO – from on-page SEO to the keywords you are picking to the backlinks that have been built to your site. By evaluating all of these aspects, you will be able to have a clearer idea of where the problem is. Then, it’s time to create and execute a strategy to fix the identified problem.

Can this negatively affect my business?

It doesn’t matter if you work with a small business or a large enterprise – lost keyword rankings can be absolutely devastating to your company’s bottom line. This is because of the nature of organic traffic. Organic traffic is one of the highest quality types of traffic on the internet – the leads are highly qualified, and the traffic is consistent. It’s why so many companies are investing in SEO campaigns now.

Losing your keyword rankings creates a domino effect. The worse your rankings, the less traffic your website gets, the less leads coming to your site, the less customers you are converting, the less sales you will have on a day-to-day basis. Simply put, if you want to continue to grow your revenue, then you need to recover your lost keyword rankings as soon as possible.

What is a Google penalty?

SEO stands for search engine optimization. It’s the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in Google’s rankings so that you can get more traffic. Google’s organic rankings are determined by its algorithm – a highly complex formula and can change at a moment’s notice. When the algorithm changes, it means that Google has updated its policy for what it considers to be good content.

To make the algorithm work, Google has a ‘list’ of things it likes and things that it doesn’t like. For instance, Google likes it when high-quality backlinks point to your website. On the other hand, Google doesn’t like it when many spammy websites are linking to your site. When your website does something that Google doesn’t like, it will then hit your site with a penalty, negatively impacting your ability to rank, and therefore, get organic traffic.

What is a Penguin penalty?

It goes without saying that building backlinks to your website is one of the most important aspects of SEO. Backlinks are like a vote of confidence – the more you have pointing to your website, the more trustworthy Google finds you. But while this is true, Google noticed that many businesses were creating fake backlinks or getting backlinks from spammy sites in a way to game the algorithm and get more traffic.

To combat this, Google introduced the Penguin penalty. Embedded into Google’s algorithm, this formula searches for websites that have been created for the sole purpose of placing illegitimate links. When a site like this is identified, Google then penalizes the websites that it is linking to. Identifying whether or not your site has gotten the penguin penalty requires you to do an extensive audit of your backlink profile.

What is a Panda penalty?

Another enormous aspect of SEO is the quality of your content. Google greatly prefers high-quality content and puts enormous emphasis on content that displays ‘EAT’ – expertise, authority, and trustworthiness. Google noticed that many websites were trying to game the system to rank higher – this means publishing thin content, keyword stuffing, copy and pasting other articles, and more.

To combat this, Google introduced the Panda penalty. This part of Google’s algorithm evaluates a website’s content and gives it an overall quality score. If your website’s content is well-researched, informative, and trustworthy, then you are more likely to be considered ‘high-quality’ in the eyes of Google. But, if the algorithm flags you as ‘low-quality’, you will get hit with the Panda penalty. Panda is one of the most common SEO penalties.

What is a Hummingbird penalty?

One of the biggest changes Google has ever made to its algorithm, the Hummingbird update, completely overhauled how Google interprets a user’s query. It was a pretty big turning point in not only SEO, but technology as a whole. The Hummingbird update made Google’s algorithm scarily intelligent and paved the pathway for RankBrain and other updates that enabled the algorithm to grow smarter and smarter. It’s commonly believed that the Hummingbird update was implemented due to the rise of voice search, as it could understand the actual nature of a search query.

Therefore, a Humminbird penalty might be unleashed on your site if your content doesn’t seem to be written in a natural way. Or, it could be that your content is not written in a way that Google thinks actually answers the user’s query. It can be difficult to decipher whether or not your site has been hit by the Hummingbird penalty, and that is why we always recommend hiring an expert to help you identify the problem (and create a tailored solution).

How recovering your lost keyword rankings can help your business.

How do I know if I’ve received a Google penalty?

Not all loss of traffic is due to getting a Google penalty. In fact, sometimes, the answer is much less scary. Sometimes it can be a reporting issue or glitch from your analytics software. Other times it can be a technical issue or coding malfunction on your website. A loss of traffic can also result from seasonality in your industry or topics within your industry being trendy or less interesting to the general public over time.

But having said that, if you have seen a sudden loss in traffic, and it has persisted for more than a few days, there is an extremely high probability that your website has been hit with a Google penalty. There are so many different penalties out there – from Panda to Penguin, to Hummingbird, to Possum – that it can be challenging to know which one you have been hit by. This is why we always recommend working with an SEO professional.

How long does it take to recover?

Recovery times for lost keyword rankings can vary based on various factors. But no matter the source of the problem, it will require two things – identifying the problem and fixing it. If you have lost your keyword rankings due to a technical glitch or error, it could get sorted up quickly. Sometimes it’s just something in the coding that needs to be cleaned up – easy fix!

But typically, you can expect it to be somewhat of a slower process. For example, if your website has been hit with a Penguin penalty, then you will have to do a complete audit of your entire backlink portfolio. Once this is complete, you will have to remove any backlinks that are causing your website harm or disavow them, which can take time. But at the end of the day, the reward of getting your organic traffic back will completely trump the time that it takes.

Will my positions come back naturally?

We have seen many businesses see a drop in traffic and say to themselves, ‘Let’s leave it. I’m sure this will fix itself over the course of time!’. Sorry to say, but this is a bad, bad strategy. The truth is that SEO is more competitive than ever, and the moment that you lose your rankings, your competition will snatch it up, therefore stealing your crucial market share. Every second that you are not ranking, your competition is taking your revenue.

But more importantly, the longer you wait, the less likely it will be that you can recover your rankings. Google’s algorithms move fast, so you need to move fast as well. When you see that you are losing rankings, you need to do something about it. Otherwise, you run the risk of never recovering your keyword rankings, organic traffic, and SEO-related revenue.

What is the difference between white hat SEO and black hat SEO?

Black hat SEO is the process of intentionally gaming Google’s algorithm to try and get more traffic to your website. But while black hat SEO can deliver some quick results, we NEVER recommend doing it. Google’s algorithms are way too intelligent in this day and age – and the penalties for black hat tactics can be devastating to your website and your brand. Gray hat SEO (a mix of white hat and black hat) is also highly discouraged.
In contrast, white hat SEO is playing everything by the book. This means ONLY engaging in Google’s best practices and never trying to deceive the algorithm. When compared to black hat SEO, white hat SEO is a bit of a slower burn, but the rewards keep on giving. By publishing quality content and generating quality backlinks, you will be less likely to get a penalty, and your website will see improved rankings year after year.

Can I handle lost keyword rankings myself?

Like all things with SEO, we think this is better left to a professional. There are a few reasons for this. First, the diagnosis for the drop in traffic needs to be spot on. If you incorrectly identify the culprit, you risk making the problem worse, creating new problems, and wasting your valuable time. Second, the strategy of fixing the problem also needs to be perfect. You need to know exactly how Google’s algorithms work so you can ensure that the problem is being properly addressed.

Just as important is the time that you will save. If you are going to handle this yourself, you need to be fully prepared. This means hours upon hours of researching on Google and YouTube. And then, even after all that time learning, you can never be 100% certain that you are addressing the actual problem. Save your time, focus on what you do best, and let a qualified agency handle it – you won’t regret it.

How much does it cost to recover my rankings?

The cost of recovering your rankings will depend on a few different factors. The biggest factor is the size of your website, and the number of keyword rankings that you have lost. If you have a small website and lost rankings on a few pages, then the cost will be on the lower side. If you have an enormous website and have lost your rankings across hundreds of pages, the costs will obviously be higher.

It will also depend on the nature of the lost rankings. If the problem is just a small technical glitch – easy fix! But if it is a Google penalty, then it will require a lot more time and attention. For example, if your lost keyword rankings are due to a Panda penalty, you will have to optimize all of the content on your site to ensure that it shows expertise, authority, and trustworthiness.

Can an agency help me with lost keyword rankings?

Absolutely! In fact, if you see a large drop in traffic and keyword rankings, we highly suggest going to an agency instead of handling it yourself or in-house. The nature of traffic drops can vary, but they are always fragile situations. The problem has to be correctly diagnosed, which could take the attention of an experienced team of digital strategists and SEO techs.

If you work with a great agency, they will be able to audit your website, evaluate your problem, execute a tailored strategy, and oversee the results. This process ensures that your website is in the best hands possible and given the best chance to reclaim its rankings.

What do I ask an agency before hiring them?

If you are considering hiring an SEO agency to aid with your lost keyword rankings, be sure to keep an eye out for a few things. Firstly, do they even advertise the service? While there are a lot of SEO agencies out there, not many of them actually specialize in this process. If the agency does advertise this service, then be sure to check out their reviews – preferably from a third-party source. The higher the reviews, the better results the agency regularly achieves.

From there, you will want to give the agency a call and ask them a few questions. Do they have experience with lost keyword rankings? Can they provide any case studies? What is their process like? How long until they think they can diagnose the actual problem? By asking these questions, you’ll have a much better understanding of whether they are the agency that you want to work with or not.

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