Search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t a “set it and forget it” website tactic. It’s something on which you have to consistently work for optimal results. The very nature of optimization requires ongoing updates to stay on par with the latest rules, requirements, and user expectations. You might think your SEO is doing its job, when in reality it’s falling far short of its full potential. If you notice any of the following signs of failure, reach out to an SEO advisor right away.

 

Falling on the SERP

 

The main goal of SEO is to improve your position on the search engine results pages (SERP). Studies show a mere 6 percent of website clicks come from the second page of the SERP. Even if you land on the first page, you need to be in one of the top five spots for maximum visibility. The first five results get almost 68 percent of clicks, while the remaining five receive less than 4 percent. The better your position on the SERP, the higher your website traffic.

 

If your website has suddenly fallen on the SERP, it’s a clear sign your SEO is failing. A drop in rankings or a lower position in organic search results points to issues within your website that are negatively affecting your search engine results ranking. Common reasons for falling on the SERP include outdated keywords, slow load times, broken links, 404 errors, and a non-mobile friendly website. Focusing on your SEO could help you climb back up in the SERP.

 

Losing Website Traffic

 

One of your website’s key performance indicators (KPIs) is the amount of traffic it receives. If you notice a sudden drop in traffic, it could be a sign your SEO is suffering. Loss of site traffic could mean you aren’t appearing in the top page of the SERP as often, or that one of your competitors has outranked you. Auditing your website for common SEO issues could result in discovering the problem – such as lack of imagine optimization or missing pages. Something as seemingly simple as outdated content could be resulting in your loss of site traffic. An SEO audit can find the underlying cause of the issue.

 

Seeing Website Error Messages

 

Your website may look great on paper, but deliver error messages in practice. If your website is encountering bugs, security problems, or other glitches, you could be losing customers due to poor SEO. These issues are not just inconvenient for users; they can compromise your company’s reputation and trustworthiness. Let your users know you’re a company they can trust by fixing and preventing website error messages.

 

Interested in learning more about how to improve your SEO? Talk with an SEO expert at Forix.