Traffic Drop by 50%+

[01]

We have two shopify stores, both sites have had a 50% plus drop in traffic around 10 days ago, how can both sites have this massive drop?

[kjproweb]

The problem isn't your website.

Earlier this month Google rolled out a series of fresh algorithm updates that's having a very negative impact on thousands of websites. https://www.seroundtable.com/november-2024-google-webmaster-report-38390.html

SOLUTION

Revamp Your Web Content! Google's new search engine algorithm places a strong emphasis on quality content.

On May 14, 2024, Google's I/O 2024 Marketing event took place. The event showcased a multitude of AI-fueled advances for advertisers and organic search. In all, nine presenters announced 30 products and features over the 90-minute keynote event. (https://io.google/2024/)

Here are the key takeaways from the Google I/O 2024 Marketing Event that directly impact organic search;

1. Gemini AI Integration: Gemini, Google's advanced AI model, is now integrated across all of Google's major products, including Search, Photos, Workspace, and Android. The model offers multimodal capabilities, allowing it to understand and process text, images, and audio simultaneously. (https://lnkd.in/g3UxWtsm)​​ (https://lnkd.in/g5xu9NqN)​.

2. Search Enhancements: AI Overviews: Google is rolling out AI Overviews in Search, which delivers detailed responses to complex queries by summarizing the best information available on the web. This feature is now available in the U.S. and will expand to more countries soon​

- Regarding organic search, Google will prioritize AI overviews and interactive ads over traditional organic search.
- Google AI models generate direct answers or summaries for certain queries, displaying them as featured snippets or other rich result types at the top of the search page. These AI-generated results provide concise answers without the need to click through to a website.

How Does This Impact Organic Search Strategy?

1. Increased Competition for Organic Results: With AI Overviews and interactive shopping ads offering more visually appealing and engaging content appearing at the top of search result listings, there might be a higher click-through rate on these ads compared to traditional organic search results. This could lead to increased competition for organic listings, making it more challenging for websites to gain visibility through purely organic means.

2. Shift in User Behavior: Users will become more accustomed to interacting with AI Overviews, and visual plus interactive content in search results, which changes user expectations and behavior when conducting searches.

3. Evolution of SEO Strategies: SEO strategies will need to adapt to account for the increasing prominence of interactive shopping ads.

4. Importance of Featured Snippets and Rich Results: Featured snippets and other rich results become even more critical for organic search visibility. Websites will need to focus on creating high-quality, authoritative, and useful content. Become intimately familiar with E-E-A-T and YMYL in SEO.

Websites that appear in these enriched search features could benefit from increased visibility and traffic, even if they are not ranking at the top of traditional organic search results.

[Akohub]

Hi @01 , this is Alexis from Akohub. A sudden 50% drop in traffic across two Shopify sites can be concerning. 

Major platforms like Google and Facebook periodically update their algorithms, which can impact organic and paid traffic. Check for any recent algorithm changes or updates around 10 days ago, as these might have reduced your sites’ visibility. Resources like Google Search Central or Facebook’s business updates can provide information on recent changes. Additionally, Technical issues on your sites could affect their search rankings and user experience. Use tools like Google Search Console to check for crawl errors, broken links, or issues with mobile usability. Also, review site speed and performance as slower loading times can increase bounce rates and lower search rankings.  If you rely on paid advertising (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Ads), review your campaigns to ensure they’re active and performing as expected. Sometimes, budget constraints, disapproved ads, or reduced ad quality scores can decrease ad visibility and impact traffic. Lastly, you can verify that your analytics tracking codes (e.g., Google Analytics) are correctly installed on both sites and haven’t been altered. Incorrect tracking code placement or removal can lead to inaccurate traffic data, which might make it seem like you’re experiencing a drop. 

If your primary concern is boosting conversions and recapturing potential customers, retargeting could be a very effective strategy. It helps to bring back visitors who didn't convert the first time around. Show them the products they viewed along with a small discount as this can be super effective for turning “maybe” into “yes!” If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, our app, Ako Retargeting, combines retargeting with loyalty and CRM features, helping you bring in new customers and keep them coming back. If you'd like to learn more about how to increase your conversion rate, you can read our blog here

Good luck!

[Website_Speedy]

Hi,

If you're experiencing a 50%+ drop in traffic on your Shopify website over the last 10 days, several factors could be contributing to this sudden decline. Let's break it down and go over steps to identify the issue and improve your traffic:

• Crawl Errors or Manual Penalties: Log into Google Search Console and check for any crawl errors, indexing issues, or manual penalties. Sometimes, Google may stop indexing certain pages, which can significantly reduce organic traffic.
• Core Web Vitals: Review your Core Web Vitals in Search Console. If your site’s performance has dropped, it could impact your rankings in Google search results.
• Keyword Rankings: Track keyword ranking changes in Google Search Console’s Performance Report. A drop in keyword rankings can directly lead to reduced organic traffic.
• Review Recent Changes to Your Website Content: If you’ve made changes to your website recently—such as updating product descriptions, adding or changing images, or switching themes—those changes might have affected user experience or your SEO rankings. Be sure to check if these adjustments are affecting traffic.
• Optimize Website Performance & User Experience: Slow page load times can negatively impact both your user experience and SEO. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze your website’s speed. If the load times are high, it might discourage visitors and affect your rankings.
  
  As alternate suggested, to improve both your website’s performance and user experience, consider using a Shopify speed optimization app like Website Speedy. This tool is designed to:
  
  Improve site speed by optimizing images, scripts, and other elements.
  
  Enhance Core Web Vitals like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and First Contentful Paint (FCP), which directly affect your search rankings.
  Ensure a smoother, faster experience for your visitors, which helps to reduce bounce rates and improve conversions.
  It’s easy to set up and comes with a 14-day free trial, so you can test it out and see how much it can boost your site’s performance.
  You can install it here: https://apps.shopify.com/website-speedy
  
  
• Google frequently updates its algorithm, and such updates can sometimes cause sudden drops in traffic or rankings. Review your keyword rankings and compare them with recent Google core updates to see if this could be the cause of the traffic loss.