Do we know what is causing drastic traffic drops?

1. 85

   GinnyLeeposted 12 years ago

   
   
   I thought if it was Panda, that other folks would see similar results.  I had a pretty good drop in November/December and another one started yesterday.  Traffic is less than 1/3 of what it has been.
   
   If it follows the same trend as last time, it will bounce back a bit higher.
   
   I did publish a few hubs recently, and I hadn't published much in quite a while.
   
   Any idea what causes these dips and how to avoid them?  As the graph shows, the last time this hit, traffic bounced back VERY quickly and higher than ever.

   replyreport
   1. 76

      torrilynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think that traffic can be due to weather conditions, glitches, people not using backlinks, and other sorts.

      replyreport
      1. 76

         wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yep.  And the price of tea in China, the phase of the moon and where Saturn is in the sky.
         
         Sometimes there really doesn't seem to be a valid reason.  And, to be honest, hindsight can sometimes figure out a reason.

         replyreport
   2. 60

      teamWorkposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I just checked my graph and find traffic curve is up-rising....

      replyreport
2. 60

   Randy Godwinposted 12 years ago

   The sky is falling......

   replyreport
   1. 85

      GinnyLeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I hope I did not come across that way.  I don't think it is.
      
      I was curious what is causing these temporary drastic drops?  It will work its way back up, but I would like to know if it is something that I did, or if there is another reason.

      replyreport
   2. 63

      LisaMarie724posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I got an umbrella Randy! lol

      replyreport
3. 77

   Cantuhearmescreamposted 12 years ago

   GinnyLee,
   I'm assuming that HubPages is having their own technical problems today. I have been posting, commenting, refreshing and reloading all day but my profile says, "last seen 14 hours ago". I'm thinking "I'm right here! I'm right here!" My numbers in my hub traffic haven't even moved today, my notifications are all 9 years old and better and my Hub Profile dropped, probably for "inactivity" though I have been on pathetically most of the day.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      This has become a regular feature on HP.  Sometimes it lasts for several days.  Ho-hum!

      replyreport
      1. 82

         Marcy Goodfleischposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Mine says last updated nine hours ago.  It seems the stalled numbers hit on weekends, from what I can tell.  Strange.

         replyreport
      2. 77

         Cantuhearmescreamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         So I guess I can accept this as the norm and not stress when it happens? Just out of curiosity; does it affect our actually readings, ie hub traffic and hub profile, does it appear that we aren't contributing when we are?

         replyreport
         1. 76

            wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            No to all, although I suppose it's possible that HP slipped up and allows the algorithms setting hub and hubber score to use improper traffic figures.
            
            Eventually they will catch up, and you will be credited with all the traffic and earnings.  Although I'm not so sure about the notifications being 9 years late...

            replyreport
            1. 77

               Cantuhearmescreamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Ha, did I say years, I meant hours. It's been a long day. But thank you for the comfort. I will sleep easy tonight, whenever that may be. I don't think I will go to bed until HP recognizes I've been here today,...hope this isn't a multiple day thing :-)

               replyreport
               1. 76

                  wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  
                  
                  It could be - multiple days mostly seem to happen on the weekends, probably because no one is around to fix it.

                  replyreport
   2. 85

      GinnyLeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks.  My drop in traffic started yesterday, but was up ~50% from its lows when the stats froze.  Every so often, I will see a huge drop and a very quick bounce back up.  I assume it is Google-related, but I find it odd.

      replyreport
4. 85

   GinnyLeeposted 12 years ago

   I would really like to know what is causing these wild swings.  My views have tripled in the past 24 hours as part of a broad based increase.  Several days ago, virtually all of my hubs had blue arrows.  Today, virtually all of the have red arrows as traffic improves.
   
   I assume it is some sort of a google action, but I sure would like to know...
   
   

   replyreport
5. 67

   relacheposted 12 years ago

   Search Engine Watch says "Keep on your analytics over the next few days. If you see an unexplainable surge in traffic, it could indicate that Panda is about to maul your website."

   replyreport
   1. 53

      wrenfrost56posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Maul..... Love it relache, very apt.

      replyreport
6. 85

   GinnyLeeposted 12 years ago

   Joy. Here's to a good mauling!

   replyreport
7. 82

   lorddraven2000posted 12 years ago

   My traffic has dropped a good deal. Last month I was doing great this month I am having a hard time getting the traffic like I usually do. No real clue as to the why.

   replyreport
8. 87

   Len Cannonposted 12 years ago

   Traffic seems incredibly capricious. I'm still doing all right but I've had a real cooling off period since around Tuesday of this week after being a bit "hot" recently. Nothing major but I do have some raised eyebrows, especially since they've announced a Panda update coming any second now.

   replyreport
9. 0

   Will Apseposted 12 years ago

   My traffic is ten or twenty per cent below normal. I'm worried that stuff about 'merchants' in the announcement might also mean affiliates. Although, it might just mean sites like nextag.

   replyreport
10. 84

    Dean Traylorposted 12 years ago

    These sites have a tendency to fluctuate. I don't think it's one factor, either. It can be anything (or a combination) from the interest of the reader to changes in algorithms. On another site, there were several policy changes that affected traffic. So far, I've been on this site for 10 months. I know the availability of certain icon links to social medias or bookmarking systems have vanished. That's a possibility for the decline.

    replyreport
11. STAFF

    Paul Edmondsonposted 12 years ago

    Saw a bit of a change yesterday afternoon, but it wasn't very large.  Google had previously said today or Monday.
    
    For folks that see big swings outside of Panda, that's likely the normal algorithm.  Subdomains can break out, a high performing hub can have a change etc...
    
    @ginnylee -  Looked at your stats and it seems your site did one of these big drops in December then recovered.  Then did another big drop and then came back recently.  We've seen subdomains with these big U shaped traffic swings in the past.  It seems like you are on the threshold of something google likes/doesn't like.  Not sure what it is.

    replyreport
    1. 85

       GinnyLeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       well, that's not good....

       replyreport
12. 76

    LuisEGonzalezposted 12 years ago

    I want to be in  an upswing...........should I send Goggle a box of cookies?..................
    
    Anyway I have given up on trying to predict anything.  I'm just writing and publishing at least one hub per day and hoping for the best!

    replyreport