Why did my traffic drop?

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   Amanda Buckposted 5 years ago

   I have an article that had been getting 50+ views per day.  Then overnight it dropped to 4, then 3, now 2.  This article has been selected for a network site, but was in the queue waiting to be edited.  Could it be that the editor is working on it?  Seems strange that it would drop so sharply, but still be getting a few views.  Ideas??

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      promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      My September traffic is now down 15% versus September of a year ago despite multiple new articles.
      
      Maybe Google doesn't like the massive number of ads on every page. I can't imagine the typical visitor likes them either.

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         Solarasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I take a look at the articles that are beating me and they are spammy as all get out.

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            promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Are they on big brand sites? Google loves big brands, especially the ones that buy Google advertising.

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               Solarasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               No, they have folksy content, jumbled up with ads that make the page jump up and down while to you to read it.  Every two sentences, which are double spaced, is another ad.  So this spammy content thing got lost in a Google update, or there is something more important,like  lots of low quality content that does not answer your question.
               
               I see in in recipes too. Paragraphs of useless information about how they discovered the recipe, who likes, what the kids had to say, neighbors at picnics etc...it takes for ever to get to the recipe. I hate it.

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                  DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  I see that a lot on the recipe sites too. I have ended up saving the ones I want to look at again as text files so that I can delete all of the extra and useless information that is stuck on top of the recipe.
                  Why are these useless things coming up at the top of every search?

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      Sherry Hewinsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      You might as well get used to it. It is in the nature of Internet traffic to go up and down.

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   paradigmsearchposted 5 years ago

   Have you checked for stolen copies, including YouTube?

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   Amanda Buckposted 5 years ago

   No, what is that and how would I do that?

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      theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Take small portions of the text a couple of sentences at a time - from the intro, from the middle, and copy them one by one into Google. Duplicate articles should show up.

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   Amanda Buckposted 5 years ago

   Okay, I tried that and nothing came up??  I found my own article a couple of times.

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      theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      That's good

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   FatFreddysCatposted 5 years ago

   It would seem that everybody's traffic has taken a hit over the past few weeks. Google must be tweaking their algorithms again.
   
   I'd been sailing along smoothly for most of the summer, then as soon as September rolled around - whammo, right into a wall.

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      wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Me, too.  I'm down nearly 20% in the last week or so.

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   Amanda Buckposted 5 years ago

   Okay, that helps. I just joined less than 3 weeks ago, so I have nothing to compare to.  Trying to get an idea of what is normal.  Thanks!

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      eugbugposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Have a look at this guide in the Learning Centre which shows you how to setup Google Analytics.
      https://hubpageshelp.com/money/Learning … -analytics
      GA's graphs and stats give great insight into what is happening to your traffic (and the Real Time feature is addictive!).

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         Tashaneyposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you, I was so confused as to why my traffic had plummeted so drastically. Even though I'm quite new to HubPages my traffic had never been like this.

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            sallybeaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            It is possible that some of your views were your own, especially if you have returned to edit a hub.

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   eugbugposted 5 years ago

   There's been a slow rollout, Google algorithm update during the week.

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   Amanda Buckposted 5 years ago

   Thanks eugbug.  I signed up for Google Analytics, but being so new, not much was happening there, so I haven't checked back.  Hopefully things will pick up this week!

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   Kierstin Gunsbergposted 5 years ago

   All of my traffic is down across all network sites. I think it's the newest Google update as others have said.

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      Kierstin Gunsbergposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Oops, taking that back! Sharp UPTICK of Google mobile traffic for TurboFuture. I'm also noticing that, while I'm not getting increased traffic on WeHaveKids, it's stabilizing compared to what it's been over the past year.

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    eugbugposted 5 years ago

    The algorithm is really kicking in now. I had 10% higher traffic than last year but it's dropped 20% in the last couple of days.

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       Em Clarkposted 5 years agoin reply to this

       Yep, blue arrows for me!

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          Tashaneyposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          I'm new to all of this, so I honestly thought I was doing something wrong.

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    eugbugposted 5 years ago

    It's really frustrating because just like last year, traffic was increasing steadily and then went over a cliff. It's as if Google doesn't want articles to become too popular and try to level the playing field every time.

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       promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

       Some new information:
       
       Google may be reacting to a decline in site performance. I just ran GTmetrix.com for the first time in a year. The numbers are the worst I have seen yet.
       
       Google PageSpeed and Yahoo YSlow both rated the site an F, the lowest grade possible.
       
       You also can test your pages directly with Google.
       
       https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/

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          eugbugposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Every so often, GA flags pages in "insights" that they reckon are loading slower than before. I wonder what that's all about?

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             promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

             Some ads pack enormous javascripts while others do not. A page unlucky enough to get massive ads will load more slowly.
             
             If you run GTmetrix often enough on the exact same page, you'll often get different scores simply because of the ads.
             
             The waterfall part of the report will identify what slows the page the most.

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             chef-de-jourposted 5 years agoin reply to this

             If you go to Analytics - Behavior - Site Speed - Page Timings you can get speeds for each URL and check for improvements. Most of mine are up in the 90s so according to Google are speedy enough. User experiences in the real world could be different however.

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    PaulGoodman67posted 5 years ago

    Really annoying because this is the generally the busiest and best period of year for views and earnings! We we got hit by Google around this time last year too!

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       eugbugposted 5 years agoin reply to this

       On pretty much the same day September 27th. It's the Google Birthday Update.

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          PaulGoodman67posted 5 years agoin reply to this

          My Amazon earnings, which were fairly substantial three years ago, are now down to about ten percent of peak levels. I used to get a windfall at the end of each year. I will work on the Amazon hubs to affect an improvement, but I'm not optimistic. The decline of Amazon income has effectively cancelled out all the gains I've seen over the last few years in Hub Ad income. I feel like I'm treading water at the moment, no gains despite a lot of work over the year.

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    paradigmsearchposted 5 years ago

    Yep, whatever the bad thing is that is going around, it finally got around to me. Both traffic and earnings showing weakness.

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    theraggededgeposted 5 years ago

    My HP traffic is stable but my poor old website's views have been decimated

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    Wesman Todd Shawposted 5 years ago

    I'm down around 500 views per day from this time last year. It's like my last year's worth of stuff not only did nothing, but took away from what I'd already done.

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    eugbugposted 5 years ago

    And a new update today , October 3rd, apparently.

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       PaulGoodman67posted 5 years agoin reply to this

       Well, we can only hope it will help us this time! Link below if anyone else interested.
       
       Possible Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update On October 3rd

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          promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Anyone who uses Google Analytics to track their audiences might want to look at the Publisher report.
          
          My report for September versus the same month a year ago shows a massive decline in AdSense CPM of 62% and a decline in ad coverage from 99% to 78%.
          
          Although AdSense and Google organic search are different beasts, AdSense does respond to site changes just like search. So I'm not surprised that Google revenue and organic search are both in decline.
          
          If other's see the same trend, it's another indication that Google doesn't like some of the site changes.

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             PaulGoodman67posted 5 years agoin reply to this

             Google algo updates are apparently ongoing, so too early to draw any firm conclusions in my opinion.

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                promisemposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                The update took place Oct. 3. I'm referring to a downward trend in Google behavior before that date.

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    Will Apseposted 5 years ago

    Google is using a new way to identify "good content". Essentially, nofollow links are now given some weight.
    
    https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2019/ … ntify.html
    
    Many sites nofollow all links, including many forums. This reduces the likelihood of them getting a penalty from Google, if spammers insert self-serving links. In the past, Google ignored nofollow links completely but now it takes them as a "hint" of genuine reader interest.
    
    This made sense when I looked at my account yesterday. A few of my articles that are link magnets got a big boost. Seems to have faded somewhat today, though. Maybe Google tweaked the impact of the change. Maybe it is just the weekend effect.
    
    My other pages lost 10 or 20 percent of their traffic.
    
    I am wondering what all this means for link juice flow. If such a thing still exists.
    
    Also, HP uses a lot of nofollow links within the HP network. Is this having an impact?
    
    My guess is that "hint" means Google is using nofollow in a very limited way, passing no link juice but using it as a ranking signal. So, the interlinking within the network should not be a problem. But who knows where Google is taking nofollow next, lol?

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    FatFreddysCatposted 5 years ago

    I dunno about anyone else but today it seems like things have begun bouncing back. My hub that took the biggest traffic hit over the past week or so (it dropped from the low three digits per day to single digits per day...yikes!) has suddenly started racking up eyeballs again, at a level comparable to where it had been before The Great Plunge. Hopefully this trend will continue.

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       FatFreddysCatposted 5 years agoin reply to this

       Never mind, looks like it was a temporary bounce. Things have now returned to their semi-comatose levels. Sigh.

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          Larry Slawsonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Same here FatFreddysCat. Don't know what is going on.  Its been a roller coaster ride the last few weeks; up one day, down the next.

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    Amanda Buckposted 5 years ago

    So... related question, my understanding was that articles would get more traffic on network sites.  I have several articles on network sites that are getting less traffic than they did on hubpages.  Some have had 0 views since being moved to the network site.  Why is this??

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       Wesman Todd Shawposted 5 years agoin reply to this

       It's because Google has been updating their search algorithm a lot lately. Every time this sort of thing happens we all get hit hard, eventually things return to normal.

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    Solarasposted 5 years ago

    I have another account whose earnings are at 10% of what they were one year ago.  This account is shrinking 10% every month.  Very discouraging.

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       Will Apseposted 5 years agoin reply to this

       I am down 75 percent and income is still sliding.
       
       One of the depressing things is that mainstream media now do the "10 Best Whatevers", and are not shy about affiliate links
       
       eg "10 Best Tablets..." with plenty of links to Amazon
       
       https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-di … nt-an-ipad
       
       Nymag has "Best Ear Buds...
       
       http://nymag.com/strategist/article/bes … hones.html
       
       We can't compete with these sites. Not only that, the SEO-orientated writers and marketers these high authority sites have hired probably use sites like the HP network for keyword research.

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          Solarasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, those Aholes that did the new AKC site stole my best producing blog article - even stole the title (just changed one unimportant word).
          
          I will say that a couple of articles that had been Hub Pro edited and slid off a cliff; I re edited, put back my original titles and added back some keywords, since they had all been removed(????) and regained some traffic. 
          
          Still 75% off is horrid. I am looking at 55-60% off, with no end in site for the slide. Actually I have added articles, so maybe 75% year over year is my experience too.
          
          And yes, those beating me are crappy articles packed chock-a-block with spam. Folksy crap, about how they like to think about things, then comes a brief list. 
          
          It seems to me that Google meddles with their algorithm just for something to do, and return worse results each year.  Sure they like you to think it is about quality content, but that is just blah blah; those who advertise with them and/or create large blocks of drivel are winning, with adverts jammed in every 3rd sentence. sad

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          Solarasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Joining the Maven was supposed to make us competitive with those sites.  That was the purpose.  They said that with the Maven and HP aggregated, that we had as much content as NY Times.  Unfortunately, the Maven has not gained the authority that the NY Times enjoys, or WaPo.
          
          NY Times sends me recipes I can't see unless I subscribe.  That was the Maven concept too, that users would have to subscribe.  Maybe HP should look at finding was to send people tempting emails, where they come for recipes or best of reviews, for example, but don't have to subscribe. Each site could gather user lists and send out articles that the staff has curated, rotating through the niche sites every 2-3 weeks.
          
          We need a bold new way to reach out to those who have found value in the work here.

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             Will Apseposted 5 years agoin reply to this

             They haven't done much with social media, either.
             
             I have always reckoned the niche sites needed real editors, with some vision for a coherent identity.
             
             But maybe I am too old-fashioned and too print-orientated.
             
             Anyway, I might think about some stuff, then throw in some listless lists,

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                Wesman Todd Shawposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                I've been pretty disappointed in some decisions made by niche site editors, but the list type articles certainly seem to do well for me. I just wish I could stay excited about making those kinds of things.

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             Kierstin Gunsbergposted 5 years agoin reply to this

             Solaras, I really like your idea about reaching readers through means other their search traffic. I sometimes spend time on Quora and when one of my answers gets sent to users through email my stats there soar. Of course, I'm not getting paid, boo! But still, it's an effective way to boost traffic.
             
             I also would like to see the niche sites get a makeover. I have sites like Bustle, Romper, etc. coming up for a lot of my HP article search terms and those articles have tons of affiliate links and are NOT being penalized in rank for it because the content is relevant and helpful. I'd like to see us be able to add more types of capsules too, like GIFs. People like to be entertained while they're being informed and our formatting should be upgraded to be more in-line with that style.
             
             Also, we need a social media presence, period. We've lacked it for so long and I'm disappointed to see that we still lack it and here we are going on 2020. Readers aren't just hanging out on Google, they're getting a lot of their content from Facebook and Instagram too.

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                eugbugposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                Kierstin we can use GIFs. Just add them in a photo module. Animated GIFs work too. The maximum width is 520 pixels.

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                hclpdposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                I concur. To stay relavant, we have to innovate.

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    FatFreddysCatposted 5 years ago

    I've been saying that for ages. I follow the FB pages for ReelRundown and Spinditty (because those are the two niche sites that most of my stuff appears on) and they are updated irregularly (at best). 
    
    Would it be too much to ask for someone at HQ to pick, say, one or two of the newest articles from each of those niche sites each day and share them on their "official" FB pages?

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