Voices of Search Podcast Summary
Episode Title: More Sudden Traffic Drops Caused By Technical Issues Or Content-Related Problems?
Release Date: May 8, 2025
Host: Tyson Stockton
Guest Expert: Sam Torres from Gray Co
Podcast Network: I Hear Everything
Introduction
In this episode of Voices of Search, host Tyson Stockton engages with Sam Torres, an SEO and content marketing expert from Gray Co, to delve into the causes behind sudden traffic drops in websites. The discussion primarily focuses on distinguishing whether such declines stem from technical issues or content-related problems, and how algorithm updates and site migrations influence these dynamics.
Sudden Traffic Drops: Technical Issues vs. Content Problems
Sam Torres opens the conversation by posing a critical question about the prevalent causes of sudden traffic drops:
"From your personal experience, have you seen more sudden drops of traffic caused by technical issues or content-related problems?"
[00:43]
Guest Expert responds by differentiating the nature and timeline of traffic declines:
"So the sudden where it's like it happened in two weeks, that's almost always technical unless you've been hit by an algorithm. The slower declines that are usually way more meaningful to the business. So I guess those wouldn't be sudden, but those are usually content."
[01:04]
This insight underscores that abrupt traffic decreases within a short span, such as two weeks, are typically attributable to technical glitches rather than content deficiencies. In contrast, gradual declines often signal deeper, content-related issues that can have more significant implications for business.
The Impact of Algorithm Updates and Site Migrations
The discussion transitions to the role of algorithm updates and site migrations in traffic fluctuations. Sam Torres references earlier parts of the episode, emphasizing how algorithm updates can lead to the loss of irrelevant traffic that doesn't contribute positively to the site's objectives:
"We talked in the beginning of the episode about going into an investigation and finding out, hey, there's really not impacting it. I feel like with algorithm updates, websites are probably more susceptible to losing that irrelevant traffic that maybe wasn't doing much for the site. Is that a common case for you in entering into some of these investigations?"
[01:21]
Guest Expert elaborates on the complexities introduced by site migrations:
"It is if there's a migration involved. Migration seems to be a peak time for Google reevaluating the relevance of the site. But then also the rate at which we're seeing updates, it's really hard for many teams to distinguish was this migration related or algorithm update related. So yes, that's where we typically see that."
[01:47]
This highlights that during site migrations—a process where a website undergoes significant structural or design changes—Google often reassesses the site's relevance, potentially leading to traffic shifts. Furthermore, the frequent nature of algorithm updates complicates the ability of teams to pinpoint whether traffic changes are due to migrations or updates.
Sam Torres adds to this by discussing how site migrations can inadvertently force Google's hand in reassessing a site's intent:
"We've also seen that where it's almost like it almost has like this reconfiguration of like intent by the site. And yeah, like we've, we've also seen that somewhat recently where it's almost like you're forcing Google's hand to. Yeah, reevaluate."
[02:09]
Guest Expert concurs, emphasizing the interplay between site intent and search engine evaluations during migrations:
"Exactly."
[02:28]
Conclusion
The episode concludes with Tyson Stockton wrapping up the discussion, thanking Sam Torres for her valuable insights. Listeners are encouraged to connect with Sam via LinkedIn and explore more about Gray Co. Stockton also reminds the audience to subscribe for daily SEO and content marketing knowledge.
Key Takeaways
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Sudden vs. Gradual Traffic Drops: Abrupt decreases in website traffic within a short period are typically due to technical issues, whereas gradual declines are more often related to content problems.
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Algorithm Updates: Regular algorithm changes by search engines can lead to the loss of irrelevant traffic, affecting a site's overall performance.
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Site Migrations: Significant website migrations can prompt search engines to reevaluate the site's relevance and intent, potentially causing traffic fluctuations. The overlap between migrations and algorithm updates can make it challenging to determine the exact cause of traffic changes.
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Strategic Content and Technical Management: To mitigate sudden traffic drops, it's crucial for businesses to maintain robust technical SEO practices and continuously evaluate and optimize content relevance.
Notable Quotes
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Sam Torres:
"From your personal experience, have you seen more sudden drops of traffic caused by technical issues or content-related problems?"
[00:43] -
Guest Expert:
"So the sudden where it's like it happened in two weeks, that's almost always technical unless you've been hit by an algorithm..."
[01:04] -
Sam Torres:
"Is that a common case for you in entering into some of these investigations?"
[01:21] -
Guest Expert:
"Migration seems to be a peak time for Google reevaluating the relevance of the site..."
[01:47] -
Sam Torres:
"you're forcing Google's hand to. Yeah, reevaluate."
[02:09]
For more insights and discussions on SEO and content marketing, subscribe to the Voices of Search Podcast on your preferred podcast platform or follow them on YouTube.