Big hit by Google's recent algo update

[Jon]

Google had a big change to their algorithm in early May, and sadly, it looks like we've been hit. They obviously don't like us online communities anymore. Early signs are that we have lost 30% of traffic, which is a major blow for us. But there is nothing we can do about it except plod on. Compared to this time last year, we are at half the levels of traffic.

 

[pbaldy]

Is it perhaps the new forum software?

 

[Jon]

Most likely not. https://searchengineland.com/google-may-2020-core-update-rolling-out-today-334128

Reports are out there that this is the biggest algo change since I think it said April 2018.

 

[pbaldy]

I won't pretend to know anything about SEO or how to improve the rankings. You're saying that other forums are now above AWF and they weren't before?

 

[Isaac]

I've always felt that a major part of search engine results has got to be the Subject lines that are used for posts. (I could be wrong?) That is why I always hate seeing "a little help needed", or "update" as post titles. Of course, it's not a good result for the OP either.

 

[Jon]

I am not sure about other forums, except to say that at the Xenforo site, many have lost significant rankings. It all started on May 5th. A guy with an Excel forum lost rank, and another guy in a tech area. Maybe the Excel guy was MrExcel? Who knows.I haven't looked on vbulletin sites or the others. My research showed that there has been big upheaval in the SERPS in May and so therefore this was a big Google update.

Perhaps Google are lowering tech forums in the Google results, for example.

 

[AccessBlaster]

Too many adverse remarks in the watercooler regarding big tech...your'e on their radar.

 

[Minty]

I have to say I have recently been googling for a variety of Excel automation stuff and the results have nearly always come up in blog's ahead of the forums, apart from stackoverload.

Bit weird

 

[mamradzelvy]

I have to say I have recently been googling for a variety of Excel automation stuff and the results have nearly always come up in blog's ahead of the forums, apart from stackoverload.

Bit weird

Blogs have more often than not some sort of advertising/google ad banners, go figure

 

[Steve R.]

The graph is cyclic. Does that mean it follows the phases of the Moon?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Looks more like a weekly cycle, less traffic on weekends than weekdays.

 

[pbaldy]

Looks more like a weekly cycle, less traffic on weekends than weekdays.

That would be my guess as well. My site follows that pattern.