Uh oh. Looks like lots of people are mad at Google after the latest Google algorithm update (was one of them seriously called Pigeon?), which have no doubt meant that many sites have lost rankings.

  And no wonder. If your business relies heavily on your website, and that website relies heavily on traffic from organic search, well - things might be looking a little sour if you've just dropped to page 20. Did you ever hear the joke about the best place to hide a body? The answer is page 2 of Google - 'cos nobody looks that far. It's a grim comparison - but no doubt many website owners are feeling pretty grim themselves.

So what can you do?

In a panicked time like this, many people will be looking for quick fixes. The reality is, and I know you don't want to hear it, but these things take time. Many will turn to PPC to pump up the traffic in the meantime, but since this is an auction based system you can bet that other site owners facing a similar plight have had the same idea, and these costs are likely to be higher on the back of a Google algorithm update. Take a big deep breath, and start to regroup. Use your social channels if appropriate to spread your message. Try an email marketing campaign. But in the short term, accept that the volume of traffic you used to have won't come back overnight.

How can you keep getting customers?

Well here's a thought. Imagine you're a service-based business, who used to get 500 visitors to your site per month, with a conversion rate of 1%. So 5 phone calls/emails/filled out contact forms per month. Now you're only getting 100 visitors. You can still get the same enquiries per month - it just means you need to increase your conversion rate dramatically. And how might you do that? It's time to bring in the big guns, and start really analysing your website. You need to find out what's working and what's not - and fix it, fast. It means engaging with the traffic you do have in a more meaningful, effective way - and capitalising on the opportunities to win business. Split test your site, analyse it using digital psychology and strategise how to better connect with your customers. It's a worthwhile investment while your SEO might not be that effective - and imagine, once your traffic does go back up, with an increased conversion rate plus more traffic - you'll be a very happy website owner indeed! If you want to discuss how we can help you recover from a drop in Google rankings, just give us a shout. We're always happy to help a friend in need!