How to Recover Lost SEO Rankings Using Surfer SEO

TL;DR

To recover lost SEO rankings, use Surfer SEO to analyze your page and identify issues like excessive word count and multiple H1 tags. By converting text to images and adjusting the page structure, you can optimize your content, resubmit it to Google Search Console, and regain top rankings.

Transcript

alright guys check this out so today is October 11 2009 teen and I noticed I dropped in number two for this SEO coaching term that I was ranking for when did this happen it happened a few days ago seven days ago so let's see if surfer can tell me how to fix this so just go to SEO coaching here I've run a surfer analysis on it and then check out my ... Read More

Key Insights

• The user experienced a drop in rankings for an SEO term and used Surfer SEO to diagnose the issue.
• Surfer SEO analysis revealed missing backlinks and issues with word count and h1 tags on the page.
• Competitors were using fewer words, so reducing word count was necessary to match the SERP environment.
• Excessive h1 tags were identified and corrected, improving the page's structure and readability.
• Converting textual testimonials into images helped significantly reduce the word count on the page.
• After implementing changes, the page was resubmitted to Google Search Console for recrawling.
• The page's ranking improved from fluctuating between positions 1 and 2 to a stable number 1 position.
• Surfer SEO proved useful for identifying simple yet impactful changes to regain lost rankings.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the initial issue with the user's SEO ranking?

The user noticed a drop in their SEO ranking for a specific term. Upon investigation using Surfer SEO, it was revealed that the page had issues with excessive word count and multiple h1 tags, which contributed to the ranking drop.

Q: How did the user address the problem of excessive word count?

To address the excessive word count, the user converted textual testimonials into images, significantly reducing the overall word count on the page. This adjustment helped align the page's content with the word count of competing pages in the search results.

Q: What role did Surfer SEO play in diagnosing the problem?

Surfer SEO played a crucial role in diagnosing the problem by providing an audit of the page. It highlighted issues such as missing backlinks, excessive word count, and multiple h1 tags, allowing the user to make targeted adjustments to improve the page's ranking.

Q: What changes were made to the page's h1 tags?

The page had multiple h1 tags, which were corrected by converting them to h2 tags. This structural adjustment improved the page's readability and alignment with SEO best practices, contributing to the recovery of the lost ranking.

Q: How did the user ensure Google recognized the changes made to the page?

After making the necessary adjustments, the user resubmitted the page to Google Search Console for recrawling. This step ensured that Google recognized the changes, allowing the page to regain its ranking position effectively.

Q: What was the result of the changes made to the page?

As a result of the changes, the page's ranking improved from fluctuating between positions 1 and 2 to a stable number 1 position. The adjustments made based on Surfer SEO's insights proved effective in recovering the lost ranking.

Q: What insights did Surfer SEO provide regarding keyword density?

Surfer SEO provided insights into keyword density, allowing the user to tweak and optimize it for better alignment with competitors. Although the user did not achieve perfect scores, the adjustments made were sufficient to improve the page's ranking.

Q: Why was reducing word count important for the user's page?

Reducing word count was important because the user's page had significantly more words than competing pages in the search results. By aligning the word count with competitors, the user improved the page's relevance and ranking potential in the SERP.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The user noticed a drop in SEO rankings and used Surfer SEO to analyze and fix the issue. Key problems included excessive word count and multiple h1 tags, which were corrected by converting text to images and adjusting the page's structure.

• After making necessary adjustments, such as reducing word count and fixing h1 tags, the user resubmitted the page to Google Search Console. These changes helped stabilize the page's ranking at the top position.

• Surfer SEO was instrumental in diagnosing and addressing ranking issues by highlighting areas of improvement like word count and keyword density. The tool's insights enabled the user to make effective adjustments and recover lost rankings.