How Benjamin Brandall Revived His Traffic with One Simple Strategy
Imagine having an article that consistently ranks #3 on Google for two years, generating 12,000 visits a month. That’s the dream of many content creators. But what happens when your ranking starts to drop?
This was exactly the challenge faced by Benjamin Brandall, whose evergreen article dropped from #3 to #8 in Google rankings, causing his traffic to plummet by more than 75%.
The good news? Benjamin made one strategic update, and within just 4 days, his page climbed back to the #3 position, leading to a 486% spike in traffic.
What Happened? Why Did Traffic Drop?
After two years without updates, Google began to view the post as outdated. Freshness is a key ranking factor for search engines, especially for content that’s expected to remain relevant over time.
As Benjamin realized, the solution wasn’t to abandon the article but to revive it with targeted updates.
The Formula: How He Brought the Traffic Back
Here’s exactly what Benjamin did to reclaim his spot in the rankings:
- Added Fresh Information
- He updated outdated sections of the article, adding new insights and ensuring the content was still valuable to readers.
- This demonstrated to Google that the post was current and aligned with user expectations.
- Fixed Broken Links
- He identified and repaired any faulty hyperlinks within the post. Broken links not only frustrate users but also signal poor content maintenance to search engines.
- Updated the Publication Date
- After refreshing the content, he updated the publication date to reflect the recent changes. This signaled to both readers and Google that the post was now more relevant and timely.
The Results: A Quick Turnaround
Within just 4 days of making these updates:
- The page returned to the #3 spot on Google.
- Traffic to the article experienced a 486% surge, recovering the significant loss caused by the ranking drop.
Why This Strategy Works
Google’s algorithm prioritizes relevant and up-to-date content. Even evergreen articles can lose their ranking power if they’re not refreshed periodically. By:
- Updating key sections with current information,
- Fixing technical issues like broken links, and
- Adjusting the publication date,
You can signal to Google that your content is still valuable and worthy of high rankings.
Key Takeaways for Reviving Your Content
- Monitor Your Rankings: Keep an eye on your high-performing posts. If you notice a drop, investigate why.
- Update Regularly: Periodically refresh evergreen articles to keep them relevant and appealing to both users and search engines.
- Fix Technical Issues: Broken links or outdated formatting can harm user experience and SEO rankings.
- Leverage the Publication Date: Reflect your updates with a new date to indicate freshness to Google.
Benjamin’s experience is a powerful reminder that content maintenance is just as important as content creation. With a few targeted updates, you can keep your evergreen articles ranking high and driving consistent traffic for years.
Source: ahrefs.com