Why Your Backlinks Are Decreasing? Find Out the Top Reasons!
Backlinks – the backbone of the website! All digital marketers practice link building on a continuous basis. Because they all know the importance of a good backlink profile.
But do you know many of them do not evaluate the old backlinks they have made? They do not realize that old backlinks can also decline. Yes! You read it right. Backlinks do decline.
Now many questions might have raised in your mind.
- How do you see if your backlinks are declining?
- Why do they even decline?
- How to stop this decline? Etc, etc..
We have given all the answers to all your questions below in the article. Let’s start with finding the decline.
How to Detect Declining Backlinks?
Detecting declining backlinks is crucial for maintaining your website’s SEO health. Here’s how you can do it in simple steps using popular tools:
- Sign In: Log into your Google Search Console account.
- Navigate to Links: Click on “Links” to see your website’s backlink information.
- Review External Links: Check the “Top linking sites” to see which websites link to you.
- Observe Changes: Look for decreases in the number of links from these sites over time.
- Utilize SEMrush
- Access SEMrush: Open SEMrush and go to the Backlink Analytics section.
- Enter Your Domain: Type in your website’s domain to get a backlink report.
- Analyze the Backlink Audit: This section helps identify lost or declining backlinks by showing the recent status of your links.
- Monitor Regularly: Set up email alerts to get notified about new and lost backlinks.
- Ahrefs for Detailed Analysis
- Log into Ahrefs: Open the Ahrefs dashboard.
- Select ‘Site Explorer’: Enter your website’s URL.
- Check the ‘Backlinks’ Report: This gives you a comprehensive view of your site’s backlinks, including new and lost links.
- Use Alerts: Create alerts to be informed about new, lost, or broken backlinks.
- Majestic for Historical Data
- Access Majestic: Go to Majestic and input your domain.
- Explore ‘Backlink History’: This allows you to compare your backlink gains and losses over time.
- Look for Trends: Notice if there’s a downward trend indicating losing backlinks.
By using these tools and tips, you can effectively monitor and manage your backlink profile, ensuring your website remains strong in search engine rankings.
Top Reasons Why Your Backlinks are Decreasing
Discovering a decline in backlinks can be alarming for any website owner. Understanding the top reasons behind this downward trend is crucial for diagnosing and addressing the underlying issues.
Links Removal
Sometimes, the owners of other websites decide to remove links pointing to your site all by themselves.
This can happen for a few reasons. Maybe they’re updating their content and feel your link no longer fits. Or perhaps they’re tidying up their site and decide to cut down on outbound links.
What’s important to understand is that this isn’t personal. It’s just part of maintaining a website. But it does mean that one day, you have a backlink, and the next, poof, it’s gone.
Lost Partnerships
When you have a partnership with another website, it often involves sharing links to each other’s content. It’s a digital handshake, agreeing to support one another.
But, just like in real life, sometimes partnerships end. Maybe the other site changes direction, or there’s a change in ownership or strategy.
When these partnerships dissolve, the links that were once a bridge between your sites might get removed. It’s not about bad blood; it’s just business. The other site might decide to clear out external links or replace them with new ones that better match their current direction.
Losing these partnerships can lead to a noticeable dip in your backlink count. It’s like watching a friend drift away, except in this case, it’s your site’s SEO that feels the impact.
Expired Domains
When websites go dark because their domain registrations run out, any backlinks from those sites to yours disappear into the digital void.
Imagine this: a site once linked to you from a piece of stellar content. But if they forget to renew their domain or decide it’s time to move on, their entire site vanishes from the web. And with it, your backlink.
It’s a bit like losing a piece of a puzzle. You had a complete picture, but now there’s a gap where that link used to fit. It’s not something you did; it’s just the nature of the ever-changing web landscape.
Keeping an eye on these changes can be tricky, but understanding that expired domains are part of why your backlinks are decreasing helps make sense of these fluctuations.
Content Updates
It’s not unusual for webmasters to reassess the relevance of their outbound links during these updates. They might think, “Does this link still add value to my content?” If the answer is no, or if they’re shifting focus, your link could be out.
This process is all about keeping content fresh and relevant for readers, which is a good practice. However, it does mean that links you once counted on can disappear without warning.
Websites evolve, and sometimes links fall by the wayside. Keeping an eye on these changes can help you understand the landscape of your backlinks better.
Broken Links
Broken links occur when the webpage your backlink was on no longer exists or has been moved without proper redirection.
It’s like the page just vanished into thin air, taking your backlink with it. This can happen for numerous reasons, such as website restructuring, page deletions, or URL changes without updating the links.
The impact? Your backlink count drops. Keeping an eye out for broken links is crucial. They’re a natural part of the web’s ever-changing landscape, but knowing they’re a potential reason for declining backlinks gives you insight into maintaining your site’s health and connectivity.
Penalty and Deindexing
Search engines, like Google, have strict guidelines. If a site doesn’t play by the rules, it can get penalized. This can range from a drop in rankings to the extreme measure of being completely removed from search results, also known as deindexing.
When a site is deindexed or penalized, it’s like it’s been wiped off the map of the internet (at least, as far as search engines are concerned).
And if your backlink was on one of these sites, it effectively disappears, too. This means less support for your site’s SEO, all because of someone else’s missteps.
Nofollow Policy Changes
Imagine you’ve got a backlink from a website that used to pass on SEO juice, helping your site rank better. But then, the website decides to change its policy by implementing a “nofollow” tag on all external links, including yours.
This tiny change means that while your link remains on their site, it no longer carries the same weight in search engine eyes. The “nofollow” tag tells search engines not to pass on link equity or ranking power from the host site to yours.
It’s like having a silent partner in a business who suddenly decides to stop contributing. The partnership is still there, but it’s not as beneficial as it used to be.
Algorithm Updates
Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, search engines like Google decide to mix things up a bit.
These updates are designed to improve how search engines find and rank content, making sure users get the best possible results. However, a side effect of these changes can be a shake-up in your backlink profile.
Why? Because as algorithms evolve, they get better at deciding which links are valuable and which are not. A backlink that once boosted your site’s ranking might suddenly lose its impact or, worse, become invisible to search engine crawlers.
So, while we can’t predict every algorithm change, understanding that they happen—and can affect your backlinks—is crucial for navigating the digital world. It’s all about adapting and keeping your SEO strategy flexible.
Tips to Prevent This Condition
Keeping your backlinks strong and steady doesn’t have to be a mystery. Here are some simple tips to help you prevent losing them:
- Regular Link Audits: Think of this as a health check for your site’s links. Regularly take a look at where your backlinks are coming from. This helps you spot any problems early on.
- Broken Link Fixing: Sometimes links break when websites update. By fixing or updating these broken links, you make sure they keep working for you.
- Reclaim Lost Links: If you find out a link to your site has disappeared, don’t be shy. Reach out to the website owner and see if you can get it back.
- Diversify Link Sources: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Make sure your backlinks come from a variety of high-quality sources. This way, if one link goes down, it’s not the end of the world.
- Continuous Link Building Efforts: Keep building new links. This not only helps replace any that you lose but also strengthens your overall backlink profile.
By following these tips, you can help ensure your backlinks stay strong, supporting your site’s visibility and ranking.
Hire Experts to Improve Your Backlink Profile
Thinking about giving your backlink profile a serious boost? Sometimes, it’s best to call in the pros. Since 2017, Outreach Monks have been the go-to experts for crafting stellar backlink strategies.
Why them? Well, they’ve got the know-how, the experience, and a knack for securing quality links that make search engines take notice.
Working with Outreach Monks means less worrying about your links and more time focusing on what you do best. Plus, who wouldn’t want a team of link building experts on their side?
Get in touch with them, and watch your backlink profile go from meh to amazing. It’s like giving your site a supercharge!
Conclusion
We’ve discussed why the number of backlinks to a website might decrease. It’s like when you plant seeds in a garden and hope they grow, but sometimes things don’t go well.
Maybe it’s because of changes in how search engines work (like updates), or some links to your site get removed. One thing to remember is that the world of backlinks is always changing. The important lesson is to stay watchful and be ready to adapt.
If your backlinks drop, don’t get discouraged. Think of it as a sign to come up with new ideas and change your strategy. Regularly check your website, fix any issues, and keep looking for new opportunities to get more backlinks.
Every website’s journey is different, so embrace the challenge and keep improving.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I monitor my backlink profile?
Use tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to check your backlinks regularly. These platforms provide detailed reports on your backlink status, including new and lost links.
What should I do if I notice lost backlinks?
First, identify why the backlink was lost. If it's due to broken links or website updates, try reaching out to the website owner to restore the link. For other reasons, focus on building new, high-quality backlinks.
Can changing my website's content affect my backlinks?
Yes, significant changes to your website's content or structure can lead to lost backlinks, especially if the linking pages no longer find your content relevant or if URLs have changed without proper redirection.
How often should I perform a link audit?
Performing a link audit at least once every three to six months is a good practice. Regular audits help you stay on top of your backlink profile and address any issues promptly.
Is it worth trying to recover every lost backlink?
While it's beneficial to attempt recovering valuable backlinks from reputable sites, focus your efforts on links that offer significant SEO value. Prioritize building new, high-quality backlinks over chasing every lost link.
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