Ever feel like you’re putting all the effort into your website, yet Google’s giving you the cold shoulder? Here are five signals that your SEO strategy might be less “committed relationship” and more “situationship.” Read on and learn how to turn that ghosting into real attention.
1. You’re Google’s Invisible Friend
What’s Happening:
No visits, no calls and no DMs, at least not from Google. If your traffic stats look like your phone on a Friday night (silent and lonely), your SEO is screening your calls.
Reality Check:
When you’re ranked on page two for your own brand name, that’s a problem. Translation? Time to ditch the camouflage and don a neon jumpsuit. Make sure your on-page SEO (titles, tags, content) is optimised for the right keywords and that your site is built to impress both users and crawlers.
2. Your Traffic Graph Looks Like a Flatline
What’s Happening:
Hearing the word “flatline” usually conjures dramatic hospital scenes, not your analytics dashboard. If you’re seeing a big fat zero for growth, your traffic might be in a “coma.”
Reality Check:
Data spikes show that your SEO efforts are working. No movement means your strategy needs CPR. Do a content audit, check your technical SEO and see what your competitors are doing differently (and better).
3. Crickets Are Louder Than Your Conversions
What’s Happening:
They pop by, say “hi,” and vanish like someone who swipes right, messages once and then ghosts. If conversion rates are non existent, visitors either have no idea what to do next, or they’re turned off by your pitch.
Reality Check:
SEO can deliver an audience, but it can’t make them stick around. Make your calls-to-action so clear they can’t be missed and ensure your site experience is as welcoming as possible. People need a reason to stay and convert.
4. Your Content Is Stuck in a Time Capsule
What’s Happening:
If your last blog post still references the flip phone era, you might be on Google’s “Ignore” list. Fresh, relevant content is non-negotiable if you want the algorithm’s attention.
Reality Check:
Search engines love up to date, high-value info. That means scheduling regular content updates, refreshing old posts and sprinkling in internal links. It’s like dating: if you haven’t changed in a decade, people might lose interest.
5. Your SEO Person Is MIA
What’s Happening:
Or maybe it’s you, wearing way too many hats. If your “strategy” is mostly crossing your fingers and hoping to rank, you might need back up.
Reality Check:
A proactive SEO partner (or a little DIY hustle) can keep you out of the digital Bermuda Triangle. Whether you hire an expert (we know a guy!) or invest more time and training, having a dedicated plan beats hoping for the best.
So, how to win it back you may ask? Here’s how:
1. Run an SEO Health Check
- Why? Think of it like a dental exam, catch hidden issues before they cause real pain
- Start Here: Check broken links, missing meta tags, page speed and 404 errors using Google Analytics, Search Console and tools like Screaming Frog
- Pro Tip: Keep an eye on core web vitals (CLS, LCP, FID) for load speed and usability clues
2. Refresh Your Content
- Why? Stale content repels visitors and search engines alike
- Start Here: Identify top performing pages, update outdated info and add internal links
- Pro Tip: Target new keywords with decent search volume and low competition to get traction faster
3. Sharpen Your Keyword Strategy
- Why? Vague or irrelevant keywords attract the wrong crowd (or no one at all)
- Start Here: Use SEMrush or Ahrefs to see what your audience is actually searching for. Assign each page a clear primary keyword
- Pro Tip: Align keywords with search intent, informational queries differ from transactional ones
4. Optimise for Humans Before Robots
- Why? People buy your products, not bots
- Start Here: Simplify layouts, break text into short paragraphs, add visuals and make CTAs unmissable
- Pro Tip: Play “mystery shopper” on your own site. If you get lost or bored, so will everyone else
5. Strengthen Your Technical Foundations
- Why? Even the best content can’t outrank a sluggish or broken site
- Start Here: Compress images, fix redirects, enable caching and ensure mobile friendliness
- Pro Tip:Use structured data (for FAQs, products, reviews) to stand out in SERPs
6. Build (Real) Backlinks
- Why? Quality links = credibility in Google’s eyes
- Start Here: Create share-worthy content (guides, insights, original research) and reach out to relevant industry sites
- Pro Tip: Avoid spammy link farms; they’ll do more harm than good
7. Keep Your Ear to the Ground
- Why? SEO is always changing, yesterday’s trick is today’s penalty risk
- Start Here: Follow trusted blogs, join LinkedIn groups and test small changes over time
- Pro Tip: Stay adaptable. Regular tweaks can help you dodge big algorithm shake ups
In both love and SEO, if you feel like you’re putting in all the effort, you probably are. But you can break out of Google’s friend zone with thorough audits, updated content, well chosen keywords, a user friendly site, solid technical groundwork, great backlinks and the will to keep learning. When your numbers finally start climbing, consider it the best “happily ever after” you could ask for.