My rankings dropped after building links
It's very unlikely that a ranking drop is caused by the links we've built for you. Our links are natural, and we've never known a handful of links to cause a genuine ranking hit — usually something else is going on, and there's often nothing to worry about.
Why rankings can fluctuate
Ranking movement often happens simply because links are being built to a page. This effect is sometimes called a "Google Dance" — it's common for positions to shift temporarily while this happens, before settling again. Other common reasons a page might drop include:
- Coinciding Google algorithm updates
- Competitors building more links of their own
- Natural ranking fluctuations, which happen for pages all the time
When a drop could signal a real problem
Genuine ranking penalties are usually caused by an algorithmic issue linked to "creating a pattern" in a site's link profile, rather than by the links themselves. This can include things like:
- Using too many of the same anchor texts
- Building too many links in a very short space of time
- Getting too many links from the same domain
What we recommend
Try not to make any knee-jerk reactions. Continue building links at a safe, steady rate across your whole site, and focus on organic traffic growth across your whole domain rather than individual keyword positions, as these will naturally fluctuate over time.
If you'd like us to take a closer look, let us know the specific keywords and pages that have been affected and we'll be happy to investigate further.
It's also worth bearing in mind that, as with any SEO activity, we can't guarantee search engine positions or traffic increases, and we have no control over search engine policies or algorithm changes. You can read more in our terms of service.
Still have questions? Chat with our support team or email support@fatjoe.com.