Are you noticing a sudden drop in your site’s traffic and wondering what went wrong? Chances are, the answer lies in Ahrefs’ recent update of their keyword database. In this article, we’ll explain what changes Ahrefs made to their keyword search volume estimations and how this might impact your site’s traffic. We’ll also provide tips on how to adapt your SEO strategy to these changes to maintain or improve your site’s visibility in search engines.
Background: What is Ahrefs and Why Does Their Keyword Database Matter?
Ahrefs is one of the most popular SEO tools that provides valuable insights into your website’s performance and your competitors’ strategies. One of the key features of Ahrefs is its keyword research tool that allows you to find high-traffic keywords, estimate their search volume, and analyze the competition for those keywords. This information is crucial for optimizing your content and driving more traffic to your site.
Ahrefs’ keyword database is updated regularly to provide accurate and up-to-date information on search volume and keyword difficulty. However, as with any database, there is always room for improvement, and Ahrefs recently made some significant changes to how they calculate search volume estimations.
Ahrefs’ Keyword Search Volume Estimations: What Has Changed?
Ahrefs used to rely on clickstream data from a third-party provider to estimate search volume for keywords. However, they have now switched to using their own data to calculate search volume. This change means that Ahrefs’ search volume estimations may differ from those of other tools that rely on clickstream data.
Another significant change is that Ahrefs is now filtering out queries that are unlikely to result in clicks, such as navigational queries (e.g., “Facebook login”) and informational queries (e.g., “how to tie a tie”). This filtering means that Ahrefs’ search volume estimations may be lower than other tools that do not filter out these queries.
How Ahrefs’ Keyword Database Update Might Affect Your Site’s Traffic
If your site relies heavily on keywords that are filtered out by Ahrefs, you may see a sudden drop in your reported traffic. For example, if your site has a lot of informational content that targets keywords that are now filtered out by Ahrefs, you may see a decline in reported traffic even if your actual traffic remains the same.
Similarly, if your site’s keyword strategy was based on inaccurate search volume estimations, you may see a drop in traffic as a result of the update. For example, if you were targeting keywords with high search volume estimations that were actually inflated due to click fraud or other factors, your site’s traffic may have been artificially boosted. With Ahrefs’ more accurate search volume estimations, you may see a decline in traffic as a result.
Adapting Your SEO Strategy to Ahrefs’ Keyword Database Update
So, what can you do to adapt your SEO strategy to Ahrefs’ keyword database update and maintain or improve your site’s visibility in search engines? Here are some tips:
1. Focus on Quality Content
With Ahrefs’ filtering of navigational and informational queries, it’s more important than ever to focus on creating quality content that targets keywords with commercial intent. In other words, create content that is relevant to your business and that is likely to lead to conversions, such as product pages, service pages, and landing pages.
2. Use Multiple Tools for Keyword Research
While Ahrefs’ keyword database is a valuable resource, it’s always a good idea to use multiple tools for keyword research to get a more comprehensive view of search volume and competition. Other popular keyword research
3. Monitor Your Site’s Traffic and Rankings
Keep a close eye on your site’s traffic and rankings after the update to see if there are any significant changes. If you notice a decline, investigate which keywords are affected and adjust your strategy accordingly.
4. Look for Opportunities in Low-Volume Keywords
With Ahrefs’ filtering of certain types of queries, there may be opportunities to target keywords with lower search volume but less competition. Look for long-tail keywords that are highly relevant to your business and create content that targets those keywords.
5. Consider Other Factors that Affect Traffic
Remember that Ahrefs’ keyword database update is just one factor that can affect your site’s traffic. Other factors, such as changes in search engine algorithms, backlink profile, and user behavior, can also impact your site’s performance. Keep these factors in mind as you adjust your SEO strategy.
Conclusion
Ahrefs’ recent update to their keyword database has important implications for SEO practitioners and website owners. With more accurate search volume estimations and filtering of certain types of queries, some sites may see a decline in reported traffic. However, by focusing on quality content, using multiple tools for keyword research, monitoring traffic and rankings, looking for opportunities in low-volume keywords, and considering other factors that affect traffic, you can adapt your SEO strategy and maintain or improve your site’s visibility in search engines.
FAQs
- Will Ahrefs’ keyword database update affect all websites equally?
No, the impact of the update will vary depending on each website’s keyword strategy and the types of queries they target.
- Should I stop using Ahrefs for keyword research after the update?
No, Ahrefs is still a valuable tool for keyword research, but it’s important to keep in mind the changes to their search volume estimations and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- How often does Ahrefs update their keyword database?
Ahrefs updates their keyword database regularly, but the frequency of updates may vary depending on various factors.
- Can I rely solely on Ahrefs for keyword research?
While Ahrefs is a valuable tool for keyword research, it’s always a good idea to use multiple tools to get a more comprehensive view of search volume and competition.
- Will Ahrefs’ keyword database update affect my site’s rankings in search engines?
Possibly, as search volume is one of the factors that search engines consider when ranking websites. However, the impact on rankings will depend on many factors, including the overall quality of your site and your competitors’ sites.