The domain has multiple IP addresses that keep changing randomly with roughly 4 of them.
I don't know exactly how and when this happened, but about three weeks ago, the domain's search engine positions dramatically decreased from 79% to 30%, resulting in a huge drop in traffic. Is it possible that this factor is responsible for the significant decline in positions? And what suggestions do you have for me?
This is not the case. Only a few people purchase dedicated IPs, therefore hosting providers often assign one IP to hundreds of sites.
However, this practice can lead to issues if the IP is connected to spam or banned sites. It's suggested to consider buying a dedicated server from your hosting provider as an alternative option.
SEO specialists often advise that in order to achieve good search engine positions, it is recommended to host your website on a dedicated IP address. Although it may seem like an unnecessary suggestion, it is actually beneficial.
If a website belonging to untrustworthy owners who engage in spamming, distributing viruses, and breaking the law is also hosted on the same IP as your website, the IP can be banned.
If a complaint is filed regarding one of the sites neighboring your website, all domains sharing the IP can face sanctions, ultimately causing your website to become unavailable. Utilizing the 2ip service allows you to determine which sites you are sharing an IP with.
Round-robin DNS is a load-balancing technique that involves using several different IP addresses for a single domain name.
The random changes in IP addresses for your domain are a potential red flag. Typically, a domain should have a stable set of IP addresses associated with it, unless there is a specific reason for the IPs to change, such as a migration to a new hosting provider or infrastructure changes. Frequent and random IP address changes can be indicative of a technical issue, a security problem, or even potential domain hijacking attempts.
The sudden drop in search engine positions from 79% to 30% is also very alarming and is likely the primary cause of the significant decline in traffic to your website. While the IP address changes may be a contributing factor, the drastic drop in rankings points to a more fundamental problem that needs to be addressed.
Some possible reasons for the decline in search engine rankings could be:
1. Content and Relevance Issues: If the content on your website has become less relevant, unique, or valuable to your target audience, search engines may have demoted your site in the rankings. Review your content strategy, keyword targeting, and overall site structure to ensure it aligns with search engine best practices.
2. Technical SEO Problems: Issues with your website's technical implementation, such as poor site architecture, broken links, slow page load times, or lack of mobile optimization, can negatively impact your search engine visibility. Conduct a thorough technical SEO audit to identify and address any such problems.
3. Algorithmic Changes: Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, and major updates can significantly affect a website's rankings. It's possible that a recent algorithm change by a search engine has impacted your domain's positioning. Monitor industry news and trends to stay informed about any notable algorithm updates.
4. Competitor Strategies: If your competitors have implemented more effective SEO strategies, improved their content, or increased their online visibility, it could lead to a relative decline in your own rankings.
To address this issue, I would recommend the following steps:
1. Investigate the IP Address Changes: Reach out to your hosting provider or domain registrar to understand the reasons behind the IP address changes. Ensure that the changes are not the result of any unauthorized access or domain hijacking attempts.
2. Conduct a Comprehensive SEO Audit: Perform a detailed audit of your website's content, technical implementation, and overall SEO strategy. Identify any areas for improvement and devise a plan to address them.
3. Monitor Search Engine Results: Closely monitor your website's rankings across different search engines and keywords. Analyze the trends and identify any patterns that may provide insights into the underlying causes of the ranking decline.
4. Implement Corrective Measures: Based on the findings from the SEO audit, take action to improve your website's content, technical infrastructure, and overall search engine optimization. This may involve updating content, improving site speed, enhancing mobile optimization, or addressing any other identified issues.
5. Explore Alternative Traffic Sources: While you work on improving your search engine visibility, consider diversifying your traffic sources. Explore other marketing channels, such as social media, email marketing, or paid advertising, to supplement the organic traffic.