Top Declining Keywords
The Position Drops tab displays keywords that declined in ranking since their previous check—surfacing problems early so corrective action can be taken.
Quick start
1. Select a Search Group to filter results
2. Click the Position Drops tab
3. Review the top 10 declining keywords
4. Click View to investigate the affected page
Understanding the display
The table shows keywords where the current position is worse (higher number) than the previous check. Results are sorted by decline size, with the biggest drops at the top.
Table columns
| Column | Description |
| Keyword | The search term that declined |
| Domain | The website being tracked |
| Engine | Search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo) |
| Search Group | The tracking configuration grouping |
| Latest | Current ranking position |
| Previous | Position from the prior check |
| Move | Positions lost (always negative here) |
| URL | Link to the ranking page |
How decline is calculated
Decline equals the current position minus the previous position, displayed as a negative number. A move from position 5 to position 12 shows as "−7" because the ranking dropped by 7 positions.
Only keywords where both the current and previous positions are within the top 100 appear. Keywords that dropped out of the top 100 entirely appear in the Lost Keywords tab instead.
What should I do next?
| Situation | Action |
| Large drop (−10 or more) | Investigate immediately. Check for technical issues or penalties. |
| Small drop (−1 to −3) | Normal fluctuation. Monitor for sustained decline. |
| Keyword dropped from page 1 | Priority fix. Review content and competitors. |
| Keyword dropped from top 3 | Significant visibility loss. Run AI Analysis. |
| No keywords showing | No declines since the last check. Check Position Gains. |
| Same keyword, multiple engines | Broad decline. Content or technical issue likely. |
Using the filters
Search group
Select a search group to focus on keywords within that tracking configuration. The search group dropdown at the top of the dashboard filters all tabs, including Position Drops.
Reading the data
Example interpretation
A row showing:
• Keyword: "organic coffee beans"
• Latest: 18
• Previous: 6
• Move: −12
This means the page moved from position 6 to position 18—a decline of 12 positions. The page dropped from page 1 to page 2, representing a significant visibility loss that warrants investigation.
Why only 10 results?
The view is limited to the top 10 declines to focus attention on the most significant losses. These are the keywords that need immediate attention.
Common causes of drops
• Competitor improvements — Rivals published better content or acquired links
• Algorithm updates — Search engine ranking factors changed
• Technical issues — Page speed, mobile issues, or crawl errors
• Content changes — Recent edits may have reduced relevance
• Lost backlinks — Links pointing to the page were removed
• Normal volatility — Small fluctuations are routine
Related tabs
| Tab | Shows |
| Position Gains | Keywords that improved since the last check |
| All Keywords | Complete keyword list with current positions |
| Lost Keywords | Keywords that dropped out of the top 100 |
| Opportunities | Keywords close to page 1 threshold |
Troubleshooting
No declines showing
No keywords declined between the current and previous checks. This is positive—rankings are stable or improving. Check the Position Gains tab to see improvements.
Table shows "N/A" for Previous
The keyword has only one data point. No previous position exists for comparison. Wait for the next ranking check to see movement data.
Error loading data
Refresh the page. If the problem persists, verify the search group selection is valid and contains tracked keywords.
Expected keyword not appearing
The tab shows only the top 10 declines. If a keyword dropped but does not appear, other keywords dropped more. Additionally, both positions must be within the top 100 for the keyword to appear here.
FAQ
What if a keyword dropped out of the top 100?
Keywords that fell from a ranked position to "not ranked" appear in the Lost Keywords tab, not here. This tab focuses on declines within ranked positions.
Can the same keyword appear multiple times?
Yes. If a keyword declined on multiple search engines, each engine shows as a separate row with its own decline value.
Why do small fluctuations appear?
Small position changes (1–3 positions) are normal ranking behaviour. Search engines constantly test different result combinations. Focus on sustained trends rather than individual fluctuations.
How quickly should I respond to drops?
Large drops (10+ positions) or drops from page 1 warrant immediate investigation. Small drops (1–3 positions) can be monitored over several days before taking action.
Getting help
Contact support for persistent issues