Lost Keywords
The Lost Keywords tab displays keywords that previously ranked but have dropped out of search results entirely—highlighting visibility losses that need urgent attention.
Quick start
1. Select a Search Group to filter results
2. Click the Lost Keywords tab
3. Review keywords showing "Not Ranked"
4. Check "Last Seen" to understand when visibility was lost
Understanding the display
The table shows keywords that were ranking within the top results but have now disappeared from tracked positions. These keywords previously drove organic traffic but no longer appear in search results.
Table columns
| Column | Description |
| Keyword | The search term that lost ranking |
| Domain | The website being tracked |
| Engine | Search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo) |
| Search Group | The tracking configuration grouping |
| Current | Always shows "Not Ranked" (in red) |
| Last Position | The position before the keyword was lost |
| Last Seen | The date when the keyword was last ranked |
What "Lost" means
A keyword is considered "lost" when it previously appeared in search results (had a position) but is now completely absent from tracked rankings. This differs from Position Drops, which shows keywords that declined but are still ranking.
What should I do next?
| Situation | Action |
| Keyword was in top 10 | Urgent. Investigate immediately for technical issues or penalties. |
| Keyword was position 11–50 | Important. Review content quality and competitor activity. |
| Keyword was position 50+ | Lower priority. May have been borderline visibility anyway. |
| Recently lost (last few days) | Check for recent site changes, technical errors, or algorithm updates. |
| Lost weeks ago | Content strategy review needed. Competitors likely overtook. |
| Multiple keywords lost | Systematic issue. Check for site-wide technical problems. |
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 Lost Keywords.
Reading the data
Example interpretation
A row showing:
• Keyword: "wireless headphones review"
• Current: Not Ranked
• Last Position: 8
• Last Seen: 2025-01-28
This means the page was ranking at position 8 (page 1) as recently as 28 January but has since dropped out of results entirely. This is a significant visibility loss requiring immediate investigation.
Why only 10 results?
The view is limited to 10 lost keywords to focus attention on the most critical losses. If many keywords are lost, this indicates a larger issue requiring systematic investigation.
Common causes of lost keywords
• Manual penalty — Google Search Console will show notifications
• Algorithm update — Major updates can dramatically shift rankings
• Technical issues — Crawl errors, robots.txt blocks, noindex tags
• Content removal — Page deleted or URL changed without redirect
• Competitor surge — Multiple competitors published superior content
• Domain issues — Expired SSL, hosting problems, domain changes
Related tabs
| Tab | Shows |
| Position Drops | Keywords that declined but still rank |
| Position Gains | Keywords that improved since the last check |
| Opportunities | Keywords close to page 1 threshold |
| All Keywords | Complete keyword list with current positions |
Troubleshooting
No lost keywords showing
No keywords dropped out of rankings recently. This is positive—all previously ranked keywords maintain some position. Check Position Drops for keywords that declined but still rank.
Last Position shows "No data"
Historical position data is unavailable for this keyword. The keyword was tracked as lost but previous position details were not recorded.
Last Seen shows "No data"
The date when the keyword was last ranked could not be determined. This can occur with older tracking data.
Error loading data
Refresh the page. If the problem persists, verify the search group selection is valid and contains tracked keywords.
FAQ
What's the difference between Lost Keywords and Position Drops?
Position Drops shows keywords that declined but still appear in search results (both positions within top 100). Lost Keywords shows keywords that completely disappeared from tracked results.
Can a lost keyword come back?
Yes. If the underlying issue is resolved, keywords can regain rankings. Monitor the All Keywords tab to see when lost keywords start ranking again.
Why does the same keyword appear for multiple engines?
Each search engine is tracked separately. A keyword can be lost on Google but still rank on Bing, or vice versa.
How quickly should I respond to lost keywords?
Keywords that were in the top 10 warrant immediate investigation. Keywords that were ranking lower can be addressed within a few days. Multiple lost keywords suggest a systematic issue requiring urgent attention.
Getting help
Contact support for persistent issues