Traffic

When a Traffic Drop Is Seasonal vs a Real Problem

Not every drop is a problem — some industries have entirely normal seasonal traffic patterns worth ruling out before assuming something's broken.

Compare against the same period last year

A drop that matches the same seasonal dip from twelve months earlier is far less concerning than an unprecedented decline.

Check whether competitors show similar patterns

An industry-wide seasonal trend affecting comparable businesses suggests the cause isn't specific to your own site.

Look at the shape of the decline

A gradual, predictable seasonal decline looks different in the data from a sudden, sharp drop — the shape itself is diagnostic.

When in doubt, rule out technical causes anyway

Even a genuinely seasonal dip is worth confirming isn't compounded by an unrelated technical issue happening at the same time.

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