I run a WordPress-based crypto news site that was active from 2020 to 2022, where we consistently ranked well for most of our content.
In November 2023, the domain accidentally expired and was parked as a premium domain on GoDaddy. After six months, I reclaimed it in May 2024 and relaunched the site. Six months in, though, our rankings aren’t where they used to be, and I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this or can point out anything I might be missing.
Here’s a rundown of what we’ve done since May:
Consistent Content: Publishing 10-20 original news articles daily from verified sources on X (formerly Twitter).
Content Quality: We use ChatGPT for drafts but edit thoroughly, aiming for natural language and scoring low on AI detection.
Social Media: We share all articles on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
SEO: Using Premium Yoast SEO with “green” scores for SEO and readability on every post.
Google News: Moved to a Google News-verified domain in May; articles appear in Google News via Yoast’s News plugin.
Design & Speed: Optimized with a lightweight theme, hitting “Good” speeds on Google Search Console for mobile and desktop.
Link Profile Cleanup: Disavowed low-quality links after a backlink analysis in August.
Server & Hosting: Moved to a local VDS with a clean IP in September.
Dynamic Pages: Removed about 150K dynamic pages and redirected them to a static page to avoid thin content issues.
Backlinks: We get 1-2 high-quality, DA30+ promotional posts monthly from relevant sites.
From September 14 to October 15, our articles were featured in the “Most Read” section, but since October 15, they’ve disappeared.
Currently, we have around 8,500 articles, but our best content is only ranking around position 32 on Google.
Could the parked status have caused this drop, or is there something else we should be focusing on? Should we stick with the current approach and wait, or is there anything additional we might consider?
Any insights or advice would be really helpful. Thanks!
Your site being down could mean you lost some backlinks. Have you checked historic backlinks vs. current ones in a tool like Majestic? That way, you can see which links might have been dropped, and you could try reclaiming them. Also, take a look at your Google Analytics referring URLs to see where your traffic used to come from.
Reclaiming a domain can bring unique SEO challenges, especially for a crypto news site. Here are some strategies to help address these obstacles:
Conduct an SEO Audit: Start with a comprehensive SEO audit to pinpoint issues like broken links, duplicate content, or missing metadata. This will highlight key areas for optimization.
Optimize Site Structure: Ensure that your site’s layout is intuitive for both users and search engines. Use clear, descriptive URLs, and establish a solid internal linking structure to boost page discoverability and authority flow.
Focus on High-Quality Content: Given the fast-paced crypto market, prioritize timely, valuable content that meets your audience’s needs. This not only attracts more traffic but also enhances your site’s credibility with search engines.
Rebuild Backlink Profile: Review your backlink profile to identify any lost valuable links. Reach out to reclaim them, and use white-hat techniques to secure new, high-quality backlinks.
Technical SEO: Ensure mobile-friendliness, fast loading times, and site security (HTTPS) – all critical for rankings and user experience.
Focusing on these areas will gradually improve your rankings and overall SEO performance. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process, and it may take time to fully recover from domain reclamation changes. Keep monitoring and optimizing your site regularly for best results. For expert guidance, consider consulting a reputable SEO agency like SEO Echelon. Their expertise can provide tailored support, even if you’re not focused on medical SEO, helping your crypto site rank well and build authority in its niche.