Troubleshooting Guide
Common Issues and Solutions
Data Connection Problems
No Data Appearing
Symptoms: Site Performance shows no metrics or displays "No data available"
Possible Causes & Solutions:
- New Website (Less than 72 hours old)
- Solution: Wait 3-5 days for initial data collection
- Expected: Data will appear automatically once available
- Verification Pending
- Solution: Complete site ownership verification
- Check: Settings → Website → Verification Status
- Action: Follow verification instructions provided
- Website Not Indexed
- Solution: Submit sitemap to search engines
- Check: Can you find your site when searching for your practice name?
- Action: Ensure robots.txt isn't blocking search engines
- Technical Blocking
- Solution: Review website security settings
- Check: Firewall or security plugins
- Action: Whitelist search engine crawlers
Partial Data Missing
Symptoms: Some metrics show but others are blank
Common Scenarios:
- Zero Clicks with Impressions: Your listings need optimization
- No Position Data: Filtered by search engines for privacy
- Missing Keywords: Search privacy preventing query display
Performance Drops
Sudden Traffic Loss
Diagnostic Steps:
- Check Specific or Widespread
- Single page affected → Page-specific issue
- Multiple pages → Site-wide problem
- All metrics down → Technical issue
- Identify the Timeline
- Gradual decline → Competitive pressure
- Sudden drop → Technical issue or penalty
- Weekend drop → Seasonal pattern
Recovery Actions:
Immediate (Day 1):
□ Check website accessibility
□ Verify no recent major changes
□ Review Site Performance for errors
□ Test key pages are loading
Short-term (Week 1):
□ Analyze affected keywords
□ Review competitor changes
□ Check for algorithm updates
□ Audit technical SEO factors
Long-term (Month 1):
□ Implement content improvements
□ Build additional authority signals
□ Diversify traffic sources
□ Monitor recovery progress
Gradual Position Decline
Likely Causes:
- Increased competition
- Content becoming outdated
- Technical performance degradation
- Changing search intent
Strategic Response:
- Content Refresh Protocol
- Update statistics and information
- Add new sections addressing current needs
- Improve internal linking
- Enhance expertise signals
- Competitive Analysis
- Identify what competitors added
- Find content gaps to fill
- Improve upon competitor weak points
- Differentiate your approach
CTR Problems
Below-Average Click-Through Rates
Diagnosis Based on CTR Ranges:
CTR Range | Likely Issue | Solution Priority |
---|---|---|
0-0.5% | Title/description completely misaligned | Immediate rewrite needed |
0.5-1% | Weak compelling elements | Enhance urgency and value |
1-2% | Average but improvable | Test different approaches |
2-3% | Good for mental health | Minor optimizations only |
Improvement Tactics:
- Title Optimization
Formula: [Benefit] + [Service] + [Differentiator] + [Location]
Example: "Find Relief Today | Anxiety Therapy with Dr. Smith | Boston"
- Description Enhancement
Formula: [Empathy] + [Solution] + [Credibility] + [CTA]
Example: "Struggling with overwhelming worry? Our licensed anxiety
specialists offer evidence-based treatment with evening appointments
available. Book your consultation today."
Keyword Visibility Issues
Important Keywords Not Showing
Why Keywords May Be Hidden:
- Search privacy thresholds
- Low search volume
- Branded searches filtered
- Personal information protection
Workarounds:
- Inference from Pages
- High-performing pages indicate keyword themes
- Service pages suggest search terms
- Blog topics reveal information queries
- Supplement with Other Data
- Site search queries
- Contact form topics
- Phone inquiry themes
- Chat conversation patterns
Frequently Asked Questions
About Data Accuracy
Q: Why do my Site Performance numbers differ from my website analytics?
A: Site Performance tracks search appearance and clicks, while website analytics tracks all traffic sources. Differences are normal because:
- Site Performance only counts search traffic
- Analytics includes direct, social, and referral traffic
- Tracking methods differ between platforms
- Bot traffic filtered differently
Q: Why is there a delay in data?
A: Industry standard is 2-3 day delay because:
- Data processing and verification required
- Privacy protections applied
- Quality checks performed
- Global data aggregation needed
About Optimization Impact
Q: How long before I see optimization results?
A: Timeline varies by change type:
- Meta tag updates: 1-2 weeks for CTR impact
- Content improvements: 2-4 weeks for position changes
- New content: 1-3 months for ranking
- Technical fixes: Few days to weeks
- Authority building: 3-6 months
Q: Why didn't my optimizations improve rankings?
A: Several factors affect results:
- Competition may have improved simultaneously
- Changes might be insufficient
- Search intent may have shifted
- Technical issues may be preventing improvement
- More time needed for impact
About Specific Metrics
Q: What's a good CTR for mental health practices?
A: CTR varies by position and query type:
- Position 1: 20-35% CTR expected
- Position 2-3: 10-20% CTR typical
- Position 4-10: 2-10% CTR normal
- Branded searches: 40%+ CTR common
- Informational: 1-3% CTR average
Q: Why do impressions fluctuate daily?
A: Normal variations occur due to:
- Search volume changes (weekday vs. weekend)
- Seasonal patterns
- Current events impact
- Algorithm testing
- Competitor activity
Advanced Troubleshooting
Using Data Patterns for Diagnosis
Pattern Recognition Guide
Pattern Observed | Likely Cause | Investigation Focus |
---|---|---|
Monday spikes | Weekend research behavior | Content for planning stage |
Evening drops | Mobile search times | Mobile optimization |
Monthly cycles | Insurance/payment cycles | Payment info clarity |
Sudden zeros | Technical failure | Immediate tech audit |
Gradual decline | Competition or relevance | Content and competitor analysis |
Recovery Strategies
The 30-Day Recovery Plan
Week 1: Diagnosis
- Complete technical audit
- Identify affected areas
- Analyze competitor changes
- Document baseline metrics
Week 2: Quick Fixes
- Implement technical corrections
- Update meta tags
- Fix broken elements
- Improve page speed
Week 3: Content Enhancement
- Refresh affected pages
- Add missing information
- Improve internal linking
- Enhance expertise signals
Week 4: Monitor and Adjust
- Track improvement indicators
- Document what's working
- Plan next phase
- Report on progress
When to Seek Support
Contact KopplaHQ Support When:
- Technical errors persist beyond 48 hours
- Data completely stops appearing
- Significant unexplained changes occur
- Integration issues arise
- You need strategic guidance
Prepare This Information:
- Screenshot of the issue
- Date issue first noticed
- Recent website changes made
- Affected pages or keywords
- Steps already tried
Best Practices for Issue Prevention
Proactive Monitoring
- Set up alerts for dramatic changes
- Document baseline performance levels
- Track all changes made to website
- Regular backups before major updates
- Test thoroughly after any modifications
Maintenance Schedule
- Daily: Quick metric check
- Weekly: Performance review
- Monthly: Full analysis and optimization
- Quarterly: Strategic assessment
- Annually: Complete audit and planning
Remember: Most Site Performance issues are temporary and resolvable. Consistent monitoring and methodical troubleshooting lead to sustainable search visibility growth.