Troubleshooting Guide

Solutions for common Site Performance issues and FAQs

Common Issues and Solutions

Data Connection Problems

No Data Appearing

Symptoms: Site Performance shows no metrics or displays "No data available"

Possible Causes & Solutions:

  1. New Website (Less than 72 hours old)
  • Solution: Wait 3-5 days for initial data collection
  • Expected: Data will appear automatically once available
  1. Verification Pending
  • Solution: Complete site ownership verification
  • Check: Settings → Website → Verification Status
  • Action: Follow verification instructions provided
  1. 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
  1. 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:

  1. Check Specific or Widespread
  • Single page affected → Page-specific issue
  • Multiple pages → Site-wide problem
  • All metrics down → Technical issue
  1. 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  • Content becoming outdated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:

  1. Content Refresh Protocol
  • Update statistics and information
  • Add new sections addressing current needs
  • Improve internal linking
  • Enhance expertise signals
  1. 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 RangeLikely IssueSolution Priority
0-0.5%Title/description completely misalignedImmediate rewrite needed
0.5-1%Weak compelling elementsEnhance urgency and value
1-2%Average but improvableTest different approaches
2-3%Good for mental healthMinor optimizations only

Improvement Tactics:

  1. Title Optimization
Formula: [Benefit] + [Service] + [Differentiator] + [Location]
Example: "Find Relief Today | Anxiety Therapy with Dr. Smith | Boston"
  1. 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:

  1. Inference from Pages
  • High-performing pages indicate keyword themes
  • Service pages suggest search terms
  • Blog topics reveal information queries
  1. 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 ObservedLikely CauseInvestigation Focus
Monday spikesWeekend research behaviorContent for planning stage
Evening dropsMobile search timesMobile optimization
Monthly cyclesInsurance/payment cyclesPayment info clarity
Sudden zerosTechnical failureImmediate tech audit
Gradual declineCompetition or relevanceContent 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:

  1. Screenshot of the issue
  2. Date issue first noticed
  3. Recent website changes made
  4. Affected pages or keywords
  5. Steps already tried

Best Practices for Issue Prevention

Proactive Monitoring

  1. Set up alerts for dramatic changes
  2. Document baseline performance levels
  3. Track all changes made to website
  4. Regular backups before major updates
  5. 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.