WTF! how could something like this happen??!!

[Loloy Diango]

Okay, I got to relax. Here's what happened:

For the last four months, I have been working on a site targeting a keyword that, at the time I researched, was getting an exact match monthly local search volume of 8k according to the Google keyword tool. I had Adsense on it.

More than a month ago, it hit first page.

Today, I hit #2 on Google.

But there was no significant improvement in traffic. So I checked Google trends, and re-checked the keyword's search volume just to be certain I had it done right from the start.

GAKT showed no data for the keyword when I choose exact match search! As in like I only get a "-" instead of numbers in the search volume column. WTF!

How could this happen?! I know everything is changing on the internet but how could such a thing happen?

Any thoughts? I'm really at a loss as to the reasons behind this totally sudden and dramatic drop in search volume for my target keyword, according to GAKT. From 8k to zero, wow!

[nicktyler]

I would not trust GAKT anyway it seems like it is accurate to within 50,000.

[Melissa82]

Is there a chance you searched "broad" the fist time around and "exact" the second?

[dp40oz]

You could have searched broad by accident. Its also possible that the keyword was date specific. Like if the keyword is "iPhone 3G" for example, the keyword tool shows search volume from months back so a year ago that search term was very relevant but now its barely searched at all.

[razorhound]

What are your stats on Analytic? Did you get any traffic from that keyword? I'm in the situation that I hit #1 for a term that gets lots of exact searches per month but it is showing as "-" on Google keyword tool now. However, my traffic is increasing and I'm seeing people searching with that keyword (GA Real Time Beta). Same thing happens to several other keywords so I reckon it's just a glitch or something.

Bryan

[krishacetravison]

There's still a chance for you to have traffic for your site..Remember that the information provided by AdWords is only according to Google....It's only a tool..And none of all the tools are 100% accurate..

But yes, it has also something to do with your keyword selection...Perhaps you should give a light to it..Another thing is, you are targeting users and not search engine. Therefore, you should make something that will attract them. Something interesting.

[trustumar]

recently i am also noticing it. It is just a bug. Try phrase match.

[Barry Unruh]

Have you looked at your phrase on Google Trends to see the ups and downs for it?

Does it indicate this big drop?

[clickbump]

Hi Loloy, as some others have indicated, its pretty easy to search broad by mistake. PM the search phrase to me and I'll check it out with some other tools.

BTW, #2 is impressive. Are you running ClickBump 5 and SEO! on this site?

[markw89]

It is not a broad/exact matter. I also targeted a keyword with $1 cpc and 1000 local monthly searches. Built the website and everything, but I did not start backlinging to it, today I checked and it says "-" for the keyword. I used EXACT both times.

[Loloy Diango]

Originally Posted by nicktyler

I would not trust GAKT anyway it seems like it is accurate to within 50,000.

I understand. But I don't think it's something with GAKT. Why are all of my other niche keywords reporting back the same data as when I started working on them? I have several other websites for several other target keywords that report the same exact monthly search volume today as when I built the sites.

[Loloy Diango]

Originally Posted by Melissa82

Is there a chance you searched "broad" the fist time around and "exact" the second?

Yup. Would that have any effect? I see it always defaults to broad, so that's always what happens when I use the GAKT.

I do that too with the other target keywords that I have sites for. I have no problem with them.

[silverbean]

Same thing happened to me recently too. I'm only getting 20 something visitors a day in the number 3 spot. A few weeks ago the keyword was getting 3600 exact. Now it shows nothing. I'm pretty sure I would be getting more than 20 visits a day if the term was really getting 3600 monthly.

One of my other sites says 5400 exact but I'm now getting about 1000 visits a day.

[Loloy Diango]

Originally Posted by razorhound

What are your stats on Analytic? Did you get any traffic from that keyword? I'm in the situation that I hit #1 for a term that gets lots of exact searches per month but it is showing as "-" on Google keyword tool now. However, my traffic is increasing and I'm seeing people searching with that keyword (GA Real Time Beta). Same thing happens to several other keywords so I reckon it's just a glitch or something.

Bryan

I think we're on the same boat, Bryan (sighs relief!) Yes, I'm getting traffic according to GA. It's fluctuating but it's there.

However, not in the amount that should have been if my initial keyword research is to be reckoned with.

[Loloy Diango]

Originally Posted by trustumar

recently i am also noticing it. It is just a bug. Try phrase match.

I have no issue with phrase match. It's when I click exact match that I'm having conflicting data.

[Loloy Diango]

Originally Posted by Barry Unruh

Have you looked at your phrase on Google Trends to see the ups and downs for it?

Does it indicate this big drop?

Hey Barry,

I see you're from Pampanga. Let me know when you get to visit northern Mindanao. Maybe we can have some beer.

And, yes, Google Trends shows stable activity for the keyword in question. I have no problem with it when I inspect it through GT.

[Loloy Diango]

Originally Posted by clickbump

Hi Loloy, as some others have indicated, its pretty easy to search broad by mistake. PM the search phrase to me and I'll check it out with some other tools.

Hey Scott! You mean I should tick exact first before I enter a key phrase in the search box of the GAKT? I that what I should do?

Why do I get the correct data with my other target keywords even when I do the search in the incorrect way (meaning broad first, then exact)?

Originally Posted by clickbump

BTW, #2 is impressive. Are you running ClickBump 5 and SEO! on this site?

Yes, the site has both C5 and SEO! All of my sites have them.

[Loloy Diango]

Originally Posted by silverbean

Same thing happened to me recently too. I'm only getting 20 something visitors a day in the number 3 spot. A few weeks ago the keyword was getting 3600 exact. Now it shows nothing. I'm pretty sure I would be getting more than 20 visits a day if the term was really getting 3600 monthly.

Exactly what I'm in, silverbean. Not a very good feeling to have.

Originally Posted by silverbean

One of my other sites says 5400 exact but I'm now getting about 1000 visits a day.

If it turns out to be consistent, I wish I'll have the same issue that you have, dude.