Why does my visibility go down over time?
Updated
Short answer
A steady decline usually has one of three causes: the prompt set changed, the sources the engines read changed, or competitors earned mentions you used to get. Comparing an unchanged group of prompts and checking Sources tells you which.
Common causes
- New prompts were added where you are weaker. The total falls without anything changing in the world. Changes to the set are dated, so check for one at the start of the decline.
- A page that named you changed, or dropped out of the sources engines cite.
- Competitors gained ground: new comparison articles, reviews or coverage that name them instead of you.
- An engine changed how it answers, which shows up on that engine alone.
How to tell which it is
- Filter to a tag whose prompts did not change, and see whether the decline is still there.
- Split by engine: a drop on one engine points to that engine, a drop everywhere points to the sources.
- Open Sources for the period and compare which pages were cited before and after.
- Check share of voice: if it fell too, competitors took the mentions.