Why Did My Rankings Drop After a Google Update?

When Google pushes out an update, a lot of Sacramento businesses suddenly see their rankings move and start wondering why. It’s never a great feeling to watch a page that used to rank well slide down out of nowhere. Google updates are designed to surface fresher, more useful information, especially content that matches how people in Sacramento are searching right now. From what we’ve seen at Hagee Marketing, the websites that bounce back fastest are the ones that stay active and genuinely helpful to local customers.

A rankings drop doesn’t necessarily mean your site is in trouble. Often Google has simply updated how it reads content, and your pages need a small refresh to match its new expectations. Since Sacramento search habits change throughout the year, Google prefers sites that stay updated and relevant.

Why Sacramento Sites Lose Rankings After Google Updates

Google tries to show people information that feels reliable and genuinely helpful. If your pages haven’t been updated in a while or they don’t include enough local context, a major update can cause your rankings to slip temporarily.

Common Reasons Your Rankings May Have Dropped

• Your content is outdated
Even good pages can fall behind when search trends change. Google tends to reward sites that stay current.
• Not enough local detail
Updates often prioritize businesses that speak directly to Sacramento customers instead of using generic copy.
• Pages don’t answer questions clearly
Google looks for content that quickly solves a problem, not pages stuffed with keywords.
• Competitors improved their content
If other Sacramento businesses updated their sites recently, they might temporarily outrank you.
• Technical issues became more important
Slow pages, missing metadata, or messy linking can matter more after a big update.
• And one of the most overlooked issues is ignoring Google Search Console alerts. Those notifications usually point straight to indexing problems or technical issues that impact visibility.

How Sacramento Businesses Can Recover Their Rankings

Ranking recovery isn’t about fixing one tiny issue. It’s usually about improving clarity, updating information, and making sure your site feels useful for real Sacramento searchers. Once a site starts showing fresh, consistent signals, Google typically re-evaluates it fairly quickly.

Steps You Can Take to Bounce Back

• Add new case studies or stories from Sacramento customers.
• Update your FAQs with real questions people ask you.
• Rewrite older service pages that feel thin or outdated.
• Improve site speed by removing heavy plugins or old code.
• Strengthen internal links so Google can move through your site more easily.
• Even small updates can help your pages gain momentum again.

What Sacramento Companies Usually Spend on SEO Recovery

Most businesses invest $1,000–$3,000 to recover after a Google update. The cost depends on how much content needs updating and how many technical fixes are involved.

Want Help Getting Your Rankings Back?

If your Sacramento rankings dropped and you’re not sure where to begin, Hagee Marketing can help you sort out what changed. Get in touch with us at (206) 582-6727 and let us know what’s been going on.