Around 2 months ago, I managed to rank one of my blogs for the #1 position in Google for a semi-competitive keyword. After ranked #1, I stopped updating the content and did not add any more backlinks. Yesterday (after ranked #1 for 2 months) I suddenly dropped 5 spots for my primary keyword and around 30-40 spots for my secondary keywords. I checked my backlinks, all of them are intact. Nothing has changed. Some of the competitors that are ranked ahead of me haven't updated their sites for a much longer time than I have, yet they still outrank me. What is the solution here? Clearly, I was good enough to be ranked #1 for a few months. Is it only a matter of updating the content? Any solutions? Thanks.
Keep adding fresh unique content... that's what I do... sometimes google does things differently and we dont get it but as long as you add fresh quality content it should bounce back in no time... also get more backlinks with the keywords you are targeting.
Your competitors probably continued to build links, which would over time increase their SERP over your site. Must always build links!
Agree with 'Neticule' it should be the reason, but keep on adding fresh content beside building backlinks is an ongoing necessary for any website to rank and stay on the lead
The keyword would have to play too. I've searched for Philippine history, and those same sites nine months ago are still there, even if their content was last updated in 2003. But for competitive and semi-competitive keywords, one would have problems if one don't update it often. Which is why I don't work in those fields
You should not have stopped building backlinks, if you build enough backlinks you will regain the #1 position.