Old comparison article
- Input
- 1,200 -> 680 clicks, position 4.2 -> 8.9, last updated 9 months ago
- Result
- Refresh priority
- Action
- Update stale examples, improve SERP intent match, and preserve the URL.
Measure time-based loss
Content Decay Checker
Paste Search Console-style metrics to find decaying pages, score refresh priority, and choose whether to refresh, rewrite, consolidate, prune, or monitor.
Paste Search Console-style page metrics, rank decaying URLs, and generate a refresh, rewrite, consolidate, prune, or monitor action for each page.
Paste Search Console export or CSV
Columns: url, keyword, clicks_now, clicks_prev, impressions_now, impressions_prev, ctr_now, ctr_prev, position_now, position_prev, last_updated, business_value, effort.
Pages analyzed
4
Average score
53/100
Top action
Prune
Scoring logic
How the prioritizer scores content decay
Decay score = traffic drop 25 + ranking drop 20 + impression drop 15 + CTR drop 10 + content age 10 + business value 15 - effort penalty 5. The score ranks a refresh backlog; it does not replace Search Console.
Traffic and impressions
Compares current and previous clicks/impressions to separate lost demand from lost visibility.
Ranking and CTR
Checks whether the page lost position, lost SERP appeal, or both.
Business value and effort
Prioritizes pages that are still worth saving and discounts fixes that are expensive.
Sample results
Evergreen guide with sudden rank drop
- Input
- 2,400 -> 1,100 clicks, position 3.1 -> 11.4
- Result
- Rewrite priority
- Action
- Check whether the current SERP changed format before editing the old structure.
Stable page with old timestamp
- Input
- 900 -> 870 clicks, position 5.5 -> 5.9, last updated 14 months ago
- Result
- Monitor
- Action
- Keep it in the quarterly audit queue and refresh only the weakest section.
What to do next
Refresh high-score pages first: update titles and years, replace outdated facts, fix broken links, add missing sections, and check search intent again.
Action playbook
- Export page-level clicks, impressions, CTR, and position from Google Search Console.
- Compare the last 90 days with the previous 90 days or the same period last year.
- Prioritize by traffic loss, business value, and realistic refresh effort.
- Choose refresh, rewrite, consolidate, redirect, prune, or monitor before editing.
How to export Search Console data
Use this when you want a real refresh queue instead of a single-page guess.
01
Open Search Console Performance > Search results.
02
Filter by Page and compare the last 90 days with the previous 90 days or the same period last year.
03
Export pages with clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position.
04
Add last_updated, business_value, and effort columns before pasting the CSV here.
Choose the right action before editing
RefreshTraffic is down, intent still matches, and the URL has useful history.
RewriteRankings dropped hard because the SERP format or intent changed.
ConsolidateTwo or more pages compete for the same keyword intent.
RedirectThe topic no longer fits, but the page has links or history worth preserving.
PruneThe page has no traffic, no links, no unique angle, and low business value.
MonitorSignals are weak or mixed; keep it in the next quarterly audit.
Coming next
Coming soon
GSC import
Connect Search Console instead of pasting CSV.
Coming soon
Weekly monitoring
Track important URLs and detect decay before a large traffic loss.
Coming soon
Email alerts
Send refresh reminders when a page crosses the decay threshold.
Common use cases
Build a refresh sprint backlog from Search Console exports.
Find pages that lost clicks, impressions, CTR, or rankings.
Generate a writer-ready refresh brief for each decaying page.
FAQ
What is content decay?
Content decay is the gradual loss of SEO value when a page becomes outdated, loses rankings, or stops matching search intent.
Do I need Google Search Console for this checker?
You can paste CSV manually, but the most useful input is a Search Console export with clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position.
What is a good content decay score?
A low score usually means the page is stable. A medium score means the page should be monitored or lightly refreshed. A high score means the page deserves a focused refresh brief.
Should I rewrite every decaying page?
No. Refresh pages when intent still matches, rewrite when intent changed, consolidate overlapping pages, and prune low-value pages with no traffic or links.
What columns should I paste?
Use URL, keyword, current and previous clicks, impressions, CTR, position, last updated date, business value, and estimated effort.
How often should I check content decay?
For important evergreen pages, a monthly or quarterly check is usually enough. Pages tied to fast-changing topics should be reviewed more often.
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