Measure time-based loss

Content Decay Checker

Check whether a page is losing SEO value from traffic drops, ranking decline, stale content, and outdated links.

Turn traffic drops, ranking decline, and stale update signals into a refresh priority.

Page URLTarget keywordPrevious monthly clicksCurrent monthly clicksPrevious average positionCurrent average positionLast updated

0100

Decay score50/100

Traffic loss43%

Ranking drop4.7

Content age297d

Refresh priorityMedium

Monitor the page and refresh the weakest section first.

Refresh brief

Monitor the page and refresh the weakest section first. Keep the current structure, then refresh the weakest section first.

Scoring logic

How the content decay score is calculated

Decay score = traffic loss weight + ranking drop weight + content age weight. The score is a prioritization signal, not a Search Console replacement.

Traffic loss

Compares previous monthly clicks with current monthly clicks.

Ranking drop

Measures how far the average position moved down.

Content age

Adds risk when a page has not been updated for a long time.

Sample results

Old comparison article

Input: 1,200 -> 680 clicks, position 4.2 -> 8.9, last updated 9 months ago
Result: 50/100 decay score
Action: Refresh the weakest sections and update examples before rewriting the whole page.

Evergreen guide with sudden rank drop

Input: 2,400 -> 1,100 clicks, position 3.1 -> 11.4
Result: High refresh priority
Action: Check SERP intent, add missing sections, and update title/meta to match current demand.

Stable page with old timestamp

Input: 900 -> 870 clicks, position 5.5 -> 5.9, last updated 14 months ago
Result: Low traffic decay, medium freshness risk
Action: Update facts, screenshots, and external links without changing the core structure.

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Refresh high-score pages first: update titles and years, replace outdated facts, fix broken links, add missing sections, and check search intent again.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

Replace outdated facts, years, screenshots, and pricing references.
Add missing subsections based on current top-ranking pages.
Fix broken external links and redirect chains.
Rewrite the introduction only if search intent has shifted.

Common use cases

Prioritize old blog posts before a content refresh sprint.

Find pages that lost clicks after a core update.

Create a refresh brief for writers or SEO operators.

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?

This first version works with manual metrics. Later versions can import Search Console data for bulk checks.

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. Many pages only need updated facts, fixed links, better examples, or a missing section. Rewrite only when search intent has changed.

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.