Can you believe it, it has been over a week since I reported on any Google Search ranking algorithm updates or volatility. Over the past 24-hours or so, the level of chatter have spiked, along with many of the third-party Google Search ranking tracking tools.

It seems we had another more significant shift in rankings in the Google Search results, although every day seems very volatile. But specifically, the 10th of October felt like more movement based on the signals I track.

To catch you up, the last time we reported on these changes was a pretty significant day on October 2nd which lasted a couple of days. The Google August 2024 core update started on August 15th and officially completed on September 3rd. But it was still super volatile the day after it completed and also weeks after it completed and it has not cooled.

We saw big signals on and around September 6th, September 10th or so and maybe around September 14th. We also saw movement around September 18th, last weekend and Septmeber 25th and September 28th or so. And yep, now, we are seeing another big spike in volatility and chatter starting around October 1st and 2nd.

So what are we seeing now?

Google Tracking Tools

You can see some of the tools starting to spike again over the past 24 hours:

SERPmetrics:

Advanced Web Rankings:

Accuranker:

Wincher:

Mozcast:

Semrush:

Data For SEO:

Cognitive SEO:

Mangools:

Algoroo:

SimilarWeb:

Sistrix:

SERPstat:

SEO Chatter

Here is some of the chatter from the SEO communities here and at WebmasterWorld over the past day or so:

USA and Canada traffic are becoming increasingly tamped down this October…today I’m -48% at 11:30am for both countries. The two have basically gone hand in hand for years, so I think it’s one big North American market where Google is concerned.

I’m also seeing big swings in top ranking terms from day to day now…I can lose 10%+ of my top-10 ranking terms in a day, and maybe the next day all right back again.

Something big is just starting again my end! YouTube videos pushed to the very top above literally everything and mad different desktop to mobile results, huge swings, nalways a clear sign somethings starting, anyone else?

My USA traffic was down 16% yesterday, and search was down 7%. But Canada, UK, France were all down yesterday and I am noticing a hard clamp on USA/Canada traffic this entire week. Having hurricane hysteria 24/7 doesn’t help though.

Traffic is down in the United States for me as well. I don’t know if it’s because of the hurricanes and the mass destruction in the southeast or because of recent Google update.

Yes I am seeing 10% today from last Thursday so something is going on either the southeast issues or update. I noticed my rankings stayed the same.

Traffic is down the toilet today but I see no real change in the rankings. Who even knows.

That is just some of the chatter.

What are you all seeing?

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

For the original iTunes version, click here.

Google may be forced to breakup, the DOJ is leaning towards forcing that and more as a remedy to its monopoly ruling. This morning we are seeing a spike in Google Search ranking volatility. Google is testing quick view, where it just takes recipe blogger content and hosts it on its site. Google is hosting a web creator conversion event to appeal to publishers who got hit by its algorithms, Google launched ads in AI Overviews, new link format, AI organized search results and more. Google seems not to link HCU hit sites in the AI Overviews. Google spoke about what it means to have an unreachable robots.txt file. Google is testing verified labels also for retailers in the shopping and product view. Google Store ratings are rolling out to more countries. Google is testing a new list articles view for listicles. Google is testing people also are saying in short video format. Google is testing most mentioned places. Google Shopping tests researched with AI. Google is testing variations of sponsored labels for search ads. Google is showing competitor ads in your local business profile reviews. Google Merchant Center listings adds new certification markup. Google now lets you drag and drop your restaurant menu items in Google Business Profiles. Google added a negative keywords tab to Keyword Planner. Google Ads improved its sidebar navigation. Google may have 9,000 new ad campaigns made every second. Google Merchant Center added video generation and Amazon MCF integration. Bing is testing best list of carousels, which is dangerous. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

We are seeing more signs of intense Google Search ranking volatility. Google is now showing sites hit by HCU or core updates in the AI Overview links/citations. Google Search is missing the video tab in search for some users. Google spoke about when your robots.txt is unavailable. Google added edit and delete buttons next to your reviews. Bing is testing “best list of” carousels in search. And I posted the SEO video recap this morning.

Tonight is Yom Kippur – which those who observe the holiday an easy and meaningful fast. Also, if I have upset anyone in any way with something I’ve posted here or said or written, I hope you can accept my apology. I will try to do better next year.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• 
  Google Search Ranking Volatility Rumbling Again October 10th
  
  
  Can you believe it, it has been over a week since I reported on any Google Search ranking algorithm updates or volatility. Over the past 24-hours or so, the level of chatter have spiked, along with many of the third-party Google Search ranking tracking tools.




• 
  Google AI Overviews Not Linking To Sites Hit By Helpful Content Update
  
  
  Google’s AI Overviews seem to not show citations or link to sites that were hit by the helpful content update (and probably core updates), even when you ask the AI Overview directly about that site and even if that site is ranking well for that query in the traditional Google search results.
• 
  Google Search Missing Video Tab For Some Users – Bug?
  
  
  Google Search seems to be missing the video tab under the search bar for some searchers. I suspect this is some sort of weird bug, there is no way in my mind that Google will do away with the ability to search for videos.





• 
  Google: Robots.txt Is Unreachable, Other Pages Reachability Matter
  
  
  There is this interesting conversation on LinkedIn around a robots.txt serves a 503 for two months and the rest of the site is available. Gary Illyes from Google said that when other pages on the site are reachable and available, that makes a big difference, but when those other pages are not, then “you’re out of luck,” he wrote.




• 
  Bing Tests Best List Of Carousel
  
  
  Microsoft is testing a new Bing Search carousel titled “Best list of X.” It can be the best list of PPC agencies or other queries that Bing wants to show you the best list of.
• 
  Google Adds Edit & Delete Button Links To Your Reviews
  
  
  Google has added an edit and delete button link next to the reviews you added to a Google Business Profile listing. This gives the reviewer a quicker method to modify or remove the review they left for a business.





• 
  Google 5k Run
  
  
  Here is a video I found on Instagram of a 5k run at Google. This is called the Global Google 5k Run. I embed the video below.
• 
  Search News Buzz Video Recap: DOJ May Breakup Google, Ranking Volatility, Quick View Theft, Google Web Creator Event, Google Ads & More Search News
  
  
  Google may be forced to breakup, the DOJ is leaning towards forcing that and more as a remedy to its monopoly ruling. This morning we are seeing a spike in Google Search ranking volatility. Google is testing quick view, where….

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