SEARCHENGINES
Google Search Ranking Update Volatility On May 9
I am seeing signs of a possible Google search ranking update today, May 9th, between a spike in early chatter this morning within the SEO industry and many of the tools showing a significant lift in ranking volatility in the Google Search results.
As a reminder, the March 2024 core update started on March 5th and ended on April 19th, 45 days later. We then reported on ranking fluctuations both before April 25th (thinking it was the core update still) and also on May 3rd. And now we are seeing more ranking volatility on May 9th.
Google Tracking Tools
Let’s start with the tools, many of them are showing a spike in volatility this morning.
SEO Chatter
It is still early in the day but I am seeing a spike in chatter about Google Search ranking volatility and fluctuations this morning. Here are some quotes from WebmasterWorld, this site and social media:
I am watching my Matomo real-time stats, and it feels like Google is throttling traffic on and off, on and off.
I don’t know about you guys but in my niche, something definitely has changed since last night. It’s not your regular shuffling. It’s nothing major but I am seeing even more Reddit pages, even more thin discussions and expired auction pages ranking. I don’t know if Google is doing this in anticipation for ChatGPT’s search but they have changed something. Are you guys seeing anything? In my niche, something definitely happened.
Without giving away my niche, I am going to give you one example: allamaa dot sa. I have never ever seen this site rank for anything in my niche. Now it’s in top 4/5 position for a bunch of keywords starting last night.
I am noticing that after last night, seems Google has gotten even worse understanding intent. I search for something very specific, it is showing me pages with one word of what I searched for ranking in top 10. I am so done with this man.
Yes, I am 50% down again. ha ha (not that it matters, as from 25 to 12 or 10 I do not care)
The SERPs are 0 intent. In most searches I have no intent competition at all (maybe 1 or 2), and yet Google push me down to page 4, 5, 6, and what not. They rank just pure non related garbage.
Will Google announce an update? This is not a normal shuffle. I sense a change. Hard to explain but you can almost tell something is off even more than before. I really hate Google. I hate Google with a passion. I am now starting to hate their employees too. I know it’s not their fault but what they have done to businesses like mine is unforgivable. All for what? They were already making a lot of money.
All affected pages have continued to decline since March and are gradually disappearing completely from the top 30…It seems like she has a serious illness (HCU). I can no longer hear this drivel from Google about any site eventually recovering from HCU.
Yes maybe if you sold it, the contents were completely deleted and wasn’t used for a few years. Then it may be that it ranks again…
I only work with a handful of sites at a time. Two saw significant increases today. Tools are still catching up.
One example: household name eCommerce store in AU that’s a leader in their niche. Has had a gradual decline over the past 2 years, to a point where they barely… pic.twitter.com/wHtuhrgaja
— Brodie Clark (@brodieseo) May 9, 2024
What are you all seeing?
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
SEARCHENGINES
DOJ May Breakup Google, Ranking Volatility, Quick View Theft, Google Web Creator Event, Google Ads & More Search News
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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SEARCHENGINES
Daily Search Forum Recap: October 11, 2024
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:
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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….
Other Great Search Threads:
Search Engine Land Stories:
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Industry & Business
Links & Content Marketing
Local & Maps
Mobile & Voice
SEO
PPC
Search Features
Other Search
Feedback:
Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.
SEARCHENGINES
Daily Search Forum Recap: October 10, 2024
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.
Google Local Service Ads will require advertisers to have a Google Business Profile next month. Google is testing a Quick view button in search that gives searchers no reason to look at your site. Google may have 9,000 ad campaigns created every second. Google is testing verified labels for retailers in the product search results. Google is expanding store ratings to more countries.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google Tests Quick View Button For Recipes That Keep You On Google
Google is testing placing a “quick view” button overlayed on the images on recipes within Google Search. The crazy part is that clicking on “Quick view” keeps you on Google while giving you a snapshot of the content from the publisher, without sending that traffic to the publisher. -
Google Local Service Ads To Soon Require Google Business Profile
Google will soon require businesses who want to advertise using Google Local Service Ads to also have a Google Business Profile. Google posted a notice that reads, “By Thursday, November 21, 2024, your Local Services ad will need a matching Google Business Profile to continue appearing in search results and to display your customer reviews.” -
9,000 Google Ads Campaigns Created Every Second???
Thomas Eccel posted a guess, trying to figure out how many Google Ads campaigns are created in a timeframe. He said if the ad campaigns are issued in sequential order, based on his calculations, 9,000 ad campaigns are created on Google Ads every second. -
Google Search Tests Verified Labels For Product Results
Back in August we reported that Google was testing showing verified badges, verification labels, in the organic search results. Well, now Google is testing the verified label on the detailed product results overlay, on retailer listings. -
Google Store Ratings Now Available In India, Australia, Canada & UK
Google is rolling out the Store ratings feature beyond US Search. It is rolling out to searchers in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. Although, we’ve seen examples of Google showing them in Australia and other countries over the years, I guess as a test. -
Google Noogler Bison Again
We have a photo of this Google Bison from 2018. It looks to be in the same condition but moved from its previous location. It also looks angry…
Other Great Search Threads:
- We’re now seeing AI Overviews appearing for non signed-in users in the UK, ZA, NZ, SG, KE – well countries where English is commonly spoken., Authoritas on X
- I’m sure it’ll be a great event! Unfortunately, I’m only able to make it virtually this time :-/. Martin’s there though, he’s pretty cool too!, John Mueller on LinkedIn
- That’s a fantastic question and right upfront: I don’t have an answer, but I have an idea., Martin Splitt on LinkedIn
- You know how sometimes you’re certain you had a good reason to do something, later on forget why, but continue doing it just in case there’s still a good reason? That’s why. 🙂, John Mueller on Mastodon
Search Engine Land Stories:
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Industry & Business
Links & Content Marketing
Local & Maps
Mobile & Voice
SEO
PPC
Search Features
Other Search
Feedback:
Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.
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