Google Updates and SERP Changes - April 2010

[wmxpert]

< continued from [webmasterworld.com...] >

We are in the same situation, since March 15, 2010 our traffic is continuously declining with the average of 6% every week. In current week it gets worst, approx. 15% decline!

Overall, 30% to 35% traffic has been reduced compare to peak week of January 2010.

"site:" is also showing huge drop in index pages, though it only provide the avg. not actual.

Don't know what's going on, Is it really the effect of Caffeine roll-out?

[edited by: tedster at 9:46 pm (utc) on Apr 1, 2010]

[aristotle]

I've been seeing posts about reductions in the number of indexed pages for various sites since about January. So it's possible that Google began shrinking the overall index then. It's also possible that they might have done this anyway, even without Caffeine.

[srik79]

all proxies on < an anonymous browsing site > are leading to caffeine.... most of them anyway...

[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 4:27 am (utc) on Apr 2, 2010]
[edit reason] removed specifics [/edit]

[dusky]

Looks like this is it, especially after reading Matt's 'weeks' comments.

Yes, I think it's the start of it and not quite done yet. They are now more confident and probably fixed most if not all outstanding bugs and rolling slowly. MC's adjusted comment, sounds like they are still cautious and have contingency plans probably to revert back to some old DCs if things do not go the way they intended. His adjusted comment translated to me as though they thought the problem they had was much bigger than initially anticipated, hence the shortening of the time span for the total roll-out.

As for that article, looks to me they gave more credibility to the already available hype and speculation all over the place, what they claim to have got from G* London HQ, is also available on the G* FAQ pages, blogs and forums answered by many prominent posters countless times obviously without specifics or detail. Furthermore, you just have to read the numerous patents, particularly recent ones and their emphasis is on exactly that!

[internetheaven]

what they claim to have got from G* London HQ

It was the "we were shown" part that gave their piece weight for me. I find it hard to believe that journalists would make something up just to get their piece printed and read ... ;)

[kevsta]

Im looking at significantly different results on lots of different sites today, I wouldn't mind betting that it's finally here or definitely in process of arriving now.

[BaseballGuy]

My title tags aren't updating for ranked pages in the SERPS.

Although, the same thing happened to me last month (March 1st).

1st time I noticed this happening.

[foolsgold]

The itproportal info, if true, is interesting in saying G may reduce the effectiveness of price comparison sites. Add to this the fact that Google is trialling their credit card comparison ads tool in the UK and I wonder (conspiracy hat firmly on) are these related? Big 'if' over this until seen live though.

[internetheaven]

The itproportal info, if true, is interesting in saying G may reduce the effectiveness of price comparison sites. Add to this the fact that Google is trialling their credit card comparison ads tool in the UK and I wonder (conspiracy hat firmly on) are these related?

I don't think it means the actual big brand comparison services. It more likely pertains to the white label sites which is getting out of control in my opinion.

[helpnow]

Forgive me, what do you mean by the "white label" sites?

[foolsgold]

So more aimed as the article says at scrapper sites and the like? That makes sense, think I may have eaten too many conspiracy greens!

[bwnbwn]

I for one would be really glad price comparision sites were nuked. IMO they are worthless and will remain worthless. One reason the sites may be nuked is soon I am expecting Google to change the way they do business in Google Products. Right now it is free. What better way to get you in the system offer it for free, see the possible value and then change to a cost per impression.
This is coming mark it if ya want but coming.

[piatkow]

I for one would be really glad price comparision sites were nuked.

Me too, they just push the sites that I want, for the real suppliers, way down in the SERPS.

[piatkow]

A good change from my point of view is that I suddenly see local results between results 3 and 4 rather then at the top. This actually puts my site above the fold again.

Well sometimes anyway. For a search on "keyword in location" the local results came after result 3 (my site). For "keyword location" they are still at the top with my site only just scraping in above the fold (domain is "keywordlocation")

[TheMadScientist]

A good change from my point of view is that I suddenly see local results between results 3 and 4 rather then at the top.

Buh-duuuuuh-BING!

Is Google Scared? Reactions or Planned Development [webmasterworld.com] LMAO.
They be playing 'follow the leader' as far as 'cool' goes a bit right now, me thinks...

[gouri]

I would like to see Google put the Quick Preview feature in the SERP.

I think it is one of the cooler features of Bing.

[TheMadScientist]

Give it some time... I'm sure they will.
Lead, follow or get out of the way, right?

In this category IMO they're definitely not leading (although they do seem to have a really big algo and I've heard size matters), they're probably not going to just get out of the way, so IMO they'll most likely follow right along... I guess maybe the size of your algo really isn't the only thing that matter when building a search engine?

Sorry for the OT... I'll let the thread return to it's regularly scheduled speculation and notations again.

[tedster]

what do you mean by the "white label" sites?

"White label" means the site does not create their own content or offer their own technology. They use someone's work and "re-brand" it under their own website name - their "label". But the page is essentially the same as what many other sites are offering.

[helpnow]

For the first time since October 2009, some of the site: results are making more sense. Primary top level pages that have been omitted from site: results are finally showing up again.

Still not perfect though - site: is still incorrect for deeper pages.

I have the distinct 6th sense feeling that something massive is going on, I don't have enough data yet to prove it, but it does feel like their is a huge shift going on right now for my sites, and others I have become accustomed to watching... I feel like huge chunks of data are being folded back in to the SERPs right now, wholesale quantities of data... I have been noting a number of constant different shifts along these lines over the past 36 hours.

Anyone else seeing big changes back to what makes more sense, like, a "fixed" overall data set, even if it is not positive for your rankings?

And, the changes are not static, the SERPs are changing almost hourly right now, and I am not seeing much consistency across IPs.

-lol- If it is Friday night, Easter, and I feel like I am the only one watching this. I don't understand why I am the only posting on this... It is an incredible learning experience... Get some popcorn, sit back, and watch the show!

[SEOPTI]

I also see larger URL numbers for site: starting today. With larger I mean 100% and more.

[wmxpert]

w.r.t. to the Google's behavior for price comparison websites here I would like to share an experience:

One of my friend who's running a price comparison website (3.5 years old) is facing a lot of issues from Google since last year. During 2009 Google slapped them three times but after 2 months it came back to the normal position.

In current situation their website is normal.

[Gorgwatcher]

On Friday 2 April, many seo's witnessed major shuffling and changes in different data centers of Google including the suspected IP's of Caffeine.

However today, on 3rd April, What I have noticed is all the changes and rankings are reverted to previous position.

The rankings are almost same with very minor or no change on all the Google IP's plus Google Caffeine Ip's

Also the index size is now back to old position that is if you witnessed drop in indexing, the numbers are now gradually increasing.

Please confirm these changes on your websites and industries and let us know...

[edited by: tedster at 5:47 am (utc) on Apr 3, 2010]
[edit reason] moved from another location [/edit]

[steveb]

Not even close.

[helpnow]

Gorgwatcher:

What I am seeing is: It is a work in progress. I am getting varying results from moment to moment on the same IPS... And wildly varying results among different IPs. It would seem to me that a major shuffle is going on, and it is not finished. I think there is no point in sweating any SERPs you view in a momentary snapshot right now - wait for it to settle down and become consistent, then you can evaluate where you stand. It is not that I have witnessed 2 or 3 different SERPs today, if each variant was to be counted as "1" version of the SERP, then I have seen at least 20 or 30 SERPs today. No, what I saw today was not a new SERP, but a shuffle in progress, and it ain't done yet... I suspect the reason there are not more people chatting it up is this is a big holiday, 1 of 3 top holidays in North America.

[Gorgwatcher]

@helpnow exactly the results we evident but yesterday.

Now for me all the ips are showing the same results and everything is back to normal (atleast seems so)

[vandread]

I still see new results on several keywords that I monitor.

[cangoou]

For me, new results where only visible on 1st April. After that, eveything was back to the SERPs the days before.

[Pudders]

Saw a change yesterday morning (2nd April) to my SERPs and also just the URL was displayed. URL is back to normal but sadly my SERPs are still dropped!

[chrisv1963]

For one of the keywords I'm monitoring I get 60 million search results today. It has always been around 10 million. Strange ...

[internetheaven]

Please remember that Google have really messed up with their overconfidence. "Will be released after the holidays" has turned in to "could be a few months" posted just a couple of weeks ago.

Religion and the second coming is the analogy springing to mind ...

There is no point is testing the Caffeine SERPS even when you find them. Obviously, they are not ready otherwise they would have been released. Focus on making sure you've repented enough before it comes. ;)

[Gorgwatcher]

@internetheaven

Sir I in no mean challenging your statements but on 1st April the fluctuation and changes in Google was HUGE.

it was not some regular update. It was Caffeine.

Why Am i so Sure?

Cause i am monitoring the changes on all the suspected Google Caffeine IP's plus Google US SERPS and regular GOOGLE SERPS

There was something big started yesterday..which now have been reverted.

All the serps are now back to there old position.

even the index size was fluctuating with every new refresh. Note that normally Indexing size of the website remains same on majority of data centers. Its only ranking that jump around with 2 or 3 slots difference.

The same thing happened in Mid of Feb. When google suddenly reverted SERPs to old date positions.