Google Updates and SERP Changes - April 2018

[kewlchat]

System: The following message was cut out of thread at: https://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4889357.htm [webmasterworld.com] by robert_charlton - 5:32 pm on Apr 1, 2018 (PDT -8)


Seems after 3 years traffics picked up some, should we dare to dream?

[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 1:39 am (utc) on Apr 2, 2018]
[edit reason] Moved and reformatted message to new month [/edit]

[SnowMan68]

@MrSavage

Have the ads been playing on videos that are monetized? I haven't seen them on our videos yet, but we do not monetize any of them though.

[glakes]

So to think if you can't win on the SERPS but can somehow turn fortunes around on another Google platform, unfortunately I can't see how this is a worthwhile venture in the long term. I don't want to sound negative or disrespectful, but I'm just pointing out my observations.

You must not have seen/remember many of my previous posts. After years of zombie traffic, I'm not trying to win in Google, rank YouTube videos or any of that nonsense. In fact, I wrote Google off years ago and focused my time/effort elsewhere which has worked out well for my company. For my industry, Google sends the buyers to Amazon. My point is that it is better for me that Google display YouTube videos instead of the current Amazon crowded SERPS because at least I have a chance of getting converting traffic on my website instead of the majority of it going to Amazon. To me it's an either or scenario - either Google sends all the buying traffic to Amazon where there is not a link to my website and dozens of competing products or to a YouTube video where there is a link to my website, our company is branded within the video and a comparatively small competing shopping banner ad appears. It's a no brainer that I'd rather see Google display the YouTube video in the SERPS. Would I rather see Google rank my site above Amazon and YouTube videos? Of course. But knowing that Google is trying to squeeze every dime out of their traffic, I am fully aware that things likely won't change and Google's small business quarantine effect will likely further reduce the visibility we as a small business have in their index in the coming years.

[aristotle]

Just as with most other product queries, Google displays 2+ organic listings for Amazon at the top of the SERPS for my main keywords

I just saw a news report which says that Amazon's stock price dropped about 10% during the past week, as a reaction to Donald Trump making threats to use his powers as president to harm Amazon's business.

Reportedly Trump is upset because Amazon's success has lowered the value of some shopping centers that he and his friends have investments in.

If Trump harms Amazon's business, its google rankings could fall and it would no longer dominate the google search results for a lot of products.

[samwest]

Not to get further OT, but natural selection will take care of companies like FB and Youtube (Google). I'm not surprised to see the news this morning report that the Youtube perp "wanted revenge on company for demonetizing her videos". Companies that betray trust and have no self reflection or concerns of their great influence don't last long. There are plenty of companies ready to take their place...but then how long will those last? It's a never ending cycle of capitalism and a real monkey house. Maybe it's time for the people to take back what their content started.

[MrSavage]

@Snowman, just to clarify in regards to your question. I'm not talking about ads playing. I'm talking about a row/block of Google shopping ads. These essentially push the video description box below the fold (surprise, surprise). If the video is on any sort of topic where a person might be researching a product, then (surprise, surprise) this is where I've seen these shopping ads. People who are currently relying on affiliate links "in the description box below" will no question feel the pinch of this at some point. Again, this will roll out slowly and won't hit anyone with any sort of PR status on the platform. My only real point is that anyone thinking that these Google platforms are a good or worthwhile pursuit, I'm here pointing out some sobering realities. Yes, I believe YouTube is an option for myself right now, but that is only a short term thought. It's really no different than regular SERPS. We provide the content for which Google can utilize for ads. The payoff at one point was organic traffic. Video wise, tell me what the payoff would be when they inject shopping ads in this manner.

[RedBar]

I have mentioned here before about localisation and especially so USA localisation and its effects on my traffic, so here we go.

These PVs are for March 2018 average v January/February 2018 averages, first, the good news:

Site 1 .co.uk 115,97%
Site 2 .co.uk 98.69%

Now the reality of 8/9th March algo update plus whatever afterwards:

Site 3 .com 88.73%
Site 4 .com 88.56%
Site 5 .com 80.90%
Site 6 .com 75.71%
Site 7 ,com 70.71%

All sites are registered and hosted in the UK.

The reduction in traffic is all from the USA.

Because of the Easter effect so far in April it is not possible to say what is happening other than traffic is further down so far.

My traffic usually builds from January through to the end of June therefore this is definitely a different trend.

RealWorld business is fine with genuine enquiries and orders at expected levels from all global customers including the USA.

What do we make of this?

1. Don't bother trying to do busines with the USA using Google unless one is prepared to pay for it and even then it would be pointless since we do not supply the public, furthermore Joe WidgetTradeBuyer knows where to find us.

The largest USA wholesale importing company in our widget trade does not spend one Cent with Google!

2. If Google.com continues this way then what on earth are they hoping to achieve, a search engine with only retail results (Amazon, Ebay, etc) and a selected few other subjects like Wikipedia, medical and whatever?

3. This begs the question of is there anyone in charge with a vision of what they want to become?

4. What a mess!

[Rlilly]

@Redbar "3. This begs the question of is there anyone in charge with a vision of what they want to become?"

Sure they do, crowd the SERPS with big box brands everyone knows like Amazon, eBay, Target, Costco, Riteaid > thats prompt one to click on an ad.

[MrSavage]

This discussion about SERPS should really involve one big question. Are Google stocks up or down? That's the only thing that matters. Results won't change or become a concern until stock prices start dipping. When I see those headlines, that's when I'll expect to see something different. I can type in one keyword into the box, yet get a result in the top 5 that doesn't even have that keyword (or anything close) on the page. So sure, it sounds like crud, but...how was the stock doing? Ah, okay. It's business as usual. It just doesn't matter and I'm still a bit surprised that people are surprised at the quality or lack of quality or any of the hundreds of other nuances of the SERPs. Nobody is leaving Google for Bing or anyone else. Nothing needs to change.

[JesterMagic]

@MrSavage and @glakes great discussion. I think the moral of the story (and it has been pointed out many times before) is that you can't rely on just 1 or 2 other businesses for the majority of your traffic. These companies (Google, YouTube, Apple, Amazon) will look out for themselves in the end and their bottom line. The problem with these companies is that they are monopolies so they can push around their suppliers of content and products as they wish with the knowledge that they have no where else to go.

[MrSavage]

Right. Don't forget to add Android because well, most of the world's phones use it, and who owns Android? And what is the default search on Android phones? The point really is in 2018 whether the pursuit, the care, the concern, the prospects, the optimism, are relevant at this point. I think most are investing time, effort and resources into something that is losing relevance by the day, by the one player who dictates whether it's a worthwhile venture or not. Organic traffic for me what made this worthwhile. Combing over stats and fretting about or trying to make sense of SERPS these days is funny because I get the sense that Google themselves don't give a S about it. They don't care but we do? I thought most people by now would move into "reality mode". Others are reliant on telling people (selling people) that organic traffic is attainable and sustainable. If another search option shows up, then maybe there is reason for enthusiasm. Otherwise I just don't get it. Sorry.

[RedBar]

The problem with these companies is that they are monopolies so they can push around their suppliers of content and products as they wish with the knowledge that they have no where else to go.

I have to totally disagree with this.

My global widget trade has already realised that Google et al are mostly useless for our products therefore we are reverting to what we did before albeit with the technological refinement that the past 25 years has brought us.

Insofar as Google is concerned their biggest worry at the present time ought to be the likes of WhatsApp and similar platforms, we drive a lot of traffic to our sites using these circumventing SEs altogether.

It's quite surprising just how many companies/people are prepared to receive direct marketing info WHEN they know it's valid to their business.

[EditorialGuy]

re's no point of YouTube videos in SERP.

It makes perfect sense to include videos in search results. The person who's searching on "how to fix a light switch" or "Widgetco doughnut fryer reviews" may find a video as useful as (or more useful than) a page of text. The searcher gets to decide.

Remember, Google has a reputation for being a data-driven company. If searchers didn't click on video results, it's unlikely that Google would waste valuable screen real estate by including videos in its SERPs.

[MayankParmar]

Then it also makes sense to include web results on YouTube :) I

Because a person who's searching "how to fix a light switch" or "Widgetco doughnut fryer reviews" on YouTube may find a web page as useful as a video :D

YouTube is the second most popular search engine. So the person who'd prefer a video over the web pages better visit YouTube and not Google.

[EditorialGuy]

Then it also makes sense to include web results on YouTube :) I

No, it doesn't, because people who are searching YouTube are specifically searching for videos.

Learn to deal with the search engine you have, not with the one you'd like to have.

[samwest]

ALL - IMAGES - SHOPPING - NEWS - VIDEOS - MORE
Hey look, a place for Youtube videos!

As a Youtube creator myself, I don't mind them being in the SERPs, as they help my domain crowding and SERP domination efforts. :D

[Rlilly]

In my niche, no videos from YouTube but this:

Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Staples
Staples
Staples
Stapes
Stapes
Office Depot
Walmart

[sdksjdksjd]

It makes perfect sense to include videos in search results. The person who's searching on "how to fix a light switch" or "Widgetco doughnut fryer reviews" may find a video as useful as (or more useful than) a page of text. The searcher gets to decide.

No it doesn't. Google can't know what is video about. Google can only assume based on direct and indirect signs, if video is contextually valuable.
Including contextually questionable content into the top of SERP can't be helpful for the person who's searching on "how to fix a light switch" or "Widgetco doughnut fryer reviews".
But it does help google to promote Youtube.

Remember, Google has a reputation for being a data-driven company. If searchers didn't click on video results, it's unlikely that Google would waste valuable screen real estate by including videos in its SERPs.

Remember, google is an advertising company and publisher in the same time. It promotes its screen real estate, placing Youtube on the top of SERP, based on assumption that certain video is contextually valuable. Otherwise why only Youtube? There are plenty of other video hosting services. I didn't see any of them in the top of SERP. Did you?

[glakes]

In my niche, no videos from YouTube but this:

Amazon
Amazon
Amazon
Staples
Staples
Staples
Stapes
Stapes
Office Depot
Walmart

Very similar for some of my primary keyword queries except change the non-Amazon sites to other big brands, including those that don't directly stock the products but offer advertising to third parties. These results are widspread for product queries as many products I've searched for in Google all produce the same results - Amazon crowded at the top with a scattering of big brands below. Maybe with John Giannandrea stepping down as the head of Google Search/AI things will change. But I'm not holding my breath. For the most part, Google does not even recognize small businesses exist unless it's one of their Adwords sales reps/promotional offerings asking for a credit card.

[Maximum44]

We have very detailed step by step instructions with pictures in our articles. We usually include a Youtube video with the steps as well.

I guess being specific is not the way to go anymore... Just enough is the new way. Don't mind the details. As long as it is simple, not too long or short and somewhat accurate it will pass for being great. Reminds me of the movie Idiocracy.

We are informational, not trying to sell anything. That is probably the main difference seeing Youtube clips or big brands in the results. We have very few big brands competing with our listings.

[mosxu]

@glakes

Adwards sales reps probably have the tools to limit one business converting traffic if eats into their protected accounts share

As we established most of conversions happen at the top, if everyone will be allowed to compete there for human traffic they will have only moody reps

[BushyTop]

Just came in to report about 3 weeks ago we saw a significant growth which over the past 4 days seems to have dialled back a bit. Interestingly it appears to have been mobile that has been hit more. We've still seen a net gain over the course of 8 weeks, but I must admit i got very excited initially.

Our site suffers massively for page speed issues and mobile rendering issues, which we are hoping to address this week. I know that google have confirmed that the page speed benefits wont come in until June, but I'm wondering whether its starting to count now as well?

[sdksjdksjd]

significant growth .... Our site suffers massively for page speed issues and mobile rendering issues

Is this an example of website that was unrewarded, but should be rewarded according to google?

[Jhurwith]

Page speed has always mattered.

[EditorialGuy]

I guess being specific is not the way to go anymore... Just enough is the new way. Don't mind the details. As long as it is simple, not too long or short and somewhat accurate it will pass for being great.

Our pages that get the most traffic from Google are nearly always longer pages with in-depth information. This has been true for years, and it's still true today.

[sdksjdksjd]

Depends on topic. I have plenty of UGC articles, that I even didn't want to publish at first. But later, being attractive to readers, these questionable articles produced so many valuable comments, that they hold top of SERP for years.
You never know what will attract readers.

[kewlchat]

leveling off now

[sk7411]

nothing here, they messed up around 1-2 weeks ago and have since then went into hibernation after destroying businesses and changing rules .


All i see now are new unrewarded spam sites dominating the SERPs , Domain crowding , and full of junks to be honest .

Nothing can be done , i may call it quits soon!

[nomis5]

The mobile to desktop % has changed significantly for me over the last two weeks. Mobile up, desktop down, but no change in the overall page views. I don't understand why. My site has been mobile friendly for well over a year.

That aside I'm dong very well in the SERPS.

But I have noticed that competition from smaller sites has all but disappeared. I wrote a year or more ago that volume would be key and I believe this is more true now than ever. Mom and pop are now truly dead and buried and it's very sad. They gave a broad spectrum to the SERPS which was valuable. RIP Mom and Pop websites.

[browndog]

Nothing can be done , i may call it quits soon!

I still work on my site because I enjoy writing, but have all but actually given up on actually returning to numbers of the past, despite a considerably larger site and having followed of Google's rules. It's just not possible.

But the best thing I ever did was admit defeat, return to the paid workforce and finally, after several years of quite literally scraping together every cent, I am now earning a regular income, and even have a little bit of cash to spare. Sometimes quitting is the best thing to do :)

Back on the latest results, I am still seeing domain crowding, but that's been a pretty common theme for the past 6 months or so, last week I kept seeing a lot of pdf links show up, but that seems to have reversed itself now.

[Maximum44]

Very weak saturday for us. It is time for a positive development or i will be very depressed. It does not make much sense.