Google Updates and SERP Changes - May 2018

[Shaddows]

System: The following message was cut out of thread at: https://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4894234.htm [webmasterworld.com] by robert_charlton - 11:34 am on May 1, 2018 (PDT -8)

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We've seen a huge shift in traffic patterns today. Traffic and conversions are relatively stable, but destination pages are very different.

In terms of products sold, it is very similar to the pre-March profile (which is different to the various iterations over the last 6 weeks)

[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 7:51 pm (utc) on May 1, 2018]
[edit reason] Split to new thread. [/edit]

[BushyTop]

We've seen a rankings return this morning. Increases by approx 20%.

[Rlilly]

Got the email that our http version is included in the Mobile First index.. but we use https. Does that make a difference?

[MayankParmar]

Welp. Console is now showing a massive increase in structured data, it reads "author is missing". The live test says everything is fine.

What's wrong? :(

[mosxu]

@shaddows

I did not know that you are posting from same IP address with EG

I have only asked EG for an opinion because he is a big fan of singularity

[lostshootingstar]

Alright, I'm looking for some insight or help if anyone has any because I am at a complete loss. I still have one page targeted to one US city (Chicago to be exact) that has ranked between #2 and #4 for a specific keyword, ie (Cheap widgets in Chicago) for many many years. Since this small Memorial day shakeup last week the page seeems to drop out of the serps and then come back every 6-12 hours. It doesn't drop to page 3 or 4 or 10 or 15, it is literally completely gone, then shows back up in the same spot like nothing happened. It's been doing this for about a week or more now. All other US cities are perfectly fine.

It still ranks the same as it always did for even slight variations of the keyword like "Cheapest widgets in Chicago" or "Chicago widgets cheap".

I also noticed that one of the local "mom and pop" websites we compete against also appears and disappears at the same time as us for the exact same keyword. I am nearly convinced there is some kind of bug in Google's most recent changes because it makes no sense whatsoever.

[JesterMagic]

@lostshootingstar I've seen that happen to some of my keywords every now and then (none are targeting a city though). It usually goes back to normal in a couple of days to a week.

[NickMNS]

@Rlilly

Got the email that our http version is included in the Mobile First index.. but we use https.

The https email should follow shortly. I got first got the mail for the https and then a fewer hours later one for http. You should get one for each property in your GSC but the messages for different websites could come a significantly different times. I have so far gotten only one of two.

@lostshootingstar
I don't really have any insight. I don't track keywords specifically, but I have noticed a saw tooth patter in GA over the past week or so. I would expect to see this pattern from what you describe. Also, on a completely unrelated keyword that I happen to use everyday I notice that the results have changed significantly from what is normally displayed, and those results have been changing switching between about three different sets of results. But one of the three always appears but never the initial result. This started early last week. In the past, once updates are rolled out, the results generally settle down back to the original. This acts kind of like my canary in a coal mine. Caveat, this is totally unscientific and unverified, and comes only from my own casual observation.

Over the period, I have lost another 10% or so of traffic. My bleeding hasn't stopped since the March update.

[Shaddows]

Localisation sometimes goes a bit wrong on Google's end, especially if you only rank locally. It doesn't necessarily correlate with wider updates either, so all you can do is wait it out.

Not great I know.

If you noticed another property having the same issue... have you looked at the other results that don't have an issue? A differential analysis might provide insight on how to avoid in future, but it probably won't help for this occasion.

[Cyril TechWebsites]

Important update for WordPressers. If you use Yoast and lost search ranking, a bug may be to blame -> [yoast.com...] (apology and Google approved workaround).

....

I mentioned the problem with Yoast 2 or 3 weeks ago (before their official excuses) and solved the problem by disallowing duplicate URLs through robots.txt and additionally 301 redirect them from the attachment URLs to actual URL. I have a question - does someone recovered lost traffic after fixing the problem with Yoast after their March bug? Is this issue was the only single cause for the traffic drop for your website? Do I need to wait for miracle after purging the attachment URLs or I just got cruelly hammered by algo and there is no place for hope now?... :) I mean if someone find out that the traffic drops were happening not due to update, but because of the Yoast bug?

[samwest]

@lostss - maybe they are bringing Google dance back. ;) The only time I've seen that happen lately is when I have a page that's borderline with pressure being exerted by some other newcomer page. I know it's not easy, but look around your regulars and see if somebody new has popped on the scene. I'd suggest fine tuning that page for readability and seo score and improve page takeaway value if you can to see if it pops back into place.

[aristotle]

the page seeems to drop out of the serps and then come back every 6-12 hours

Why on earth do you check rankings so often? What do you gain by it?

Maybe google has noticed that you're always checking rankings and has started playing a game of "hide and seek" with them just to frustrate you..

[lostshootingstar]

Thanks for the feedback.

I get a ranking report from ahrefs once a day or so and noticed that that particular keyword went from position #3 to position ">100" (not showing) so I started manually tracking it since then because being dropped from the SERPs is a big effin' deal!

I don't think any webmaster could honestly say they would not start investigating if they saw this after being at the top of the SERPs for years: [i.imgur.com...]

[samwest]

Honestly, who cares about how many times someone checks their SERP's? If they want to watch paint dry, let them. Maybe they are trying to find anomalies in the ranking system. Let people do and report what they like rather than this endless whining and criticism of reports. Besides, suggesting that Google messes with those checking their stats often would only prove the "don't be evil" mantra never took root. My GART page runs 24/7. Hmm, maybe that's why my traffic is so whack. smh

[System]

The following 9 messages were cut out to new thread by robert_charlton. New thread at: google/4904681.htm [webmasterworld.com]
6:07 pm on Jun 1, 2018 (PDT -8)