Google Updates and SERP Changes - December 2018

[ichthyous]

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System: The following 7 messages were cut out of thread at: https://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4926691.htm [webmasterworld.com] by robert_charlton - 4:47 pm on Dec 1, 2018 (PDT -8)

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It just keeps getting worse and worse... I was seeing a slow daily uptick from November 4th until day before yesterday and hoping I would finally start to recover from September's massacre. Now I've lost all the ground I made up in two days and back to where I started. No calls, no emails, no inquiries. Meanwhile the huge corporate competitors keep ascending. Google is just determined to kill us all off.

[dollarsound]

@ichthyous, I also see a recovery since the 26th, not where I was before but traffic has improved. I haven't fixed anything.

[browndog]

Not all "SEO experts" are bad. Some SEO experts actually recommend looking at the bigger picture (long term) by improving the quality of your website. Usually these are experts who have a genuine track record of helping sites improve their rankings through practical techniques and long-term planning. <Snip> is one, in my opinion, that fits this description.

I don't think they are all selling snake oil, they can be a huge help for somebody who isn't all that savvy. I'm not super savvy myself, I prefer to focus on the actual content than all the SEO stuff, but do pick up a lot, especially from here. Not every site owner is doing that and could be making some really basic mistakes that an SEO could help with.

My problem is a) I don't have the money for SEO and b) I am leery that they would participate in black hat techniques. And with Google moving the goalposts, what could be perfectly fine to do in 2019 may well be fatal in 2020. So I just stick with doing what I do and keep an eye for tips here.

As for my site, it is pretty quiet after a HUGE December where an article went viral, but not sure if it's a Google thing or just people busy over Christmas and new year. Hopefully it is the latter.

[V4Vendetta]

If SEO experts were any good they would keep there mouth shut and make money through the SERPS instead of guesswork, voodoo theories and well lets face it more #*$!. To understand SEO you need to understand first the market has been rigged for a long long time.

[MayankParmar]

Seeing a 70-80% drop today. Is it because of New Year/New Year Eve or a new update brewing?

[System]

The following 3 messages were cut out to new thread by robert_charlton. New thread at: google/4931890.htm [webmasterworld.com]
7:58 pm on Jan 1, 2019 (PDT -8)