Google Updates and SERP Changes - March 2020

[Shepherd]

---

System: The following 5 messages were cut out of thread at: https://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4982115.htm [webmasterworld.com] by goodroi - 12:19 pm on Mar 1, 2020 (utc -5)

---

If you're in ecommerce this twitter thread is a good read, albeit a bit scary.

[twitter.com...]

[NickMNS]

One could argue that this is the perfect time for algo changes,

One could argue that, but given the level uncertainty caused by Covid-19 not even Google would be able to determine what impact the algo changes would have if any. Thus it is very unlikely that they would take such a risk. On the other hand, if the change were previously tested, and all that was left was a system wide roll-out, then an update may be possible.

[richardwfs]

Something happened. Exactly one year ago, I got hit.
March 12, 2019 my traffic was cut almost in half. Been going down since.
I added even more content, didn't care about the panelty. I moved my site to Google CDN, added ngx_pagespeed module and did some optimizations to improve spreed.
March 12- 14, 2020 my traffic went up 25%. Still going up.

Apparently, Google has a timeout period.

Thanks

[NickMNS]

@richardwfs
I saw the same but on March 17 2018. The trend over the past few years has been, March and October have been the dates for Google's big updates.

[seomotionz]

Google is trying to pull something here. Try to check the databases, has it increased considerably in recent days? Specially the tables which keeps the log files of bots and spiders coming to your site such as "sessions".

[aristotle]

I saw a report that Amazon will hire 100,000 extra workers to help handle a huge influx of people buying online at their site.

Also, I ordered some nutritional supplements last week, and it's taking much longer than normal to get them. The company sent an email asking for my patience because they're having to work overtime to fill all the recent orders. Most likely people are buying supplements that are supposed to boost their immune systems.

[JesterMagic]

Traffic dropped further 10% yesterday (30% in total now). Ours is definitely Covid-19 related.

[richardwfs]

I don't know whether mine is Covid-19 related, but now 36% increase and going up.
Getting all my traffic I lost since March 2019.

[glakes]

I saw a report that Amazon will hire 100,000 extra workers to help handle a huge influx of people buying online at their site.

At a time when small businesses were already struggling to keep the doors open, and the coronavirus will cause many to go under, these big multi-national companies are well positioned to capitalize on national emergencies. When all is said and done, I believe we will see Amazon's dominance to have grown much stronger and far fewer small ecommerce businesses in existence. Of course Google will oblige by releasing some other cute Sesame Street character, like Bert, which will beat small businesses over the head with an even heavier hammer - possibly doubling down/increasing Amazon crowding in the SERPS and/or new info boxes that separate competing businesses from Amazon's paid ads and organic listings.

Heaven help small businesses....

In an effort to be fair, Amazon is trying to prioritize fulfillment of those goods which people may need in a crisis. An excerpt from official Amazon seller news:

We are seeing increased online shopping, and as a result some products such as household staples and medical supplies are out of stock. With this in mind, we are temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies, and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers so that we can more quickly receive, restock, and deliver these products to customers.

For products other than these, we have temporarily disabled shipment creation. We are taking a similar approach with retail vendors.

This will be in effect today through April 5, 2020, and we will let you know once we resume regular operations. Shipments created before today will be received at fulfillment centers.

[edited by: glakes at 12:56 pm (utc) on Mar 17, 2020]

[deriklogov]

We had a drop of -34% yesterday, its not just Google, this drop across all traffic sources. I do see messages that some are going up, its all probably due to niche related.

[Cralamarre]

My organic traffic was down 23% yesterday compared to last week, and traffic in total (from all sources) was down 28%.

Oddly, my YouTube channel has not suffered the same fate as my website. Traffic has remained high. I guess people instinctively turn to YouTube when they're bored.

[samwest]

Google is now pushing us all down the page in favor of ad filled drivel and Pinterest. Who could have guessed this move? You best not mention CV on your site either or you'll be gone.

[glakes]

You best not mention CV on your site either or you'll be gone.

I was thinking about all the sites with CV notices and how it would impact their ranks. In my industry for example, a number of businesses have sitewide CV notices that basically states the steps they are taking to ensure worker and customer safety while noting there may be delays in shipments. Would the Medic algo kill their ranks for talking about a subject that is well outside their industry and area of expertise? In the current CV panic, I doubt they are getting many sales either since they don't sell essentials.

One thing is certain - it's really ugly in the workforce. The business next to my warehouse is running on reduced hours. They are starting at noon, and my guess it's not only the lack of sales but the fact so many have kids and nobody to watch them.

[sk7411]

Things does not look good at our end , i do not think it is COVID -19 related . Something is up for sure , Google never sleeps :)

[Cralamarre]

Traffic has been improving a little today. Still down a lot compared to last week but it's a little better than yesterday.

[seowinning]

Google is pushing all big sites to the first page.

[glakes]

Google traffic is coming in waves and at odd hours. I'd be surprised if there weren't some sort of update, even if it's small/targeted.

Bad conversions today, but I don't sell toilet paper, hand sanitizer or anything people are spending all of their money on.

[StupidIntelligent]

Guys 404 pages are ranking in top positions for a few very competitive terms on HACKED websites. What the actual F?!

[seowinning]

Ranking 404 pages? where is the example

[whoa182]

There's so much going on right now that it's very difficult to tell what is going on. However, it does seem that big authority sites like Healthline have moved higher even though their articles are less relevant for the search. I think during this virus outbreak, Google might be pushing big authority sites to the top, maybe. I don't even talk about Coronavirus at all, I've not even mentioned it once, but the sites that have the authority to talk about it and rank well could be benefiting from all the traffic gained naturally.

Another thing I've noticed is that almost every keyword phrase I typed in, there is a snippet. And I'm not winning most of these.

My blog is in diet, nutrition, and health, but I generally avoid serious medical topics including COVID-19. Search console shows that impressions have decreased by 1000 over the weekend but the position is only down 2.0 (average for thousands of keywords). This is normal up and down fluctuation I see over many months... so nothing significant here.

For now, I'm not going to panic or anything because of this crisis with the virus is huge and is taking up everyone's attention. People are definitely not going to be searching in the same way or for the same things. Just look on Facebook, Twitter, or anywhere, it's almost all about the pandemic. Plus there was the Primary vote yesterday and I saw a hit between those hours, too.

Again, I don't see hardly any significant changes. Yeah, it could be a minor update, but it's probably largely related to the pandemic imo.

[MarvinG]

@whoa182 I agree with you. Think it is mostly related to COVID and change in search patterns. My website is also health / fitness / diet related and notice lower traffic and not dramatically dropped rankings.

[whoa182]

I just looked at Google trends and I can see a BIG drop (50%) in searches for the main (stem) keyword for the niche/topic. It's been in a steady decline since 7th March. I'll take that as a signal that it's a change in user behavior.

[Cralamarre]

I find that the biggest problem when analyzing traffic this week is that I have nothing to compare it to. I can't compare this week's virus outbreak to last week's or last year's virus outbreak because there wasn't one. In my lifetime, there has never been anything like what we are seeing now with this COVID-19 pandemic.

But since my site is education-based and traffic relies heavily on schools being open, I thought that the closest situation I could compare this week's traffic with would be last summer when schools were closed. And sure enough, traffic patterns between this week and last summer are nearly identical. No better, but no worse.

So based on that, I see no reason to suspect that a Google update has anything to do with this traffic drop.

[glakes]

I just looked at Google trends and I can see a BIG drop (50%) in searches for the main (stem) keyword for the niche/topic.

Lower searches on Google Trends but more impressions and clicks on paid ads. Is anyone really surprised about this?

I'll take that as a signal that it's a change in user behavior.

No change in Google's behavior at all - pure greed. Apparently Google will manufacture paid impressions/clicks when needed...

[samwest]

Google will not let up on their relentless push to maximize profits even in the midst of a global crisis that is wiping out all web based businesses, and continue to push their insatiable ad and self promo machine. Try dropping just the SEE (SEARCH TERM) block at the top of every page as well as the INTERESTING FINDS block. Both of these only seem to dilute results and push their own affiliate and ad interested in front of the organic SERPS. At the very least, let us breath while we are all locked down.

My further suggestions are as follows:
1. Drop the SEE (SEARCHTERM) block at the top of every page
2. Remove the Interesting Finds block (all lead to thin ad filled sites)
3. Move the "People Also Ask" block to the bottom of the page with the Searches Related to "Search Term" block.
4. Images have their own tab, remove that block and let page the SERPS be SERPS again.
5. Enough of the censorship

[RedBar]

My traffic figures are very distinct depending upon their target narkets:

1. UK highly-ranked and well-known local hotel site, overall traffic -50%, accommodation bookings -95%

2. UK highly-ranked niche widget retailer -75%

3. Highly-ranked global widget manufacturer from several countries also -75%

4. Highly-ranked global widget manufacturer from one specific country -20%

On sites 3 and 4 USA traffic has more or less halved, sites 1 and 2 are 90+% UK traffic therefore massive reductions.

Anyone else?

[ichthyous]

@RedBar Fine arts -46%

I deleted my Google analytics account today, removed all the code from my site. I'm done giving Google any access to my site to use it against me. No traffic to my site...no data to work with. I highly recommend that everyone else does the same...what does GA actually do for you other than spy on your site?

I'm planning for 6-12 months with no income. Also placed a whopping order to buy GOOG at a very low price that I thought would never trade...it's already very close to trading, which is scary. I might just keep lowering the price as it seems that there is no bottom in sight yet. But this isn't a stock trading site so I digress!

[samwest]

@Ichthyous - hate to say it but - [youtu.be...]

[samwest]

That can quota our sites perfectly no matter what chaos in traffic erupts. Amazing.

[jrpfhc]

-35% Automotive.

No indication that keywords have slipped at all. Good luck out there everyone.

[RedBar]

UK Internet usage increases This week:

Vodafone +30%

TalkTalk +20%

[bbc.co.uk...]