May 2024 Google Search Observations

[Billy85]

When I checked my site, 90% or so were some Spam links, but I wouldn't disavow them because I've heard that some sites were worse off after disavowing.
Almost every site has to deal with this and from what I understand, Google only regards those that are listed in your search console?

I also think it has also to do with the amount of people that click on it, meaning, if you try to build backlinks and nobody is clicking on it, google disregards them or gives that link less relevance.

[edited by: not2easy at 1:30 pm (utc) on May 2, 2024]
[edit reason] split thread cleanup [/edit]

[Micha]

@tom_010101 it's no different for me, but i don't want to give up yet. it's just very disheartening that no one in germany, neither the media nor politicians, is interested in the subject. only in retrospect is there a lot of shouting.

[tom_010101]

@Micha+ Yes. In Germany you have the feeling that no one else is affected. No other forum entries, nothing... I can't give up either. After all, I make a living from it. But it's very very frustrating...

[superclown2]

In Germany you have the feeling that no one else is affected.

It isn't just Germany that is suffering by any means. The whole world is, including those who spend money on Google ads, who are (according to trial testimony from Google employees) being ripped off by unethical, and possibly illegal, ad auction price manipulation.

[searchengineland.com ]

'Don't Be Evil'? I couldn't possibly comment.

[Micha]

@Superclown2 The only difference is that we currently have a political landscape that is worse than in most other countries. There are hardly any sensible politicians left here.
I read the article yesterday, very interesting and it should actually be compulsory reading for everyone who buys advertising from Google.

[superclown2]

The only difference is that we currently have a political landscape that is worse than in most other countries. There are hardly any sensible politicians left here.

I see that Google wants a judge to preside at future legal cases against them, rather than a jury.

Nothing to do with 'lobbying' and future jobs of course.

[Rick_Mh]

Hello, has anyone felt a drastic drop in traffic from yesterday to today?

[mosxu]

The algo is out attacking for not paying more and more! It goes hunger games style on some of us!

Buyer traffic is less and less most of businesses have to pay for they own buyer traffic but they think that is not their branding work but somehow search engine magic!

[RedBar]

@Rick_Mh - It's a weeekend and my traffic can vary quite considerably since I am a trade-only, bulk, wholesale manufacturer with most buying visitors usually working Monday to Friday.

Having said that my traffic after 15 hours is down at about 35% of average and of that 35% 31% of it has been the return of that Huawei Cloud bot therefore, realistically, my traffic is way down.

[sk7411]

Drop again since yesterday!

[NeapTide]

I am seeing one of my website with very few backlinks getting ranking improvements in serps after several months of chaos but traffic is not increasing. The only reason is all the google garbage boxes, sponsored, featured boxes, SGE on top. People are not going to even 6 or 7th organic result buried under several "google garbage boxes"

Now even Sponsored Ads are displayed like they are organic results on top.

[Samsam1978]

I am seeing 15% drop from last week what is going on guys?

[Samsam1978]

Yes, and my ad revenue (adsense) is down also about 20% --- this is the worst I have ever seen since 2010. What are they doing? They are actually creating a situation where they make less money from my website? It does not make sense. Why do you want people to stay on the search page? People are not liking the AI overview.

What is going on, the AI takes my words but don't give me credit.

Not good Google, this is my living, and you are making less money also on the ad revenue. I run a site at 1-2 million uniques per month.

AI nonsense is killing the web!

[Micha]

Hm, did someone switch off the internet today? You'd almost think so if you look at the low data traffic. -45 percent compared to yesterday is practically zero. And I'd rather not talk about a comparison with the previous week. Of course, Saturday is always weak, but this is new.

[RedBar]

what is going on guys?

Not a clue, my global site was well below average until 2 hours ago and since 17.00 UK time it's flown past my weekday average. All genuine multipage visitors.

[Treud]

Before late February and the Start of the March Update, sells and traffic were ok, since the patch then traffic somehow remain pretty much the same but just receiving traffic that doesn’t convert (bot?). I was about anyway to pull out of this business because too many companies on this niche, factories start to do #*$! as well, so this last update forced me to accelerate the exiting strategy.

Luckily new projects are totally not internet related ! The good old warehouse store with brick & mortar !

Maybe the Google strategy behind all of this is kill 90% of all small commerces, and just work with the 10% that will survive the aftermath in a year or 2.

[Micha]

Let's start Sunday with a joke: John Müller says

I can't make any promises, but the team working on this is explictly evaluating how sites can / will improve in Search for the next update. It would be great to show more users the content that folks have worked hard on, and where sites have taken helpfulness to heart.

Now aside from the fact that it's John saying that, this "we're bringing helpful content forward" is starting to sound like a broken record.

@Treud
That's roughly what many store owners are currently telling me. February was great, March too, April well, and this month so far, a disaster, despite normal or increased traffic from Google.

[Samsam1978]

Every single answer in my niche now includes an AI overview, and I have observed a 20% decline in revenue and a 10% drop in RPM due to the transition to a CPC model. I am genuinely uncertain if I can continue operating under these conditions, including covering server costs, despite having been in this business for 15 years. The AI overviews utilize my content, but no-one is clicking on my website.

This situation is serious - it could result in the lack of content production of human-generated content, leaving the internet dominated by AI-generated material. Gosh.

[Billy85]

@Micha
For me, beginning of May (first week) was also pretty good for my small shop, but regular sales suddenly stopped after the first week / at some point when the new Update started.
I also lost more rankings for some of my products, being outranked by non German speaking sites (mostly English) that are also outside Europe and totally irrelevant for German users that are interested in those products.
But Google ranks anything above an "Unhelpful" website, even if it's irrelevant to the User.

[Micha]

I would be interested to know how a store is supposed to be helpful, I mean, products are sold there and that's it. Users who surf there want these products or to browse and not read articles about these products.

[Billy85]

My website started as a blog first and is still predominantly a blog (no Ads, but affiliate links) + a Shop for almost 2 years now.

But it is IMO a great blog, since I bought, tested and compared all my products, made my own photos and came up with my own testing methods etc.
And since this retarded Classifier is still applied side wide, I'm getting outranked by the most irrelevant pages, whether for my articles or products.

[saladtosser]

To compensate for Google taking our content as and when it likes, to level the playing field JM and Danny are considering opening up their houses as a free for all. Want to use their lawn mower or need a cup of sugar? just pop round to your local Google Liasson and take what you want! Whats good for the goose is good for the gander?!

[ichthyous]

Welcome to Monday, when you can expect a mysterious drop in USA traffic at 8am sharp that doesn't recover until the eve...and it repeats every weekday M-F.

Anyone else noticing masses of top three ranking terms dropping off at the same time, slowly rebuilding again, and then dropping off again? Instability in top ranking terms seems to be part of Google's strategy now

[Samsam1978]

I seem to have some sort of throttle on mine. Same everyday, use to have better days than others.

[RedBar]

I would be interested to know how a store is supposed to be helpful, I mean, products are sold there and that's it. Users who surf there want these products or to browse and not read articles about these products.

It all depends upon the type of product it is and how much information one needs to know before evaluating whether or not that product, or its competitors, are suitable and the right value for money.

My products when sold retail are very expensive, I would say that the average retail purchase price is probably about USD 10-20K however it could easily go up to USD 100K if one chose an alternative selection. When spending that kind of money one would be nuts not to try and learn about it and its alternatives.

Google seems to favour retail stores all using similar images and promotional text since that is what their data tells them through their classified ads programme, they can insert into their advertising SERPs similar organic sites hence why the real knowledge sites for those products are pushed down the rankings.

[Micha]

Well, if I take the Korean grocery store: Most of it is not available in retail stores and you can only describe products, nothing more. The store had 2 sales via Google from Friday to today, that's ridiculous.

Since I see this pattern with a lot of stores, I'll just say that Google is intentionally lowering the visibility of small stores to get them to buy ads, even if it doesn't do anything.

[Samsam1978]

You are not alone ichtyous 15 year old site everything is 25% down --- maybe 40% down from 2023. Been doing this for 17 years and I am too old and too tired to keep up with constant changes. I supply amazing human written content to my users and they love my website but I am outranked by spam, RPM has reduced and now throw in AI overviews.

I dedicated my life to this and I still have a large mortgage but my website has reached 1 billion people since it was launched all that time ago --- but can't give up as caring for disabled child and this is my livelihood.

I just wish they would be kinder to old publishers, listen to us, not mash up our content in AI overviews.

How are google going to make money from AI overviews?

[RedBar]

I'll just say that Google is intentionally lowering the visibility of small stores to get them to buy ads

That I would not disagree with whatsoever.

We actually do 60 mile round-trips to a speciality Chinese store that does not even attempt to sell online, they rely upon word-of-mouth recommendations with sales increasing nicely. They have a single splash page with the facility if they wanted to for a sales promotion, they've never used it!

[Shepherd]

Where's Bob Villa?

" getting oil stain out of concrete before sealing "

They are simply rubbing our faces in it at this point.


Sorry Mods, no explanation needed, I know

[edited by: not2easy at 11:10 am (utc) on May 21, 2024]
[edit reason] fixed typo [/edit]

[Treud]

I start to receive traffic more in line with my business, inquiries are better! Let's see if it's a 2 days thing or Google getting better ....

[Sissi]

My traffic is up 50 % against last week
I just recognised why some pages where working better than others and found out the reasons.

If you work with Google accept such fluctuations or leave it.
As a professional when your business is down you don t call for an intervention of the politic. This is usually the means of the weaks. I think Germany has proven in past that it was the wrong way….