Drop in Google.com referals from overseas

[frances]

Anyone experienced a sharp drop in Google.com referals from overseas over the last ten days?

I have, despite apparently unchanged (quite good) results in the serps. Wondered if anyone else had seen something similar. And if anyone had any ideas as to what could be behind it.

[engine]

frances, others have been talking about a drop in referrals. [webmasterworld.com]

Are referrals up with google.co.uk or other search service?

[frances]

The effect appears to limited to non-UK Google referrals - google.ca, de etc dropped to nothing. Dont have a breakdown of google.com by country.

The drop was quite sudden. Referals were dull second week of May, then wham, pretty well gone. Applies to all countries. US probably not as bad as the rest, but still bad.

Nobody else seen anything like this?

[IanTurner]

I have seen signs that verify your findings. It looks to me like a fairly significant change in the way Google handles queries.

It looks like local queries have been given more clout in the overall scheme