It has been almost a month since we reported Google ranking changes, which is rare and it looks like many folks are seeing changes in the core web search results as of early this morning. This is unrelated to the major local ranking changes I reported this morning, which kicked off yesterday. The core web search changes seem to be just happening as of this morning.
There is definitely some early chatter from the SEO community around a possible update. We have threads at WebmasterWorld, Google Webmaster Help forums and complaints on Twitter. Let me quote some of these statements:
I'm seeing some decent changes on UK google this morning. Are they real or has google lifted the filters to apply some new patch? Interesting to see if we all get a spike in converting traffic as on 1st / 2nd August. Is anyone else seeing anything or is this an isolated occurrence?
A noticeable move in our vertical over night in the UK. (Classifieds).Almost all large players including ourselves took a hit in page 1 visibility. We've noticed over time more and more national players are being displaced with strong local sites (eg local newspaper classifieds etc).
There's a blog of mine which is approximately 4 months old, and from the last 45 days my blog ranks on 3rd rank for a keyword. Today morning when I checked the SERP, I didn't found my blog. After searching for it; I found it to be on #80.
Yesterday the page dropped in search from #6 to #15 which was a massive drop but something that I figured would right itself in a day or so.This morning however we are sitting on page 10 for Desktop!
@methode @johnmu @rustybrick Big changes today in the search "javascript charts" My site dropped a few places. I hope this isn't penguin!
— RGraph: HTML5 charts (@_RGraph) September 2, 2016
@rustybrick seeing some large fluctuations for rankings in the UK today. Have you seen any other reports? Possible algorithm update/change?
— Sam Underwood (@SamUnderwoodUK) September 2, 2016
But not all are seeing the changes, I asked Glenn Gabe and he said nope:
@rustybrick I'm digging further into my data & will keep you posted. *So far* I'm not seeing widespread & significant movement @Marie_Haynes
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) September 2, 2016
Most of the tracking tools have not updated for September 2nd data yet but some have and here SERP Metrics, Alogoroo, and Accuranker show fluctuations:
Update: Mozcast updated at 10am ET and it is showing significant weather also:
I have no confirmation from Google on there being an update or not. I am just seeing some early signs of a potential update based on some of the tools lighting up and based on the community chattering about it this morning. Again, this is unrelated to the local pack algorithm update we reported this morning as well.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld, Google Webmaster Help forums and Twitter.
Update: Google told us this was not Penguin related.
