(12)
On December 14th we reported pretty significant signs that there was a Google update brewing and all the other metrics and third-party services we checked afterwards indeed confirmed our findings.
But when Google responded to our request for confirmation, they said - sorry there was no update. It felt as if the community and all the metrics were in lala land, i.e. dreaming it up.
Of course, there was an update a week later that Google confirmed as a Panda update.
The ongoing WebmasterWorld thread learned of the news that there was no confirmed update, a webmaster said at 9:27 am on Dec 18, 2012 (utc -5):
That just shows you how clueless Google is!
The question is, is it Google that is confused and clueless or is it us?
When so many people see significant changes in the Google search results and Google is not aware of anything that may have caused it - it makes you think that Google is either clueless or they are hiding something from us.
I suspect 50% feel Google is hiding something and 50% feel someone is confused.
I for one think Google was hiding something after the fact, like something happened and the right people didn't communicate about it properly and then it was too late.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Comments:
ethalon
12/27/2012 01:45 pm
Third option: As a large corporate entity Google reserves the right, and is expected to excersise the right, to obfuscation. I think that is what we saw, simple, every day, obfuscation. It's the gentleman's lie.
Ant
12/27/2012 02:49 pm
Looking at the changes I suspect this to be an algo update to a few of the 200 or so factors that Google doesn't want people to be aware of. I've noticed another boost to authority / big websites which seems to happen at the start of every major holiday season - maybe Google forgot to push that button earlier and doesn't want to admit it?
Michael Martinez
12/27/2012 02:50 pm
Given that people are constantly publishing and deleting content, that Google has automatic "downgrades" (and reversals of downgrades), it should not come as a surprise that there will be occasional shifts in the search results for which no "updates" are responsible. It's sort of like an earthquake, where a lot of pressure has built up over time and the ground just needs to shift.
DaveKeys
12/27/2012 03:31 pm
Define "update" and you have your answer. To sum up in the words of Lewis Carroll: "When I use the word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more or less.""The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things." "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master - that's all."
Igor
12/28/2012 06:42 am
Google cannot say we updated to make more money so they hide the $$ updates. Now only advertisers are in top 10 for $$ keywords, pay google and be relevant.
Igor
12/28/2012 06:45 am
It's a plain old lie, not a gentleman's lie. They updated to send the good, converting searchers to advertisers
Robb
12/28/2012 08:41 am
If you look at various keyword tracking graphs you can clearly see massive, deliberate, erratic movement, which has obviously been added into the search results to spread Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. This "Operation Flux" by Google, to introduce wild SERP swings, without rhyme or reason, is simply a way to line their coffers with PPC revenue. Instill enough uncertainty into likely revenues to be achieved by organic search and businesses will have no choice but to divert some percentage of their marketing spend over to Adwords. The fact that a monopoly like Google can get away with this, despite being so obvious, just goes to show how laws lack bite and the general public lack knowledge.
Narender singh
12/28/2012 12:15 pm
Every time Google is hiding the facts with the Webmasters and it's proved in most of the updates.. I think they are well known the things and just misguided us.
James
12/28/2012 01:07 pm
I don't understand why so many people think they have the right to know why / how / when Google did an update. Their algorithm is a trade secret, always has been. Google creates more problems for itself in communicating updates, they should just keep quiet and do their thing. Communication has never been their strong point.
Pecheche
12/28/2012 01:09 pm
The algorithm is alive, has its owns feelings and takes its owns decisions doesn't matter what Cutts thinks, it sounds so sci-fy but is a reality coming up
Peter Elmhirst
12/28/2012 01:37 pm
Pandas and penguins run the show now. They're not very good at communication... :)
HarrisonK
12/28/2012 02:18 pm
I think something much bigger is going on... I the last few times i have noticed that just before google comes out with something big 2 or more results of the domain start showing up one after the other... i dont know... just something i observed.