Google has commented about the algorithm tracking tools before, suggesting they may pick up on the wrong signals. We had a response from Dr. Pete Meyers named Can SEO Tools Track The Google Weather? shortly after. This was all in January 2016 and no word from Google on the topic since.
Well, that was until last week when Gary Illyes from Google said something on Twitter about it. He said "what if we're just messing with the tracker tools?" Of course that thought has crossed my mind.
What if we're just messing with the tracker tools?
— Gary Illyes ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ (@methode) June 14, 2017
But when I report on these Google algorithm updates I base most of my story around what SEOs and webmasters are saying about their specific rankings and sites. I often will bring in the tracking tools as secondary information.
Do I think Google is intentionally messing with these tracking tools to drive them off course and mess with us, the SEO community? Absolutely not. I think they are too busy to do that and they honestly do not care what these tools are saying. I doubt they care what we are saying at all when it comes to these algorithm update theories. While I think the discussion and reporting on it is useful and important, some Googlers do not. But would they go above and beyond to mess with these tools just to prove a point? I doubt that.
Forum discussion at Twitter.
Update:
Or, you know, I was kidding? Maybe?
— Gary Illyes ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ (@methode) June 19, 2017
