A Google Search Ranking Update Brewing Around January 23rd & 24th?

Jan 24, 2024 - 7:51 am 358 by
Filed Under Google Updates

Google Color Explosion Update

I see signs of another unconfirmed Google Search ranking algorithm update. Right now, there is only one tool showing volatility, and that would be Semrush. The other tools are all relatively calm right now, but that can change later today and tomorrow. But I am also seeing a significant amount of chatter in the past 24- hours.

Is it related to the bug fix of teetering sites in and out of the rankings over the weekends? I kind of doubt it.

Here is what Semrush is showing:

Semrush

But the chatter is kind of off the rails right now. We have some chatter within WebmasterWorld and also the comments here within the past 24 hours.

Here is some of those comments:

Big drop today... Here we go again...

Yes, today is looking rough..

Sunday was almost at prior week level.

Something big is happening. This morning the drop is at -85%.

Today traffic is terrible.... Google kidding... Traffic is like after HCU first day update...

Same here. One of the worst days today.

Anyone else noticing almost no traffic today?

I first though GA4 was down, a complete dead day. I checked rankings, there are not any shifts, yet the traffic is dead.

Totally Dead Again today for traffic/conversions.

Today very low traffic 📉📉🙂🙂

Today seems to be HCU v2.0, the exact same pattern as in September: a major crash in traffic for almost all "everyday" webmasters, yet the ranking volatility trackers all showing much calmer weather and volatility below "normal". Personally, my traffic today has dropped a further 40% week over week, the biggest drop since the September 17 HCU, so since September it's down nearly 80%. Very frustrating and disheartening to say the least, because my income has dropped inline with that...

I'm having a "decent" (for lately) traffic day today. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Traffic appalling so far today (10am in the UK). Conversions worse.

Today traffic 📉📉📉📉📉😡

There are a lot more comments.

Some think it has to do with Google Analytics tracking being slow or buggy. But many also checked their rankings and noticed big changes there. Is this a GA bug or are rankings really brewing a big change right now?

What are you all noticing?

Update: Mozcast now also showing it:

Mozcast

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Follow

Search Video Recaps

 
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Core Update Updates, Site Reputation Abuse Coming, Links, Ads & More

Apr 26, 2024 - 8:01 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google Publisher Center No Longer Allows Adding Publications

Apr 26, 2024 - 7:51 am
Google

Google Tests Placing The Snippet Date Next To URL

Apr 26, 2024 - 7:41 am
Google

Google Breaks Out Googlebot IP Ranges For User-Triggered Fetchers

Apr 26, 2024 - 7:31 am
Google News

Google Ad Revenue Up 13% & Bing Ads Revenue Up 12%

Apr 26, 2024 - 7:21 am
Google Ads

Google Ads Diagnostic Tool Low Keyword Quality Warning

Apr 26, 2024 - 7:11 am
Previous Story: Google Ads AI Conversational Experience Now Available To Globally In English