Can anyone explain these results?

[miss_beth]

Using http://www.mcdar.net/q-check/datatool.asp I got what seem to me to be odd results for our most desirable keyword. Normally the datacenters run 2/5 positions apart but for the past couple of times I've checked, two of IP are showing us in position 618 while the rest have us at between 13 and 16. I totally get somewhat different results between datacenters but doesn't that huge gap seem strange?

64.233.161.104 - (4) DCs 16
64.233.167.104 - (2) DCs 13
64.233.171.104 - (4) DCs 16
66.102.7.104 - (4) DCs 618
66.102.9.104 - (2) DCs 16
66.102.11.104 - (2) DCs 16
216.239.37.104 - (4) DCs 14
216.239.39.104 - (2) DCs 16
216.239.53.104 - (2) DCs 618
216.239.57.104 - (4) DCs 13
216.239.59.104 - (3) DCs 16
64.233.179.104 - (2) DCs 14
64.233.183.104 - (3) DCs 14
64.233.185.104 - (2) DCs 14
64.233.187.104 - (4) DCs 14
64.233.189.104 - (1) DCs 13

[s_clay]

Hi Miss_Beth;

Google is reportly undergoing a major algo update. Been happening since Friday, the 20th. It's being called "Bourbon". http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum30/29524.htm

Recommend everyone hang tight, it could take a while for it all to work out.

Good Luck!

Steve

[miss_beth]

I check this particular keyword every week or so as it's our "bread and butter". Usually, we hang around in the high teens to mid twenties.

I was pleasantly suprised to see us in the low to mid teens beginning last week - until I saw the 600 something on two of the IP records. I just hope that's not a sign of things to come.

[DMC_34]

One question -
1. Where do these names like "bourbon update" come from?

2. Why is the shuffling being considered a algo change rather than a simple shuffle from a backlink update?


Ok that was two questions :)

[miss_beth]

I would hope a simple backlink update wouldn't cause a drop from 16 to 600+, especially when we've been holding under position 30 for a year now. I guess stranger things have happened, just seems unlikely in my case.

I checked this morning and those 600+ numbers are now down to 13 and 14. That's a great way to start my day!

[cbp]

1. Where do these names like "bourbon update" come from?

WMW have a tradition of naming Google updates in the same way that hurricanes get named. 'B' for boubon is the second one this year.

2. Why is the shuffling being considered a algo change rather than a simple shuffle from a backlink update?

The backlinks update has nothing to do with it. What Google show publicaly in the backlink sample is not related to this change just seen - backlinks are actored in well before any sort of change in the pulic displayed asample (like PR updates). I thnk WMW are wrong to consider it an update - its just is minor shuffle - not big enough to be an "update" ... looks like a lot of junk sites were cleaned out....could also be a internal PR update...

CBP

CBP

[DMC_34]

Originally Posted by cbp

The backlinks update has nothing to do with it. What Google show publicaly in the backlink sample is not related to this change just seen - backlinks are actored in well before any sort of change in the pulic displayed asample (like PR updates).

Correct me if I am wrong but it seems the SERP's shuffle when Google updates link popularity from IBL's and then an update in the composition of backlinks is noticed a few days later. I was always under the assumption that IBL's are not counted "on the fly" in the algo but only once a month or so after an update. Is this not correct?

Our listings improved this (update or shuffle) but the only changes we have made were getting more IBL's and diversifying the links to pages deeper in our site. Seems to have paid off. :)