Are Google Results Always Changing?

[pomra]

I know the actually results returned change all the time but specifically do the actual number of pages indexed always fluctuate for a given site? We're at a loss to figure out which direction to head on our site, we keep adding new content and items with a keen eye to our returns. It's a little early to discern much of a pattern but as we have gotten more adept at tracking our total "indexed" versus supplemental it seems it changes rhytmically. Is this normal?

In essence we'll have 3-5 days of steadily increasing results, a plateau, than a steady drop of 10-15% before it seemingly repeats. We are using a simple measure by checking the results in AOL search from time to time versus the total results reported in Webmaster Tools.

I think one of the complication is that we're running one of several thousand logo apparel sites where I'm sure titles end up repeated etc. I think mainly we're just wondering if it is totally normal to see daily fluctuations of us much as 10% that seems to be tied to the indexing interval?

Thanks!

[wige]

Which number are you looking at that is fluctuating? If you are looking at the total matches in the upper right corner of the SERP, that number is inaccurate, representing only a rough estimate of the number of pages matching your search.

[pomra]

This is the number when using the traditional site:Google and site:www.google.com/* which is identical to searching on aol.com. I'm finding the /* number is what the 3rd party branded searches will return as part of the google network.

We know there is some correlation to those numbers as traffic will vary up or down with the changes particularly to /*

We're just trying to get a feel for what causes the fluctuations. It almost seems that the longer the pages are around since the last full indexing the more that drop until it's reindexed. Following some other sites it appears their's go up and down around the same time.

[incrediblehelp]

The site: operator is not accurate at all. Just an estimate or sampling if you will.

[pomra]

I did read that somewhere in the google notes. They indicate the number within webmaster tools is most accurate but that varies widely as well. Over the next week or two we'll try to correlate some of the data on spaces.

The AOL checking method does seem fairly accurate as items not appearing in that site: list do not appear within the results.

[williemanillie]

Your scenario is natural. Positioning changes all the time. If you have a sector that is saturated with competitors you can expect variances in the position.

[datetopia]

Fluctuation is caused by the continuous ranking and indexing algorithms. When new pages are indexed or new content is added to existing pages, the outbound links from these affect the position of other pages (make them more popular and increase ranking). Those pages also link to other pages and having a greater rank will also increase the rank of their outbound links. When some pages go higher, others are left behind on the last pages of results. Also some other pages might get removed or lowered in rank due to duplicate content, resulting in fewer external links for certain indexed pages. Sometimes certain pages/content sections are removed, or linked deeper (like old articles or blog posts going to archive) resulting in lower rank for their outbound links.

[pomra]

Excellent information. To clarify, you are all saying it's normal to see daily fluctuations in the number of pages indexed (including supplemental) and also in the fully indexed pages?

Great explanations, thanks in advance.

[bunty]

If you are looking at the total matches in the upper right corner of the SERP, that number is inaccurate, representing only a rough estimate of the number of pages matching your search.you have a sector that is saturated with competitors you can expect variances in the position.