Google SERP ripples are now continuous waves

[inertia]

I've got a good idea what sort of answers I'm going to get here but I've got to comment on it anyway....What the hell is going on with Google SERPs???!!!

I'm familiar with the Google dance and Google everflux theories but for the last 3/4 months i have watched sites positions go up, down, left, right, here and there.....you get the picture!

When i started in the SEO game positions used to wobble and settle. Each Google update was rather like the ripples when you throw a stone in a lake, they eventually settle down! The ripples are no longer ripples they are continuous waves! I am running ranking reports on my clients sites and one day I'm happy, the next I'm sad! Has something changed?

[Dubbya]

I usually check the cache date on a site before I run reports, but you're right, I've seen phrases spiking and dropping from week to week over the past month or so. It can be frustrating, to say the least.

It seems that my highest results for long established keywords and phrases stay the same, but the "fringe" keyphrases where I've not done enough link building and content creation are all over the map.

I find it best to run reports a few days after G's hit the site but before they start ramping up to visit again. Yup, midway between visits usually gives me the results I'm looking for.

Do that consistently and the results are fairly balanced.

.02

[cw1865]

Without question. I'm fluxing 4-5 positions on some solild generic keywords.

[pomra]

Someone else commented that randomization may be part of the new algorithm. But for sure changes seem to occur by the minute.

[milonic]

I have to agree, It's mayhem at the moment - our site went up to PR9 on the last update but traffic has hit the floor ever since. We've not had it this bad for years.

I'm trying to figure it out but I've just about given up - LOL

Back to creating a better site what with business being so quiet at the moment. For us it's a good thing but for businesses that depend on their daily bread and butter can imagine it's not a pleasant feeling.

[Concept Interest]

Exactly the same picture in small Denmark - constant fluxing 4-5 positions on year old positions. And actually changing minut by minut. Some times I even see changes 2-3 positions in the very same browser session - just by hitting "Enter" again. I've seen this before but never this much, this long and this heavy.

[dburdon]

Looking after more than 20 sites, I'd agree that there's a lot more movement in the top 10. Interestingly, the behaviour pattern seems to be replicating the results on Google local search. There the results for identical searches seem to rotate the leading positions.

[incrediblehelp]

Not sure how "random" these shifts are. Considering localization, personalization, previous query and other factors we have no idea about, it seems like it is pretty planned on Google's part.

[Milo]

I'm anywhere from #7 to #13 for my main term and have been like this for months. I've also noticed that the other websites in similar positions are doing the same, BUT NOT THE TOP 4, they have stayed strong and not moved more than a position.
Fair - no.
Jealous - yes.

[Searching]

I've noticed constant changes over the last couple of months.
I've also noted that Google Webmaster keyword rankings are different to the other tools I use. I use SEOSERP.com Search Engine Optimization tools Top 1000 Google Rankings SERPs Checker to check regional Google results .

[bunkbedking]

I thought it was just me - I have seen my 2 primary keywords going up and down by 4 to 5 positions and in and out of page 1 over the last couple of weeks - one day we are all very happy, the next day sad. We are now logging our daily google organic clicks against our page position to see what is the impact on sales conversions

[ami_iss]

Amen. Please notice the number of pages that Google claims it has indexed for a keyword or phrase. These also vary from time to time and go DOWN - not just up.
Checks from different places in USA give different results for a site that should not be localized. Sometimes one page is main and another is subsidiary (indented) and sometimes the opposite - for no apparent reason.
They seem to be experimenting with different algorithms in different places or different servers.
It may be driven by link popularity.
Google Top 1000 SERPs checker: results many countries Google Pagerank SERPs index results web SEO tools does not appear to reflect what people really see when they do a search - check it out.

[Big Juice]

The ride has only just begun and it will get worse. We webmasters have been invited to a Roshambo match and Google won the coin toss. Roshambo is the most extreme sport there is. - CollegeHumor video

[Milo]

Originally Posted by Big Juice

The ride has only just begun and it will get worse. We webmasters have been invited to a Roshambo match and Google won the coin toss. Roshambo is the most extreme sport there is. - CollegeHumor video

Don't think it has just begun. I've been seeing this fluctuation since 2 January. I'm also seeing some very poor results thrown in, websites that are extensions from hosting co's (messageinabottlenetau dot melbourneitwebsites dot com/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_by_category?) with very little to do with the search term and very little info on them for example. Worth mentioning that this is affecting the top 4 very little. This is my experience anyway.

[Jackyboy]

Well, I actually watched the PR change on one of my sites yesterday. From 2 to 4 within 30 secs on refresh. So, let's see -- if I were Google and into making tons more cash quick, I'd develop a rotator for SERPS that is still reliable for the user delivering good results in highly competitive categories and thereby force more cash to the cows over at Adwords for those advertiser folks who must get back on page one. Makes sense to me.

[Milo]

Originally Posted by Jackyboy

Well, I actually watched the PR change on one of my sites yesterday. From 2 to 4 within 30 secs on refresh. So, let's see -- if I were Google and into making tons more cash quick, I'd develop a rotator for SERPS that is still reliable for the user delivering good results in highly competitive categories and thereby force more cash to the cows over at Adwords for those advertiser folks who must get back on page one. Makes sense to me.

Sure, makes sense from a business point of view, but this is not how Google maintains their system works (algo's). If this is a quick way to make cash, then where does that leave SEO if this keeps on going on.

PS, my PR went up as well, but that makes no difference to me if my SERP's don't go up. Is it a case of give a little, take a lot. This is certainly my case if you saw my adwords spend. But without Adwords I would not be in business today.

[inertia]

im seein huge changes in competing pages as well. From millions to 100 thousands. When the competing pages is lower im doing better and vice versa. It seams to have something to do with the indents as well i think.

[Big Juice]

Originally Posted by Milo

Don't think it has just begun. I've been seeing this fluctuation since 2 January.

Begun is relevant to when individuals noticed it

[Milo]

Originally Posted by Big Juice

Begun is relevant to when individuals noticed it

So, you're saying it began before this then? I monitor my website daily, every day, and my position dropped on 2 January, not 1 January or prior to that. My point though is that its been going on for a long time.