Possible Google Search Algorithm Update With Rumbles All Week

May 6, 2022

We see a different pattern with a possible Google search ranking algorithm update from the past week. The SEO discussions and forums around a possible Google update are brewing a good part of last week, but most automated tracking tools did not pick up the signs of a Google update.

Hence, we watched and waited for the signals and track to align. Unfortunately, they did not seem to align. The chatter within the SEO community about the possible Google update started around Thursday last week. They were sporadic, but SEOs talked about ranking changes but the tools, as we said, were not highly volatile.

Then on May 1st, the tools and the chatter seemed to increase significantly. It was quite weird when we saw the lead-up like this. We know Google’s tendency to roll out confirmed (and likely unconfirmed) updates several days to weeks, but it just felt a bit weird.

Table of Contents

SEO Chatter

Let us start by sharing a few comments in terms of chatter from WebmasterWorld from last week:

“Global site with 6 consecutive days averaging 126.3%, lowest day 110%”

“Saturdays and Sundays I usually expect about 66% of my weekday average, yesterday I was 38%, the last date I had a similar number was 25th December 2021 at 37%. Yes, my quietest day of the year.”

“Non commerce research site had a rank increase. 3x impression rate with added traffic. Increase of keyword base. Near 200 keyword sets at position 10 and above now.”

“Traffic sources have been normal with the USA down a couple of points.”

“All across my websites I’m experiencing very, very low traffic. Keyword ranking are all the same, which made me even more confused.”

Google Search Tracking Tools

The Google search tracking tools have been calm for most of the week but they seem to be showing changes towards the past day or so. Here are some screenshots from these tools, I do suspect some will update this morning and show bigger changes.

Semrush: