Title: September 2024 Google Search Update: A Month of Significant Volatility and Changes
This past month has been one of the most turbulent for Google Search rankings. Google completed its August 2024 core update, and numerous unconfirmed ranking updates and volatility followed. It seems to be one of the longest periods of volatility in recent history, rivaling the lengthy period between July 13, 2023, and September 19, 2023.
In addition to this, Google revised its web spam policies, which coincided with a drop in Forbes Advisor’s rankings. Google introduced fake review notices on business listings and updated its review restrictions policies. There was also a noticeable increase in review removals.
The Google cache operator has been discontinued, though Google added Wayback Machine links within search result snippets.
Interviews were conducted with Google’s Search Liaison and there was an internal interview with Irina Tuduce on Google Shopping and Merchant Center.
Google’s own 26th birthday passed quietly without much fanfare.
Here are more top headlines from September:
Google Search Algorithm Updates/Volatility:
- Google August 2024 Core Update Completed
- Weekend Google Search Ranking Volatility & Shuffles
- Continued Ranking Movement & Volatility as of 9/25
- Core Update-Induced Increases Reversed Post-Update
- Ongoing Volatility as of 9/18
- Persistent Volatility a Week Following Update
- Heated Volatility After August Core Update Completion
Google AI Overviews:
- Examination of Google AI Overviews for Branded & Navigational Queries
- Google Tests "More" Link for AI Overviews
- Study: Majority of AI Overview Links Lead to Informational Pages
- Half of AI Overview Links Overlap with Top Search Results
- AI Overviews Displaying Shopping Results for Commercial Queries
- Shift to Less Traditional Search with Rise of Gen AI Products
- Google to Label Images as AI Generated, Edited, or Camera Taken
Google Search Console:
- New Sticky Filters for Performance Report
- Incomplete Rollout of Search Console Recommendations
- Fixes to Product Snippets Report
Google SEO:
- Updates to Web Search Spam Policies
- Interviews on the August 2024 Core Update and Future Trends
- Insights into Google’s Shopping & Merchant Center
- Forbes Advisor’s Ranking Drop Linked to Site Reputation Concerns?
- Clarifications on Use of Exif Data for Rankings
- Explanation of Indexing API Quota & Pricing
- Importance of Page Context for Image SEO
- Advice Against Using Generic Holding Pages
- Guidelines on Noindex and Canonical Usage
- Ongoing Noindex Bug Fix for JavaScript Pages
- Merchant Listings Now Include priceType Property
- Rigorous Spam Detection for Indexing API Submissions
- Updated Documentation on Google Crawlers & Fetchers
- Support for Ineligible Regions Property in Video Content
- Ex-Googler Comments on Navboost
Google User Interface:
- Full Retirement of Google Cache
- Replacement of Cache Link with Wayback Machine
- Sticky Headers for Ads & Results Testing
- Updates to Shopping Interface with Expandable Options
- E-Commerce and Product Detail Enhancements
- Testing of Preferred Source and "For You" Labels
- Features Highlighting News, Small Businesses, and Forum Discussions
- Expanded Discussions and Forum Results Testing
Google Business Profiles & Local:
- Notice of Fake Reviews on Business Profiles
- New Restrictions for Business Profile Review Violations
- Increase in Review Removals Noted on September 17th
- Updates Triggering Potential Re-Verification of Profiles
- Introduction of "About This Place" Section in Local Panels
- Notable Changes to Business Profiles include Dropping Q&A in Certain Regions
Google Miscellaneous:
- Lack of Doodle for Google’s 26th Birthday
- Updates from US DOJ Trial Exhibits
The Google September 2024 webmaster report was published last month. For further discussion, refer to forums such as WebmasterWorld.
