There has been notable volatility in Google’s search ranking algorithm as of July 18, 2024. This spike in activity suggests that Google may be testing or rolling out changes ahead of a major core update expected in the coming weeks. The SEO community has reported significant fluctuations in rankings, with many sites experiencing considerable drops in traffic. Some SEO tools have also indicated heightened volatility, further supporting the possibility of an algorithm update in progress (Search Engine Roundtable).
The discussions on platforms like WebmasterWorld highlight substantial drops in homepage traffic, erratic traffic patterns, and the emergence of AI-generated overviews in search results for some queries (Search Engine Roundtable). This pattern of volatility is consistent with previous updates, where Google adjusts its algorithms to improve search quality and relevance (Search Engine Roundtable).
For those managing websites, it’s a critical time to monitor rankings closely and be prepared for potential adjustments once the core update is fully rolled out.