-- Google’s latest update is throwing keyword tracking tools off course, leaving SEO professionals and web designers scrambling with completely false keyword ranking data being reported on websites all across the world.
The recent change has caused inaccurate reports across third-party SEO tools and even Google’s own Search Console. By removing the option to view 100 search results per page, Google has made life harder for anyone relying on software to track their targeted keyword ranking positions.
“Anyone using software to track keyword ranking positions in the Google Search Results will likely be seeing incorrect rank tracking reports that do not reflect actual performance,” said Michael Sherry (Australian SEO Consultant).
The Impact of the Google Update
Previously, SEO tools could collect the top 100 results from a single query, keeping keyword rank tracking efficient and cost effective. With this option gone, ranking tracking tools will now require ten times as many requests to capture the same data.
Many platforms have temporarily struggled (and many still do struggle) to deliver complete ranking reports leading to missing or dropped keyword ranking positions as well as unusual ranking shifts being reported.
- Ahrefs, a leading SEO platform, confirmed the same impact in an email message to customers. They stated that rankings beyond the top 10 results are already showing inconsistencies and warned that access to deeper results may remain restricted. “Rankings beyond the first page of search results have historically been important for spotting early progress, catching cannibalisation, and identifying new opportunities,” the company said.
- ProRankTracker described the change as the most disruptive update to SEO tools in the past decade. Their team worked around the clock to adapt, and within several days, confirmed that rankings up to the top 100 results were once again being retrieved successfully.
Even Google’s own reporting tools have shown irregularities. Many users report fewer impressions on desktop being reported in Google Search Console which skews the average position data.
With fewer low-ranking impressions counted, the average position looks better in the report even though actual visibility in the search results has not improved.
Rethinking Keyword Rankings As SEO Success Metrics
For Digital Marketers and SEO professionals, the disruption highlights the need to rethink success metrics. Rankings have always been only part of the picture, but now they are less dependable than ever when it comes to tracking the results.
“This is an opportunity to move the conversation beyond keyword positions and toward goals that better reflect key business success metrics such as leads, sales, sign-ups or other key conversion metrics,” Michael added.
Contact Info:
Name: Michael Sherry
Email: Send Email
Organization: Michael Sherry
Website: https://www.michaelsherry.com.au/
Release ID: 89170404
Google
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