October 2005 Google Update - Jagger
I feel it’s important to discuss this current Google Update. It is turning into a major shift in the Google listings… at least at this point.
You might check your log files for the last couple days and see if your Google traffic has changed substantially. As an example, SageRock.com is currently getting almost no traffic from Google. On Friday, October 14 it was our number 1 referrer and now it is not on the list. I will say that we are still getting traffic from the Google Blog search but that’s about it right now.
There is no official word as of yet, as to why this is happening. The only semi-official word is coming from Matt Cutts who feels that this update will happen over several weeks.
Many, many sites are experiencing this drop in Google. If it is happening to you I currently recommend that you do nothing. I repeat, do nothing at this point. The feeling is that there will be a correction at Google. We’ll just have to wait and see.
In many ways, this is a good thing. If you currently rely on Google for most of your business, now is the time to start thinking of other ways to diversify your traffic. Look to getting more traffic on Yahoo and MSN. Look to get links on respected vertical portals in your market. Become a respected vertical portal in your market. Relying on the free traffic of Google for all of your business is highly risky.
I’ll keep an eye on this update and let you know if we find out anything new.
If you are interested in all of the details, there’s a good analysis and speculation by Michael Martinez here:
Notes On October 2005 Google Update -> High Rankings? Search Engine Optimization Forum
Matt Cutts, a Google engineer has a couple posts here:
Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO ? More weather reporting
Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO ? Update Jagger: Contacting Google
To make matters worse (in a the-world-must-be-ending kind of way) Webmasterworld is done and has been down for some time. That’s unfortunate being that they get the naming rights to each of these updates. Fortunately, you can get to WMW here:
Google Update Jagger Continues