Google search results pages have been experiencing unusually prolonged volatility since the completion of the August 2024 Core Update on September 3, 2024. This volatility, possibly due to an unconfirmed Google search ranking algorithm update, has persisted for a month, continuing into October 3, 2024.
What Are People Saying?
SEO ranking tools did not calm down after the August 2024 Core Update was completed on September 3, 2024, and continued to record volatilities as if the core update was still ongoing. This has led some bloggers to suggest that this is a continuation of the August 2024 Core Update.
Barry Schwartz posted about the volatility on X (formerly Twitter) on September 6, 2024, three days after the August 2024 Core Update was completed. He asked if it was a new update or a continuation of the completed update.
Google Search ranking volatility and chatter still super heated, even days after the August core update completed – is it the tail end or something new? https://t.co/Oij2FVQNPO pic.twitter.com/kIUf7RpFa4
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) September 6, 2024
On September 11, 2024, Barry Schwartz posted again, mentioning that the volatility was ongoing even though the August 2024 Core Algorithm update ended a week earlier.
Google search ranking volatility has not cooled down 🔥 🥶 – even over a week after the Google August 2024 core update completed – what is going on??? https://t.co/PGcgsjzJvB pic.twitter.com/izdskyUUP6
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) September 11, 2024
On September 15, 2024, Glenn Gabe posted about the update on X (formerly Twitter), mentioning how it had caused sites to lose traffic they previously regained during the August 2024 Core Update.
These sites initially lost that traffic to the September 2023 Helpful Content Update, which ran from September 14 to 28, 2023. They gained some of it during the August 2024 Core Update before losing it again to this unconfirmed update.
Heads-up: There's been a lot of chatter about crazy swings in rankings AFTER the August core update. I am now picking up some wild reversals, surges, and drops post-August core update. And a lot of that seems tied to the tremors I reported on 8/24 into 8/25. E.g. Some sites that… pic.twitter.com/kvfI8LynRY
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) September 15, 2024
Brandon Saltalamacchia reported how his sites had gained, lost, recovered, and lost traffic as Google released multiple confirmed and unconfirmed updates over the past year.
"Helpful", to not helpful, to helpful, to not helpful… all in the space of a year.
This is so confusing, and Google really need to sort this out because there isn't a lot independent sites left anymore, and I know many of us won't be able to sustain another major hit. pic.twitter.com/UasxrbKrFI
— Brandon Saltalamacchia (@iambrandonsalt) September 19, 2024
Kellins also posted about losing all the traffic she gained during the August 2024 Core Update to this unconfirmed update.
Has anyone noticed a lot of volatility in rankings, like at the beginning of the Core Update? Our site has been storming since Sunday – we lost all the achievements we got after August Core update.
— kellins (@kellinfromod) September 19, 2024
Abby Gleason also attested to this, saying she had lost all the traffic she gained during the August 2024 Core Update.
This core update sucked lol I’m not seeing any SERP improvements as a user and the positive impact my sites saw initially has been slowly reverting. It’s basically like the update never happened.
— Abby Gleason (@abbysuegleason) September 20, 2024
Regarding the September 2023 Helpful Content Update, Glenn Gabe shared the analysis of 390+ sites affected by that update. These sites recovered some traffic during the August 2024 Core Update but had begun losing it to this unconfirmed update.
More about the recent volatility: I just ran the visibility numbers for my barometer of 390+ sites heavily impacted by the September HCU(X). Some that were surging have dropped down a bit. Nothing like a reversal, but they definitely dropped a bit since surging with the August… pic.twitter.com/1BocRRZ8ig
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) September 15, 2024
Glenn Gabe did, however, observe a few sites that were either gaining traffic or were neither gaining nor losing traffic.
And here are some HCU(X) sites that are still going up or have leveled off. So, some are dropping with the latest volatility while others are still ok (although most are still down big-time from their Sep 2023 levels). Again, stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/yMbLHRcLL9
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) September 15, 2024
A few days later, on September 20, 2024, Glenn Gabe shared more reports showing that sites continued losing traffic to this unconfirmed update.
More about the post-August core update volatility: And here are some HCU(X) sites that finally started surging back with the August core update, only to reverse course a bit starting on 9/6 and beyond. I feel terrible for these site owners… I have no idea if this drop will… pic.twitter.com/VvShXC6kFv
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) September 20, 2024
Meanwhile, on September 19, 2024, Barry shared more reports indicating that the sites were still experiencing volatility on search results pages. He noted that there had been extreme volatility the previous day, September 18, 2024.
🚨 Google Search ranking volatility and big swings again around 9/18, although the ranking volatility really hasn't cooled in over a month – more details at https://t.co/fHtfYwp6yI pic.twitter.com/B8ULozud08
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) September 19, 2024
Periods of extreme volatility were repeatedly observed with this unconfirmed update. Multiple rank tracking tools reported days of high volatility followed by a sudden spike, indicating extreme volatility. It then slightly dropped for a few days before spiking again, indicating another extreme volatility.
On September 22, 2024, Barry replied to his September 19 post and stated that the volatility was ongoing.
This is still going on through the weekend – what is up with these crazy heated Google search results? 🔥🚒🧯❤️🔥🧑🚒👩🚒👨🚒 https://t.co/670znLWadd
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) September 22, 2024
On September 26, 2024, Barry reported more extreme volatility.
Google Search ranking volatility heats up again even with the new norm being super volatile – some tools ever reset their thresholds but the chatter if off the charts https://t.co/kymli0kiH2 pic.twitter.com/tEevUmGidM
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) September 26, 2024
The volatility continued into September 30, 2024. This repeated cycle of high and extreme volatility has made some SEOs suggest that the ongoing volatility is a series of multiple unconfirmed updates, each starting once the previous one ends.
ICYMI: Google Search ranking volatility https://t.co/47hyZdnkXF pic.twitter.com/x40gIy2GNm
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) September 30, 2024
Notably, this unconfirmed update has lasted longer than previous unconfirmed updates. It is only rivaled by an earlier Unconfirmed Google Search Algorithm Update that lasted from July 13 to September 19, 2023 and caused extreme volatilities never experienced on search results pages.
On October 3, 2024, Barry Schwartz reported that Google results pages were experiencing record-breaking volatility.
Google Search ranking volatility spikes again, hits record period for longest volatility streak and so much chatter – what is going on https://t.co/jCfr0tApGL pic.twitter.com/zpvz71r29l
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) October 3, 2024
What’s Next – Dealing With This Update
This prolonged volatility has caused severe instability on search results pages. No site reports consistent traffic gain, and almost everyone complains about losing massive amounts of traffic. Bloggers either experienced outright drops in their traffic or a rapid increase followed by a huge drop.
In the meantime, you should begin monitoring your site using Rank Math Analytics. If you notice a drop in your traffic, then you should refer to the video below on recovering from a Google algorithm update.
