Google changes and traffic drops, I think I know what happened!

aygabtu · 01-17-2012, 01:10 PM

A few days ago google changed the definition of 'personal' search results. In the past personal results meant if you used a site it would be included on the first page of similar search results. But with the change, I believe you know need to specifically use the +1 button for the site to appear in your search results!

Needless to say, this will make it even harder to get repeat visitors to your site because how many of us really use the +1 for sites we visit? In the past, we could count on being on the first page for users that came to our site before. Users didn't have to do anything to come across the same site.

As a test, I googled and visited one of my sites suffering from this. Even after several visits, it still didn't show on the first page of google's results. I then clicked on the +1 and performed the same search. Pow!! It showed on the first page of results!

Who else thinks this is wrong?!?!

aaditachaudhary · 01-17-2012, 02:55 PM

you are right! google plus plays a vital role in making your site rank so google checks popularity through likes @ google+ (promoting google+ though through this activity)

aygabtu · 01-17-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaditachaudhary

you are right! google plus plays a vital role in making your site rank so google checks popularity through likes @ google+ (promoting google+ though through this activity)

But this didn't seem to be a factor 2-3 days ago. Now it seems to be a huge factor. How can google get away with using +1 to alter SERP results? This seems to be anti-competitive.

MikeFriedman · 01-17-2012, 05:05 PM

It only effects personal results. I don't see it as a big factor.

aygabtu · 01-17-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

It only effects personal results. I don't see it as a big factor.

Think about this....you pay adwords to have 2-3 thousand people visit your site daily. In the past, those same people when doing similar searches have your site show in the first page of their search results. This gives you the potential of those same visitors re-visiting your site for free. And it is all passive for them.

Now the way it works, unless you have a google +1 button and the visitor manually clicks it during their visit, they won't see your site on the search results unless it is in the top 10 organically, which for new sites and competitive keywords can be difficult. This causes far fewer repeat visitors. It also forces site owners to embrace google+ to drive traffic to their site, which seems unfair and anti-competitive to all other social media outlets.

FYI, my impressions dropped by 90% in the latest webmaster tools update for one of my sites. Don't know about you, but 90% is a huge drop for me.

designerjack · 01-17-2012, 10:17 PM

When you're logged in and +1'd with that account, you will definitely show higher
up on search results with that account. However, the best way to see your true
rankings is to log out of your Google Plus Account and check it again.

I've seen Google Plus play a huge role in the amount of people who have you
in their circle and the more +1 you do on sites that is related to their search keyword,
the more odds you have of showing that page on their Google Search result.

01-17-2012, 01:10 PM	#1
aygabtu Advanced Warrior Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 608 Thanks: 20 Thanked 29 Times in 24 Posts	Google changes and traffic drops, I think I know what happened! A few days ago google changed the definition of 'personal' search results. In the past personal results meant if you used a site it would be included on the first page of similar search results. But with the change, I believe you know need to specifically use the +1 button for the site to appear in your search results! Needless to say, this will make it even harder to get repeat visitors to your site because how many of us really use the +1 for sites we visit? In the past, we could count on being on the first page for users that came to our site before. Users didn't have to do anything to come across the same site. As a test, I googled and visited one of my sites suffering from this. Even after several visits, it still didn't show on the first page of google's results. I then clicked on the +1 and performed the same search. Pow!! It showed on the first page of results! Who else thinks this is wrong?!?!
	Check and track SERP results for multiple keywords for FREE at whatsmyserp.com

01-17-2012, 02:55 PM	#2
aaditachaudhary Warrior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 21 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Google changes and traffic drops, I think I know what happened! you are right! google plus plays a vital role in making your site rank so google checks popularity through likes @ google+ (promoting google+ though through this activity)
	Top 10 List - Top 10 Best - 10 Top Ten

01-17-2012, 05:05 PM	#4
MikeFriedman Don't Drink and SEO War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: York, PA Posts: 2,009 Thanks: 207 Thanked 551 Times in 393 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Google changes and traffic drops, I think I know what happened! It only effects personal results. I don't see it as a big factor.
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01-17-2012, 10:17 PM	#6
designerjack HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 397 Thanks: 149 Thanked 137 Times in 47 Posts	Re: Google changes and traffic drops, I think I know what happened! When you're logged in and +1'd with that account, you will definitely show higher up on search results with that account. However, the best way to see your true rankings is to log out of your Google Plus Account and check it again. I've seen Google Plus play a huge role in the amount of people who have you in their circle and the more +1 you do on sites that is related to their search keyword, the more odds you have of showing that page on their Google Search result.