An update to Google’s search algorithm, acknowledged by Google’s John Mueller in today’s Webmaster Hangout, is currently rolling out. Despite speculation, Mueller confirmed this update is not Panda-related.
The MozCast, a day-by-day report of shakeups to Google’s search rankings, lit up today and Moz’s Dr. Pete Meyers has stated that it was not simply a data glitch.
MozCast Desktop and Mobile both showing temps over 100 deg. F. Initial analysis shows no obvious data glitches.
— Dr. Pete Meyers (@dr_pete) June 17, 2015
There is some thought that Wikipedia’s recent move to HTTPS could have something to do today’s changes:
@mozcast @dr_pete Could the change to https by wikipedia be contributing to this? Seeing big flux for them in semrush pic.twitter.com/ybufKaK143
— Jan Dunlop (@jandunlop) June 17, 2015
@jandunlop @mozcast From what I can tell Wikipedia was part of it, but only a part. Hoping to write it up later tonight.
— Dr. Pete Meyers (@dr_pete) June 17, 2015
Given the extent to which Wikipedia dominates the SERPs, a site-wide change could certainly have something to do with the changes being observed to Google’s search results.
However, there are clearly more pieces to this puzzle than just Wikipedia — SEOs around the web are reporting to see ranking changes, and some are already experiencing an impact to their business.
I don't need ranking reports to know something is up. I can feel it in my adsense dashboard.
— Ryan Jones (@RyanJones) June 17, 2015
What the update could possibly be related to is anyone’s guess at this point until there is official word from Google. Moz’s Dr. Pete believes he has found a possible explanation, which he will reveal tomorrow morning.
At this point a Panda update and/or a mobile update has been ruled out:
Have sorted out a possible explanation for high temps – blog post coming on @Moz tomorrow AM. Not Panda. Not mobile.
— Dr. Pete Meyers (@dr_pete) June 17, 2015
In addition to this update, we still have an actual Panda update to look forward to. In today’s webmaster hangout, John Mueller said we should expect to see a Panda update/refresh in the next couple of weeks.
