Ranking fluctuations occur frequently and can happen daily or only occasionally. Understanding why these changes happen helps you decide when to take action and when to simply wait.
Common Reasons for Ranking Changes#
- 1Google experiments: Google constantly runs tests of varying duration. Some changes are temporary and rankings return to normal, while others are permanent
- 2Competitor SEO efforts, your competitors may be improving their sites, gaining backlinks, or publishing new content that advances their positions ahead of yours
- 3Google algorithm updates, updates occur multiple times per month with varying levels of impact on search results
- 4Google penalties, in some cases, Google may penalise a website for violating its guidelines, causing a significant ranking drop
Many ranking changes are temporary. Sites sometimes drop from first-page results but return within days. Before making drastic changes, allow some time to see if rankings recover on their own.
Keeping Up to Date on Google Changes#
Search Engine Roundtable is an excellent resource for tracking confirmed and suspected Google algorithm updates. Cross-reference your ranking changes with their update timeline to determine whether a Google update may be responsible. If you identify an issue you cannot fix yourself, consider hiring a local SEO specialist experienced in recovery from algorithm updates.
For a more detailed diagnostic process, see our Google Ranking Drops: Troubleshooting Guide.