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August SERP Volatility Reaches New Heights Ahead of Google Update

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Published on August 14, 2024

Mobile device showing the Google homepage in dark mode

In July, Google set website owners on edge by teasing the approach of the next algorithm update. This would be the first major algorithm change since the March 2024 core update.

With the next core update due to drop any day now, I’ve noticed a rise in volatility across SERP trackers. I reported on recent spikes in July and June, but it’s clear from the August volatility that the next update is fast approaching. In the words of John Mueller, Google’s Senior Search Analyst, it “isn’t extremely far away”.

Spikes in Volatility Trackers

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Most Google SERP trackers paint the same picture this month, with many showing the rise in volatility continuing to grow over August. For each of the graphs below, the higher the bar or line, the greater the volatility.

Semrush SERP volatility graph for July and August 2024 — August has seen a series of days with “Very High” SERP volatility. Source: Semrush

Advanced Web Ranking SERP volatility graph for July and August 2024 — You can see the increase in high volatility throughout August. Source: Advanced Web Ranking

cognitiveSEO Google ranking volatility graph from June to August 2024 — cognitiveSEO has consistently tracked high volatility since the end of July. Source: cognitiveSEO

Algoroo SERP volatility graph for July to August 2024 — Similarly, Algoroo marks the extreme volatility in red throughout August. Source: Algoroo

SEO professionals and business owners aren’t seeing any positive movement yet – a desire many website owners hope for following the damaging March update. With the high volatility, Google is likely testing things out still and we can only cross our fingers that improvements are made in the right direction.

I’ll continue to update our newsfeed with further updates as they come in.

Written by:

Emma Ryan Writer

Emma is Lead Writer at Website Builder Guide, having first joined the team in 2022. She manages the website's topical content strategy to help website owners navigate the highs and lows of being online. Emma also specializes in following the development of leading website builders Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify, through hands-on testing and research. Her work and expertise have been featured in Startups.co.uk, Digiday, TechRound, Industry Today, and Digital Information World.