On Monday, we reported that Google confirmed an unusual search ranking bug where some sites on non-standard top-level domains disappeared from the search results over the weekend, only to return on weekdays.  

“We’re aware of a very narrow issue that caused temporary fluctuations in search results for a small number of websites. The issue has since been resolved, and the sites should no longer be seeing its effects,” a Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land.

The unusual part is we have seen significant ranking volatility over weekends since November 2023. This past weekend the volatility stopped, after these reports came to light.  Related? Unsure. Either way, Google seems to have fixed the ranking bug.

Barry Schwartz,
Ranking volatility reporter

PPC

Google Ads conversational experience launches in U.S., UK

The feature will soon be globally accessible to all advertisers but will initially only be available in English.

PPC

Google issuing suspension threats for non-compliant GDPR consent banners

Google warns site owners they must address potential violations or risk account suspension

SEO

Google performance reports updates how it counts clicks and impressions for job listing and detail pages

No changes were made to Google Search, this is just a reporting change.

Search Engine Land webinar

SEO Memorial Service: A fond farewell to things that don’t matter anymore

Join us in a joyous celebration of life, honoring the long list of SEO tactics and concepts we lost this past year. Discover that the results that old SEO weren’t really very good at all, actually.

PPC

Google advertisers are confused between support and sales – we asked for clarification

Search Engine Land spoke with Google to understand the difference between the two services and what to do if you're not happy with either.

PPC

How to make PPC work for SMBs

Learn PPC strategies to help SMBs compete with larger companies through smart targeting, bidding, and optimization for maximum ROI.

MarTech intelligence reports

Guide to marketing attribution and performance management platforms

One of marketing’s greatest challenges is proving its value to the business. These platforms are tailor-made to prove how tactics and media channels contribute to the bottom line.

SEO

Content not ranking? 5 questions to ask ASAP

Use this five-step audit checklist to identify issues hurting your SEO performance and create a plan to turn things around.

Best rates expire this Saturday night

Live training + Q&A with search marketing masters

Sharpen your search marketing skills, expand your horizons, and stay a step ahead of the competition: Attend the tactic-rich SMX Master Classes — online February 28-29! Early Bird rates expire at the end of this week… book now and save!

Choose your Master Class

From MarTech

• The latest jobs in martech
• AI adoption gap found between executives and entry-level marketers
• How shared goals and incentives improve marketing results
• What every marketer should watch for in 2025
• AI-powered martech news and releases: December 12