Unrelated Google Results Appeared for 57.3% of Keywords Overnight, Study Finds
TLDR
An SE Ranking study found that unrelated results, also called poisoned SERPs, hit 57.3% of keywords overnight.
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
Unrelated search results, which the study calls "poisoned SERPs," appeared for 57.3% of keywords overnight, according to a study published by SE Ranking Blog. The research also looks at where these results appeared and what they had in common.
How we got here: earlier coverage
- Oct 27Semrush Outlines How It Is Validating Google Ranking Data Amid Poisoned Search Results
Semrush published an update describing how it is addressing poisoned Google Search results, validating its ranking data, and investing in visibility for users.
- Oct 22Ahrefs finds Google serves abnormal or stale pages to SEO data tools at scale
Ahrefs reports that Google serves abnormal or outdated pages to SEO data tools at rates between 5% and 20%, depending on the provider.
- Oct 19Google feeds rank trackers swapped results on 8% of pages, Nozzle finds
Nozzle discovered Google is serving rank trackers swapped or poisoned results on 8% of tracked pages, causing tracked sites to vanish from top 10 rankings in 58.6% of affected pages.
- Oct 14Google Accused of Poisoning Search Results for Rank Trackers
Search Engine Journal argues that Google's alleged poisoning of search results undermines the accuracy of rank-tracking tools that SEO professionals rely on.