Google Search Ranking Volatility January 6th & AdSense Earnings Dropping

01/07/26
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of January 2026 Google Search Ranking Fluctuations and Impact on AdSense

Google’s unconfirmed update on January 6-7, 2026 caused noticeable drops in search rankings and AdSense earnings for many SEOs and site owners. This update followed the December 2025 core update and resulted in increased volatility and significant traffic losses. SEO communities report declines ranging from 30% to over 90%, with some attributing it to potential spam filtering or reporting delays.

Optimixed’s Overview: Analyzing the January 2026 Google Ranking Shift and Its Effects on Website Traffic and Revenue

Context and Background

Following the December 2025 core update, which ran from December 11 to December 29 and triggered two notable ranking volatility spikes, an additional wave of ranking fluctuations emerged in early January 2026. Although the January 6-7 movement lacks official confirmation from Google, numerous webmasters and SEO professionals have reported substantial traffic and revenue declines.

Key Observations from the SEO Community

  • Significant traffic drops: Reports of 30% to 90% decreases in organic search impressions and visits across multiple sites.
  • AdSense revenue impact: Earnings diminished drastically, with some seeing reductions up to 87%, severely affecting monetization and operational budgets.
  • Mixed ranking behavior: Some sites observed minor position changes on search engine results pages (SERPs), while others noted no ranking shifts despite traffic loss.
  • Speculation on causes: Possible spam update, reporting delays, or continued effects from the December core update.
  • Seasonal considerations: Some volatility may align with the first workweek of the new year, though the downward trend remains consistent year-over-year.

Monitoring Tools and Data Insights

Aggregated data from a variety of SEO tracking tools—including Semrush, Accuranker, SimilarWeb, Mozcast, and others—show increased volatility and downward trends consistent with community reports. These indicators reinforce the anecdotal evidence of disruption during this period.

Conclusion

Site owners and SEOs should remain vigilant to these shifts, monitoring their analytics and earnings closely. While Google has not officially acknowledged this update, the widespread impact warrants attention and potential adjustment of SEO and monetization strategies. Continued observation and data collection will be essential to fully understand and adapt to these ongoing ranking changes.