Barry Schwartz: Summary of recent algorithm turmoil and bugs over the past month

[djbaxter]

December 2019 Google Webmaster Report: Google Algorithm Tremors, Local Maps Algorithm Update & Much More
by Barry Schwartz, Search Engine Roundtable
Dec 2, 2019

This past month we had a bunch of tremors and somewhat unconfirmed and semi-confirmed Google search algorithmic updates. We also had a big Google Local and Maps update that seems to be about relevancy, not proximity. It was not an insane month of news but it was busy.

Here are the more important Google webmaster stories over the past month but if you missed the month prior, see here.
Google Algorithms & Updates:

• Unconfirmed Google Search Algorithm Ranking Update November 8th
• Google Confirmed Search Algorithm Update Rolled Out; Here Is What We Know
• Yet More Google Search Ranking Algorithm Tremors Over The Weekend
• Did Google Just Confirm The Weekend Google Algorithm Update?
• Google Search Result Rankings Had A Very Volatile Week: Tremors All Week?
• Google November Core Algorithm Updates Probably Not Just Links
• Google My Business Local Listing Update This Week
• Google Local Update (Bedlam Update) Related To Relevancy Not Proximity

Google SEO:

• New Google Meta Tag Resulted In Pages Not Being Indexed: Now Fixed
• Google Search Recipe Bug Continues Into Thanksgiving Cooking Season
• Google Workaround To Get Google To Find Noindex Faster
• Google: Setting A Geographic Target Doesn't Prevent Your Site From Showing In Other Locations
• Google: Do Not Use Robots.txt To Block Indexing Of URLs With Parameters
• Google: There Is No Indexing Limit For Number Of Pages Indexed Per Site
• Google Featured Snippets Are Impacted By Algorithmic Updates

Google Search Console:

• Google Search Console Lost Image Search Click Data Between Nov 14 & 19
• Google Rich Results Test Shows Google Home & Smart Display Previews
• Product Results Filter Added To Google Search Console Performance Results

Google Local, Maps & GMB:

• Google My Business Adds Job Types For Services With Services Editor
• Google My Business Listings Disappear - It's A Bug
• Report: Google Local Q&A Display Bugs Confirmed
• Google My Business Limits Businesses To 20 Service Areas

Read more...