How long does the 'Google Dance' last??

I've been sitting comfortably with somes sites with decent ranking for several years, and then last week one dropped from page one to page five and the others are 'dancing' around. I haven't even really touched the site that dropped in ages, I have no idea what happened.

How long does this usually last (and is that really what's happening)?

 

That's scary! I think that would be my cue to get some new content up!

 

Our sites also dance! Weekly they can move as many as 20 places up, down and around.
I put some down to competitor actions, others I have no clue.

 

Only when google is tired dancing

Well no one know because google constanlty updates its algo and updates pr and serps but usually PR updates comes once in 3months which is what is now guessed based on previous updates but about the dance in serps it not predictable as such when it stops and starts

 

In my opinion its not a dance, but heavy changes on the Google algo.

 

It lasts till midnight.

 

its nothing that you have changed or google have changed - but this will mostly depend on your competitors if their sites seems more productive they will be listed above yours...

 

Look at heavy keyword searches results. If you can use some plugin that show inside the results the Alexa position (or compete) you will notice that many of the top 10 sites for a heavy keyword has not much traffic. That show us that many of that sites just began getting a high rank on results.

Do not look only on your keywords, go a search for wedding, baby, mp3, etc. and look carefully the results. Backlinks dont seams to be as important and it was, looks like content, domain, etc. gets more importance now.

That why we read all the time people claiming that their sites drop down.

My 2 cents.

 

It dropped most likely because you have not touched it in years. I recommend performing updates.

 

Well I doubt that 50 of my competitors suddenly upgraded their sites and jumped above mine overnight.

But I guess it could be because I haven't updated it... I started thinking I shouldn't touch the site or change a thing because it was doing so well... and that worked for a long long time - but I guess now it wouldn't hurt to start updating it. I'm even thinking of linking to it from another related site I have and seeing what happens...!

 

lol, yeah it lasts as long as google says it does. But in your case it is a major change imo.

 

There is no such thing as a google dance anymore. Serps change everyday. If your site really is established then it should not be too difficult to get it back up.

 

Thank you Matt Cutts for that intriguing spin on the current state of Google.

Who really knows what Google is up to lately, but there has been some major movement with all my sites, especially more in the last couple days.

What nobody has mentioned is that their brand new AJAX format is still having some tweaks done to it. So what you are seeing now is likely something to do with a bigger change than the so-called 'daily' updates that Google always does. Hopefully they'll iron it out soon.

BR

 

I think Google Dance last 1st April ....

 

SERPs are in a constant state of flux. Only when you truly stomp the competition is your ranking ensured.

 

I think also. All is much more serious, than "dances"

 

If it's google dance, generally, it will last 2-4 weeks, if it is not google dance, maybe sandbox, then only god knows how long, if your sites is in high competitive niche, will be longer, may be 6-12 months or more, is your niche is not very competitive, may come out after 2-3 months