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Google bug, how to fix a search bug??

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Wozofrare, May 2, 2021.

  1. #1
    Hi

    I ranked for a very long time 1st place for a competitive search phrase on mobile and desktop

    All of a sudden about two weeks ago, we no longer rank 1st on Desktop but STILL rank 1st on Mobile

    It seems impossible given Google officially said they phased our desktop search results and mobile were the authority

    yet here we are mid way through 2021 where there are two completely different search results for the same phrase. What on earth am I supposed to do to get back my lost 1st place listing from a desktop search?

    Weirdly, Google webmaster tools says the URL is not in the index... yet it is when I search it direct. Then when looking at the URL via one of the other options in webmaster tools it says everything is fine and no issues.
    I requested a reindex, made no difference.

    Two weeks on, still #1 when searching from mobile
    Still no where when searching from desktop

    the page itself has nothing special about it that's mobile focused, literally just a single mobile responsive meta tag and that's it. Same content for rest of page.

    Any ideas????
     
    Wozofrare, May 2, 2021 IP
  2. Sumit_Singh

    Sumit_Singh Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Can you share the keyword that you are ranking in the first position for mobile devices? Sometimes you forget to change the URL setting or the region in your browser on desktop but on mobile devices, it is fixed by default.
    Maybe on desktop, you are checking your keyword on Google (.) com but you have optimized it for the .au domain (or the region you are targeting). Cross-check before check the ranking of that particular domain.
    Without checking the website I can't suggest you anything.
     
    Sumit_Singh, May 2, 2021 IP
  3. Oso Optimized

    Oso Optimized Active Member

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    #3
    Have to ask, are you using Verbatim search?
     
    Oso Optimized, May 3, 2021 IP
  4. Wozofrare

    Wozofrare Peon

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    #4
    believe me I wish it were that simple

    it's multiple people checking it in multiple regions

    no special search or settings

    it doesn't matter regionalised or not as this particular phrase is multi region and doesn't have competitive local search

    rank 1st on mobile in multiple regions

    used to rank 1st for a long time on desktop

    now nothing anywhere at all on desktop for same keyphrase. It's not like it dropped ranking, its literally gone from the first ten pages of results plus+

    still 1st on mobile

    it's as if something has gone wrong with the google index for desktop and the site has been unindexed for just this one page only for desktop

    I've read online that Google has had this sort of bug more and more common and is rolling out a report a search bug feature
     
    Wozofrare, May 3, 2021 IP
  5. Oso Optimized

    Oso Optimized Active Member

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    #5
    If you aren't using verbatim search when checking with your browser, you are subject to influences of that browser's history.
     
    Oso Optimized, May 4, 2021 IP
  6. Wozofrare

    Wozofrare Peon

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    #6
    thank you for that clarification, my listing shows first again if searching via verbatim results. I was unaware of what that did or that it even existed!
    which now leads me to wonder, why was I not showing 1st for my own personalised and suggested results? (in fact not showing at all!) isn't that strange that for me as the website owner, Google completely hides my website?
    and how does that work for everyone else? if everyone has personalised suggested results, how can I ensure I rank for them if Google is hiding my website like this. Obviously the average search user isn't searching in verbatim mode.
    Much appreciate your advice
     
    Wozofrare, May 7, 2021 IP
  7. Oso Optimized

    Oso Optimized Active Member

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    #7
    It's a very complicated algorithm and virtually no one knows about it - even a lot of SEO professionals. And there are so many posts related to it here, I normally don't even mention it. People are quick to dismiss the possibility.

    But if you are going around and looking at competitive websites with your browser, Google is going to lower your ranking for your own website when searching with ALL Results. Everyone gets a slightly different search, so all we can do is do our best to rank in verbatim results. You are chasing your tail if trying to rank using your Google History.
     
    Oso Optimized, May 7, 2021 IP
    qwikad.com likes this.
  8. Myles Claude

    Myles Claude Peon

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    #8
    Google has confirmed it's aware of a bug that's causing search results to not fully render for some people.
     
    Myles Claude, May 10, 2021 IP