Select Language:
Over the past few days, particularly since the official conclusion of the Google August 2025 spam update, fluctuations in Google search results have been noticeable. Tracking these shifts has been challenging due to discrepancies with third-party rank tracking tools, but the SEO community has been abuzz with observations and discussions.
Many webmasters report significant ranking changes—some sites are experiencing higher rankings and increased traffic, while others face declines. Indexing problems are also being reported across various sites.
### Recent SEO Community Conversations
On forums like WebmasterWorld, users are sharing their experiences. For example, some mention a sudden drop in traffic across multiple websites shortly after the spam update, despite those sites initially weathering the update well. Others note similar declines even days after the update, suggesting ongoing instability. There are also reports of indexing delays, with some sites experiencing delays of around 24 hours, leading to a substantial drop in traffic from sources like Google Discover.
One webmaster shared that after benefiting from the update initially — seeing improvements in rankings and traffic — their site was hit hard three days later, with traffic decreasing by roughly 75%, though rankings remained stable. The consensus is that AI-generated content updates may be contributing to these sharp changes. Other discussions describe entire days of no traffic besides top news portals appearing on Discover, highlighting the unpredictable nature of current search performance.
### Tracking Tools and Their Indications
Various SEO tracking tools are trying to measure the impact, even as they recalibrate to recent changes. Tools such as Semrush, Advanced Web Rankings, Accuranker, Wincher, SimilarWeb, Mozcast, Mangools, Data For SEO, SERPstat, Sistrix, Algoroo, and Wiredboard’s aggregator are all providing data that suggest volatility and shifts in ranking patterns.
Some tools show clear signs of increased volatility, with charts reflecting fluctuations in keyword positions and ranking stability. For instance, there are mentions of ranking shuffles, short-term dips, followed by recovery phases, indicating a period of adjustment in the search algorithm processes.
### The Current Landscape
Overall, what’s observed is a period of turbulence where search rankings are shifting unpredictably. Some sites appear temporarily affected by the updates, with traffic reductions and indexing issues, but these effects can vary widely and may settle over time as algorithms stabilize.
Engagement in SEO forums indicates that many are actively monitoring the situation and comparing notes on their experiences with ranking changes and indexing delays, reflecting an ongoing state of flux in the Google search ecosystem during this post-update phase.