Google Search Results Have Been More Volatile in 2021

22 Mar, 2022 Google News

According to new data from Semrush, Google’s search results have been over 85% more volatile on mobile and ​​68% more volatile on desktop in 2021. There were even certain high volatility days throughout the year that showed more than a 50% increase. The Semrush sensor tool defines high volatility as anything from 5 to 8 out of 10. Why is this so important? Well, it can be helpful to know when an update to the algorithm has impacted your website instead of other factors such as seasonal trends or technical mistakes.

graph showing google rank volatility in 2020 and 2021

The graph above displays the comparison between Google’s mobile search results from 2020 to 2021. It also shows the 84% increase in the frequency of days with significant volatility from January 2021 to October 2021.

graph showing google rank volatility on desktop in 2020 and 2021

Semrush statistics display the results of Google search results on desktop. This 68% increase can be shown in the frequency of days with high volatility as well as the comparison from 2020 to 2021.

graph showing percent of days with high or very high volatility on mobile

graph showing percent of days with high or very high volatility on desktop

According to statistics, more than half of the days in 2021 showed abnormally high levels of volatility on desktop thus far. These extremely high volatility days are rated as anything above an 8 out of 10. The above graphs display the results for both mobile and desktop from 2020 to 2021.

Below, Semrush expert Mordy Oberstein provided another breakdown of the intensity of volatility for mobile and desktop Google search results.

graph showing 2020 and 2021 google search volatility levels

Subscribe to Blushark Digital’s newsletter to keep up to date with what’s new at Google!