Google Search Console’s link reports have seen a substantial decrease, concerning many experts in the SEO community. This data inconsistency started a month ago and has remained consistent ever since, with various SEO professionals noting significant drops in their link reports without correlative changes in site ranking or performance. These discrepancies have sparked widespread discussions, with many hoping for a speedy resolution.
Investigations into the cause of this change are ongoing, with speculations pointing towards potential glitches on Google’s end or alterations in their algorithm. Various tests and data analyses are being conducted, with the results eagerly anticipated in the hopes that they will shed some light on the situation.
Meanwhile, SEO specialists are advised to keep a close eye on their sites and adhere to best practices to prevent any negative ranking impacts. Google has been notified of these concerns and has responded by assuring that the problem is being addressed. Thus, despite unsettling reports, it’s best to wait for an official explanation from Google and continue implementing SEO strategies.
Documented cases, such as that of Leonard Brahm, an SEO professional who managed a site that experienced a 30% reduction in listed links, are not uncommon. Similar patterns have been noted by other industry professionals and experts, such as Richard Sanchez, a networking expert, whose website saw a 25% decline in its interlinking networks over two months.
This recent trend is alarming due to the relevance of backlinks in determining a site’s Google ranking.
Decrease in Google link reports disturbs SEO experts
If the decrease in numbers continues, it could detrimentally impact online visibility, traffic, and potentially revenue for many platforms. Furthermore, reported instances of Google dismissing over 1,000 high-quality links in favor of lower-quality ones have raised questions and caused concerns regarding Google’s link evaluation criteria.
Unfortunately, Google has yet to provide clear explanations for this issue. Until such clarification is given, the SEO community is left coping with the unsettling effects of these link dismissals and the need for greater transparency and accountability from tech giants like Google.
Another concerning issue is the decrease in indexed pages as indicated by recent Search Console metrics. This situation demands new, innovative problem-solving approaches from SEO experts and digital marketers to adjust to the changing landscape.
In the midst of the ongoing concerns, some SEO experts, including one who discovered the disappearance of all 483 external links pointing to his homepage, have found solace in the shared experiences and collaborative investigations of the SEO community. These collective efforts are leading to increased understanding of Google’s algorithms and potential updates, and hopefully soon, a solution to this problem.
Decreasing link counts over the years have left the SEO community uneasy, with link numbers dropping from 2.5 million in August 2018 to a mere 215,000 links in June 2023. The cause of this decrease remains unconfirmed by Google, thereby maintaining the sense of uncertainty. Nevertheless, SEO experts and digital marketers continue to monitor this situation closely and adapt their approaches to conform with Google’s ever-evolving algorithms.
