Last month, Google disabled its “&num=100” parameter, a tool that allowed users to view 100 page results per search. Since then, thousands of websites worldwide have experienced significant search declines. According to a new study from Tyler Gargula, a software developer, “87.7% of sites experienced drops in impressions” and “77.6% of sites experienced drops in the number of unique ranking keywords” following Google’s update.
In a new statement from Google, the company announced that “the use of this URL parameter is not something that we formally support.”
In 2018, Google removed the option for users to change the number of search results displayed on each page, though a loophole still existed. Users could instead add the parameter “&num=100” at the end of a search’s URL and receive 100 search results per page. Now, users may be out of luck.
What The New Update Means For Your Website:
- You’re probably going to see a decline in website impressions & unique keyword rankings.
- Your short-tail and long-tail keywords may also going to see a drop in visibility.
But the good news? Moving forward, your data is going to be more accurate. In a new blog from Brodie Clark, a writer who runs the eponymous, SEO blog, Clark suggested that bots and SEO tool scrapers had previously inflated Google Search Console data prior to the parameter ban. Tyler Gargula also confirmed this, writing in regards to the data’s results, “[The drop in impressions] seems to be related to a reduction in “bot impressions” – artificial impressions generated by SEO tools scraping Google’s search results.” Even better: without the inflated numbers, your average position will also improve.
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At Boston Web Marketing, we help clients get found online with our top-rated SEO services. As the region’s #1 Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) company, our team has helped hundreds of businesses improve their rankings on Google, and, most recently, on AI-Powered Search Engines. Whether you need help with your website, keywords, or social media, we’re here when you need us. To request a free website consultation, or to learn more about our services, contact Boston Web Marketing on our website or call us at 857-349-5062.