December 2021 Google Product Reviews Update Rolled Out

As you all know, Google launched a new algorithm update on December 1st named the?December 2021 product reviews update. Since then, the tracking tools have been off the charts showing insane levels of volatility and that volatility has continued through the weekend. The chatter is not as insane, when comparing what we are seeing with the tools.

If you need to learn more about this update and what it targets, how to recover and so on, then read?this story. This story is just about the volatility we are seeing since the update.

Let's start by sharing what the automated Google search tracking tools are picking up, and they are picking up a lot.

Semrush?is at core update levels for a few days in a row:

It honestly seems way more impactful than the original?April product reviews update?- but it is hard to say.

The chatter is more limited with this core update, at least in terms of SEO forums. This is what I found on?WebmasterWorld?and there are dozens of sporadic threads on BlackHatWorld - so it is hard to consolidate all those threads:

It is friday and we see a big drop again (-45% so far). And since yesterday google sends emails with the option for google ads to find new customers. Ha good joke.

Big drop in average position starting Monday

Not seeing any noticeable SERPs changes however global site averaging -25% in PVs this week, a couple of UK local sites -50%, even the pub / hotel site is down even though we have live music tonight and tomorrow ... this will be interesting.

Here too... -50% or more...

My traffic is higher again today...it's been higher for perhaps 10 days now. However my ranking is stuck in neutral and not improving much and zero new inquiries since Monday...zero. So despite much better traffic, no sales.Google briefly returned my ranking for my important "place name" searches on the 26th-28th and my traffic surged and I saw a big influx of customer inquiries. Then off again and not one inquiry this entire week, let alone a conversion.

25% down

UK traffic down 53% today...first time UK has been down in a while. UK traffic tends to drop on Saturdays but not 53%. Anyone else seeing this?

Huge drop in traffic today...USA -50%, UK -41%, AU -50% and almost no traffic from Western Europe at all. Instead mostly visits from E. European countries. Anyone else seeing this today?

I will be honest, I am surprised the tools are so high. It is all related to this product reviews update? Hard to say but this is the update Google confirmed and it is rare for Google to confirm updates these days.