Google November Update
Google November update got people thinking! The question of whether Google’s algorithm updates are intended to push businesses toward increased spending on Google Ads (AdWords) is complex. While Google consistently denies any direct link between core updates and ad revenue strategies, skepticism persists among us SEO professionals. It doesn’t matter if Google AI is affecting search results, a human wrote the algorithm so the goal is the same; being at the service of pushing people to buy more ads.
Google November Update – Evidence to support or refute such claims would need to come from several areas:
- Statistical Correlation Between Updates and Ad Spend
– Independent research showing a clear correlation between algorithm updates and increased ad spend could provide insight. If businesses across multiple industries consistently report declines in organic traffic immediately after updates, leading to increased paid ad investments, this would strengthen the argument. - Ad Placement and Visibility Trends
– Analyzing shifts in how Google displays ads versus organic results (such as increasing the number of ads at the top or blending ad styles with organic listings) could offer clues. Past concerns about ad-heavy layouts have already sparked similar debates. - Behavioral Changes in Organic Traffic
– SEO practitioners could track whether websites that maintain high-quality content still experience difficulty ranking without paid promotion. If even the best content suffers while paid ads remain prominent, it suggests a possible connection. - Google’s Revenue Reports
– Reviewing Google’s quarterly earnings reports for evidence of increased ad revenue following core updates could offer indirect evidence. A sudden uptick in ad revenue after major updates might raise questions about underlying motivations. - User and Business Feedback
– Gathering widespread testimonials from businesses and SEOs about their experiences post-update could serve as qualitative evidence. If many report feeling “forced” into paying for ads to maintain visibility, this could point to a pattern.
Google November Update: Cultural and Leadership Influence
It’s important to approach cultural generalizations with caution. While Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, is of Indian origin, attributing Google’s business practices to cultural factors is both speculative and reductive. Google’s strategies are driven by corporate goals, market dynamics, and shareholder expectations, rather than personal or cultural biases.
While it’s “obvious” to some that Google’s algorithm updates might serve dual purposes of improving search results and boosting ad revenue, direct evidence is difficult to obtain without access to internal data. Transparency from Google remains limited, but robust independent research could illuminate whether algorithmic changes are coincidentally or intentionally aligned with increased ad spend.
There are no definitive examples proving that Google’s algorithm updates are directly intended to push businesses toward increased use of Google Ads, but several patterns and observations have fueled speculation. Here are some examples and trends that are often cited:
Google’s Algorithm Heavy Ad Placement
In 2016, Google removed ads from the right side of search results and increased the number of top-of-page ads, making organic search results less prominent. This change led many to speculate that Google was prioritizing ad visibility over organic results.
Google Algorithm Updates Affecting SEO-Reliant Sites
Many businesses have reported significant drops in organic traffic following core updates, particularly in sectors like e-commerce, health, and finance. These losses often coincide with an increase in competition for paid ad space. While Google attributes these changes to improving search quality, affected businesses frequently feel compelled to increase their ad spend to maintain visibility.
Google Algorithm: The September 2019 Core Update and Ad Revenue
The September 2019 Core Update saw many content-rich sites lose organic rankings. Around the same time, Google reported strong revenue growth from Google Ads, leading to speculation about a possible link between the two.
” Google Algorithm in 2011″ Update Keyword Data
In 2011, Google began encrypting search queries, making it impossible for SEO professionals to see which keywords were driving organic traffic in Google Analytics. Critics argued that this move indirectly favored Google Ads, where keyword data remained available, encouraging businesses to rely on paid search to access that information.
FTC Investigations and Criticism
Over the years, Google has faced scrutiny from regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the European Commission, for allegedly favoring its own services and potentially using its dominance in search to increase ad revenue.
While these examples suggest a potential alignment between Google’s algorithm updates and increased ad revenue, Google maintains that core updates are focused on improving user experience and search relevance. However, the patterns and timing of updates, combined with the ongoing emphasis on paid visibility, continue to fuel debate within the SEO and marketing communities. For many, the absence of full transparency leaves room for suspicion!
In the link below I update my page with every algorithm update:
