Most previous updates did cause big changes in rankings, simply because the changes were about the way Google ranks sites. This update however seams to be about how Google will index sites in the future.

What is the difference?

When Google changes an algorithm, then it implements or changes stuff that determines how your website ranks. This could be the way the value certain links, or like in “jagger” evaluating reciprocal links. Changes about how they INDEX a site is entirely different: It means how the get the data and how fast and in what way they process such data to be shown in results.

This changes could actually have an impact on search results. Why? because if data a collected and processed faster then before, more data is available in the results and as a consequence rankings might vary. Matt Cutts from Google said in an interview that they try to keep the search results the same or at least similar like before.

Now, that was the theory

Google actually provides a testing version to the new system and asks users and developers for feedback.  You can find it here:

http://www2.sandbox.google.com/

I did some testing on the sites I am optimising. I did find some minor changes in the rankings for which I have no explanation as yet. I will have to dig deeper into this. My first thought was about anchor text being used more as exact phrase match, but I have not evidence yet to support that.

The site that has lost a little under generic phrases ( bars fuengirola)  is www.fuengirolascout.net and on the winning side are www.arribaestates.com and www.fiestaproperty.com. The later much to my surprise.  I have not done jack shit on the site since ages. The opposite is the case: I actually removed links to that site.

Any observations?

If anybody made observations about changes in your own rankings, please post them here. I also would love to hear theories about why certain sites rankings change.

Here some questions that I have seen people asking:

• Will content get indexed faster then before?
• Did they change the way the rank sites as well or is it just a matter of time until things settle? Or is caffeine just a structural change?
• Will fresh content, like on blogs, will get even more favoured and indexed faster, not only on wordpress but across all blogging platforms?
• Will loading time effect ranking after caffeine?
• Will user behaviour be a factor?

I don’t have the answers yet and would welcome  discussion about it.

Regards

Wolfgang Brand
Smart Media Spain
SEO & Media Consultant