Report: Google has further reduced the prominence of news websites in search results
Report: Google has further reduced the prominence of news websites in search results
As per Sistrix data, news websites suffered significant losses in organic search in 2022
Data from Sistrix, an SEO software company, suggests that in 2022, the prominence of news websites in Google search results had significantly decreased.
Press Gazette (an online source for UK-based media practitioners) analyzed those figures. 45 of the 68 news sites reviewed saw a decrease in ranking in UK Google search results from January 2022 to January 2023. There was also a 20% decrease in overall visibility for these 68 sites. Mylondon.news, irishtimes.com, and inews.co.uk were the next greatest losers in terms of relative visibility, each seeing a 60% and 61% decline.
Last September, a Google core algorithm update rollout occurred and this could partially explain a deemphasis in certain types of news content. Evidently, such is part of a long term trend.
According to the Sistrix data, news publishers that are increasing the non-news content they offer online, such as games, recipes, and reference material, have contributed to their improved exposure (e.g. The New York Times acquiring Wordle).
It’s important to note a few things:
Search ranking and visibility decline doesn’t necessarily equate to a massive loss in traffic. A website’s (perceived) authority is an important aspect as well.
The report from Sistrix did not include data from Top Stories or other Google news platforms like Discover. That’s a non-negligible limitation to consider.
Moral of the story: don’t put all your eggs in one basket.