10 Feb Google Search Ranking News & Local GMB Issues in January 2025
While Google did not announce any official core updates in January 2025, many dental businesses experienced significant ranking fluctuations, particularly in local search results. Reports suggest major shifts in Google Maps and Local Search rankings, with some businesses seeing drastic position changes. These fluctuations began around 4–5 January, sparking discussions about a possible local search algorithm update or even a bug in Google’s systems. It has since been confirmed that there was/is a glitch in GMB reviews which has seen reviews dropped from the system. These reviews are still there and the glitch is being reviewed by Google so don’t panic!
If you are seeing reviews disappear from GMB the advice is as follows from Google GMB product expert Vinay Toshniwal:
“Google is aware of the issue and is working on a fix. If you’ve already raised a Case ID with Google, I would suggest to sit tight and be patient. Fingers crossed ”
SEO professionals have also observed ranking volatility in organic search results towards the end of the month, Google has not confirmed any updates, leaving many to speculate about potential smaller behind the scenes adjustments.
Following an active end to 2024, which saw three major updates in December, January was relatively quiet in terms of official algorithm changes. That said, rank tracking tools faced challenges accessing Google’s results after a security update on 15 January, which may have contributed to perceived volatility.
For dental businesses relying on local and organic search visibility, it’s always a good idea to monitor rankings and adjust SEO strategies accordingly. If your rankings have shifted unexpectedly, it could be a sign of broader algorithmic changes at play.
Andy Taplin
Rose & Co.
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