The Google Update That Tanked a Business Overnight
The Call:
A business owner reached out in a panic. Their Google rankings dropped overnight.
Leads disappeared. Phone calls stopped. Website traffic tanked.
The Investigation:
After digging in, we discovered something big:
Google had demoted their organic rankings because they were already appearing in the Local Pack.
The “Variety Update” Problem:
For years, the goal was always to dominate both local search (Google Business Profile) and organic search (your website).
But now, Google seems to think:
“If we already show your business in the Local Pack, there’s no reason to rank your website organically too.”
This means:
❌ If you’re in the Local Pack, your organic rankings may drop.
✅ If you don’t have a physical location but rely on service area pages, you may have gained rankings instead.
The Fix:
If your organic rankings have dropped, here’s what to do:
1️⃣ Check which page your Google Business Profile is linked to — If it’s the same page that used to rank well organically, switch it to a different relevant page.
2️⃣ Diversify your rankings — Make sure you’re not relying on just one type of visibility (Local Pack vs. organic).
3️⃣ Track your performance — This update hasn’t hit everyone at the same time, so keep monitoring your rankings and adapt as needed.
The Bigger Picture:
Google is constantly changing the game. What worked last year won’t necessarily work today.
The businesses that stay ahead are the ones that test, adapt, and move quickly — not the ones that just wait and hope things will fix themselves.
🔎 If your rankings are dropping, don’t panic. Pivot.
