Google Data Refreshes Explained

BigRandy said: "I have had a problem with my website dissapearing on several instances. I have been reading Matt Cutts' blog and he had an article about [url=http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/explaining-algorithm-updates-and-data-refreshes/]data refreshes explained[/url] [quote] Data refresh: When data is refreshed within an existing algorithm. Changes are typically toward the less-impactful end of the spectrum, and are often so small that people don’t even notice. One of the smallest types of data refreshes is an index update[/quote] I dont think Im stupid but this did not clear much up. Any ideas on what a data refresh does? :signs047:"

Savanna said: "Um. I'm left unclear, too. I wish I had an answer for you BigRandy :dazed052:"

edwin said: "i read that post and it wasnt that clear. either way the "index updates". the data refresh must be some sort of old data that keeps on getting introduced back into the index. :signs053:"

BigRandy said: "One thing it means is that I am screwed! No traffic for 11 days. :dazed052:"

edwin said: "it happens all the time! sometimes it never comes back."

Darksat said: "Data refresh dumps old data and updates it with fresh data. SO for example if your SERPS were the result of links that are no longer there, you drop."

Darren said: "Maybe, maybe not. This problem has happened 6 times in the past year. Always the same few page retain their rankings and everything else drops. It's the same frozen data being re-surfaced over and over again."

Darksat said: "Well it might be the other way as well."

Heather said: "I think that they roll back to an old data set from "whenever" and then factor in new pages gradually. I noticed older terms ranking first and then newer terms being phased back in. That's just my opinion and observations, FWIW."

edwin said: "these google data refreshes are enough to make you crazy :roll: :flipoff: :flipoff: :flipoff:"

Heather said: "I know what you mean.. It's like they are manic depressive these days!"

Savanna said: "Some people are very upset by this. A lot of webmasters are feeling the pain of google updates or whatever."

edwin said: "yeah. they have been[B] dumped! [/B] :angry:"

Heather said: "These data refreshes or whatever you call them are nerve racking. I'd like to see traffic stabilize for the month of February.."

Sharky said: "Not much of my traffic comes from google so doesnt really effect me :)."

Neutron2k said: "most of mine is from google and its still not recovered. i was at 80 uniques a day in nov. down to 38 yesterday now :( one of the sites at work is receiving over 6k uniques a day ALL from google :p"

Savanna said: "I'm tired of data refreshes. All of my hair is turning gray!"