Ask HN: Why has Goodreads fallen so far in Google Search results lately?

[jasonladuke0311]

When searching for a book, I remember it being 1st or 2nd with Amazon having the other spot. It's fallen way down lately. Any idea why?

[dredmorbius]

I have no insight on Google's practices or reasoning. But Goodreads is now widely considered a failed service:

<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36575003>

<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36533153>

<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37334805>

<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36252791>

[bwb]

I did a quick look using some SEO tools and don't see it falling much.

There is more competition now trying to create better results for book searches and other pages, so maybe that is putting some pressure on different things they do that you are searching for.

I am competition for example, and trying to make a better book website so I know I am trying to rank above them in results :)

[vintageclothldn]

It's generally difficult to say exactly why but Google did a core update on Aug 22, and also a helpful content update which added a new ranking signal

<https://searchengineland.com/library/platforms/google/google...>