Google’s Dancing: Surviving the Dewey Update
Ian Lurie Apr 4 2008
It’s somewhat official: Google’s making another major algorithm update. You can read the geeky details on Search Engine Land.
I have a few tips for surviving the experience:
- Turn off your computer and walk away for a week.
- Find those left over percocets and pop a few.
- Failing that, go to the Google server at 72.14.207.104. Search your target phrases there. If the result there is still different from the rest of the world, there’s a chance Google’s still updating, and whatever you’re seeing that’s causing ulcers is temporary.
Google has many servers. They push these updates live from one server to the next. While the servers are never fully in sync, it’s a pretty good way to the progress of a Google update.
I can’t guarantee that 72.14.207.104 is really indicative. But it might just save your sanity.

Ian Lurie
CEO & Founder
Ian Lurie is CEO and founder of Portent Inc. He's recorded training for Lynda.com, writes regularly for the Portent Blog and has been published on AllThingsD, Forbes.com and TechCrunch. Ian speaks at conferences around the world, including SearchLove, MozCon, SIC and ad:Tech. Follow him on Twitter at portentint. He also just published a book about strategy for services businesses: One Trick Ponies Get Shot, available on Kindle. Read More
Nobody at Google has confirmed anything, and in fact Matt Cutts has said that he doesn’t see much of a change at all.
Off to stick you on my blogroll now.
@Dan I’m not sure what to call this at this point, but I’m definitely seeing major shakeups in the rankings. A few of my clients are still rising and falling as many as 10-15 spots in a period of a few hours, then returning to their previous position.
Page 8 to 88, and back again over April how does this sound. Right across every term. Google webmasters is crap also, as it is never in sync and thus somewhat pointless. Problem is Google doesnt know its ass from its elbow.