Google’s quiet removal of the num=100 parameter has resulted in a huge keyword visibility drop, sending ripples through the SEO community. First noticed around September 14, 2025, the change forces tracking tools to collect search results at a much slower pace, making keyword monitoring far less efficient. The bigger impact, however, lies in visibility: a new analysis shows that nearly 88 percent of websites have seen a noticeable drop in keyword impressions within Google Search Console.
For many site owners and SEO professionals, this shift is more than an inconvenience—it’s a reminder of how dependent keyword data is on Google’s search parameters. Experts are calling it both a challenge and an opportunity, suggesting the industry may need to rethink its reliance on inflated metrics and prepare for a more transparent view of performance.
Keyword Visibility Drop: Sharp Impacts on SEO Metrics
Tyler Gargula, technical SEO director at LOCOMOTIVE Agency, crunched numbers from 319 sites. He found the num=100 tweak distorts reports. Scrapers once bloated impressions with fake queries. Now, real data shines through. Sites face sudden dips, but rankings may stay strong.
Some trends clearly show a plunge in desktop impressions. Average positions spike as bots vanish. Short-tail keywords suffer most. This keyword visibility drop makes reports look grim, even for steady performers.
Also Read: CoProxy Review: Is This Proxy Service Worth Your Investment?
Key Data from the Analysis
- Impressions Decline: 87.7% of sites lost views in Search Console.
- Query Count Drop: 77.6% saw fewer unique ranking keywords.
- Keyword Length Hit: Short-tail and mid-tail terms lost the most visibility.
- Rank Shifts: Fewer queries hit page 3+; more appear in top 3 and page 1 spots.
Why does this matter for SEO? The num=100 hack let tools grab 100 results in one go. Now, it takes 10 calls. Costs soar for rank trackers. Google stays silent on permanence. Is it a test or full stop? The findings prove the fallout spreads wide. SEOs must rethink strategies.
The keyword visibility drop signals evolution. SEOs gain truer insights. Watch for Google’s word. Stay agile in 2025’s shifting landscape.
More News To Read: Structured Data Boosts AI Search Visibility for Enterprises
