Since September 13, Google no longer supports the num=100 parameter. Until now, SEO tools could fetch the top 100 results in one request — now only the first 10 are returned.
Why this matters for web designers and agencies:
SEO tools and client reports may suddenly show “lost rankings” even though nothing changed in reality.
Google Search Console impressions will look lower, while average positions may look “better.”
Traffic and top rankings (Top 10 / Top 20) remain stable. This is a reporting change, not a performance drop.
What you should do:
Annotate Google Search Console data from Sept 10 onward so you know where the shift happened.
Reassure clients: “Your traffic hasn’t dropped — only the way Google reports data has changed.”
Focus reporting on clicks, conversions, and top rankings, not deep page results that almost no users click.
Every SEO tool in the industry is affected — Sistrix, Semrush, Ahrefs, XOVI, and others. Updates will take time as providers adapt.
For ongoing updates, check here: status.xovi.net
Your client’s rankings and traffic haven’t disappeared. Only the reporting has changed.
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