Google Changes How Search Results Are Measured — What It Means for Your Business

At Catalyst Communications Network, home to trusted industry Publications like Crane Hot Line, Lift & Access, Contractors Hot Line, and Farmers Hot Line, our business is built on delivering actionable insight, data, and results to the markets we serve.

Recently, Google made a core technical change: retiring the num=100 search parameter. For years, this feature allowed tools and publishers to see the first 100 results for any search, mapping keyword reach in depth

What Changed

• SEO tools can now only read 10 results at a time.
• As a result, most reports will focus only on the top 20 positions.
• Keywords that are ranked on page 3 or beyond may no longer appear in reports.

What This Means for You

• Your actual website traffic has not changed.
• You may see lower impression counts or fewer total keywords in Google Search Console or third-party SEO reports.
• This does not mean lost visibility — it just means the data is now cleaner and focused on the search positions that matter.

Why This Is a Positive Shift

• Nearly all meaningful traffic comes from the first two pages of Google.
• Reports will now highlight the keywords that actually drive business, instead of inflating numbers with data from positions nobody clicks.

Our Commitment

At CCN, our priority is making sure advertisers and partners have clear, accurate visibility into how their ads and content perform across our publications and websites. As Google updates the way search data is measured, our team stays on top of these changes so you don’t have to.

For our brands and for our advertisers, we are:

• Monitoring search and traffic trends across Crane Hot Line, Lift & Access, Contractors Hot Line, Farmers Hot Line, and our other publications.
• Ensuring ad performance reports highlight the data that matters most — real clicks, engagement, and leads generated.
• Continuously refining how we present campaign results so you can clearly see the value of advertising across CCN’s platforms.

Bottom line: CCN is committed to keeping your business visible in front of the right buyers, while making sure reporting remains clear, accurate, and actionable.

Catalyst Communications Network (Media Partner)

A data-driven media company specializing in the U.S. agriculture, construction and industrial markets. Catalyst provides customized digital solutions that strategically connect businesses with their target audiences, fostering meaningful engagement and driving business growth.