With the recent changes that Google made at the end of the year, many clients benefited, especially those on ZeppOS. However, in an odd turn, a number of companies that have been in the top few results for years were relegated to number 6 position with no explanation.

There were many ideas as to why and a lot of speculation (the SEO industry tends to conspiracty theory rather easily about these things). And for good reason, dropping to below the top five could mean sudden death in the SEO game.

Though it seemed unlikely that Google would invoke a four or five-place penalty, the number of webmasters reporting the problem gave more weight to the growing urban myth.

Search Engine Roundtable reports that Matt Cutts confirmed a glitch with Google, and that they are in the process of resetting everything back to normal. You can take relief if you were one of those clients.

Explanations weren't really offered. I guess even Google is able to make a mistake.