SERP Pop
other versions: SERP popped, SERP popping
verb
This a phenomenon that occurs when a search engine wants to rank a page or document highly on a keyword but the page is not optimized well and so it remains relegated to low rankings. However, once the page is optimized and indexed by the engine its rankings can “pop” up to a high position in the rankings. Where “pop” refers to the listing moving to the top of the search result rankings in faster-than-usual time frame, often within minutes or hours, compared to most SEO movements which can take several months.

“After the SEO consultant made a few adjustments to the page it SERP popped from the number fifty-eight result to the the number one result!”

History
Suggested by SEO Joe Youngblood via Twitter on June 7th, 2020 the term was debated publicly and privately among SEOs for weeks before being posted here. The term was coined by Joe to help explain this very specific and rare phenomenon when SEOs discuss the practical expectations clients should have when embarking on SEO campaigns. Most SEO is explained as a long-term gambit that requires a convergence of various tactile efforts, however, in rare cases SERP pops have been observed by SEOs. These are rarely discussed as they run counter to the main line advice of SEO efforts taking months to have visible impacts, then when they do occur SEOs are left at disadvantage when trying to claim attribution for the success.