As I reported last night at Search Engine Land, Google has changed their definition for the “average position” as used in Google Webmaster Tool’s search query reports and Google Analytics SEO reports.

Google is now using the top positions and averaging those, as opposed to using all the positions and averaging them. Google explains it best with this:

Google said that the old reports won’t change – instead, the new reports will, so historically this won’t make much of a difference.

Google’s John Mueller said on Google+, “I think it makes more sense this way.” I guess it does.

Either way, this is a big change to the reports with little impact to you or I.

Here is how they look in the Webmaster Tools and Analytics section:

Forum discussion at Google+ and Google Webmaster Help.