In August 2024, Google rolled out its latest core update, bringing new changes to how search results are ranked and displayed. As digital marketers and webmasters, it’s crucial to understand how these updates work and what steps you should take to adapt. Here’s a comprehensive look at Google’s August Core Update and its implications for your site.
How Core Updates Function
Core updates are designed to improve the quality of search results by refining the algorithms that determine how web pages are ranked. Unlike updates targeting specific sites or pages, core updates are broad and impact many websites. Think of it as recalibrating Google’s search engine to better reflect the current state of the web.
Imagine you’re curating a list of top restaurants for a friend. Your list from 2019 might not hold up in 2024, as new restaurants have emerged and others may have changed. Similarly, Google’s algorithms are updated to accommodate new content and shifting trends, ensuring that users receive the most relevant and helpful search results.
Key Steps to Take if You Notice a Traffic Drop
Check Traffic in Google Search Console
If you see a drop in your site’s traffic, first confirm whether it aligns with the timing of the core update. Go to Google Search Console to examine any changes in your site’s performance.
Verify Update Completion
Ensure the core update has fully rolled out by checking the Search Status Dashboard. It’s advisable to wait at least a week after the update’s completion before analyzing your site’s performance to avoid misinterpretation of the data.
Compare Data
Compare your site’s performance from a week before the update to a week after. This helps you pinpoint changes more accurately and assess the impact of the update.
Review Your Top Pages and Queries
Examine how your top-performing pages and queries fared before and after the update. A small drop (e.g., from position 2 to 4) usually doesn’t warrant drastic changes. However, a significant drop (e.g., from position 4 to 29) requires a deeper analysis.
Analyze Search Types Separately
Understand whether the drop occurred in Web Search, Google Images, Video mode, or News. This helps pinpoint where adjustments might be needed.
Assessing Significant Drops in Rankings
If your site experiences a major decline, it’s essential to conduct a thorough self-assessment. Evaluate your site’s overall content quality and relevance:
Objective Review
Examine your site critically, possibly seeking feedback from trusted, unaffiliated reviewers.
Impact Analysis
Identify the pages most affected and assess how they align with Google’s quality guidelines.
Making Meaningful Changes
Instead of quick fixes, focus on sustainable improvements:
Avoid Hasty Adjustments
Don’t make knee-jerk changes based on SEO myths. Focus on meaningful, user-centric improvements.
Enhance Content Quality
Consider rewriting or restructuring content to better meet user needs.
Delete Unhelpful Content
Removing outdated or low-quality content can enhance the overall performance of your site. However, ensure this is a last resort and only if the content cannot be improved.
Timeline for Seeing Results
Improvements to your site may not yield immediate results. While some changes can show effects within days, it may take several months for Google to reassess and confirm the quality of your content. If no improvement is observed after a few months, it might be necessary to wait for the next core update.