Just in time for back-to-school in Fall 2024, Google has dropped its latest core update.
What is a core update? To put it simply: significant Google algorithm changes. Google seeks to minimize the impact of low-value SEO content and prioritize high-quality pages as it ranks websites. We know that because Google told us:
Will This Update Affect Google Website Ranking?
Google started rolling out changes on August 15. Related updates will continue throughout the month. You can track their progress at Google's Search Status Dashboard.
As of 8/20/2024, all reported ranking issues that occurred during the update have been resolved.
The August Google core updates don’t target specific websites; these sweeping changes will affect the rankings of all websites going forward. Google usually shares technical specifics on the impact of core changes; this time around, it didn’t.
But the focus clearly is on high-ranking content that's “genuinely helpful” and “doesn't feel artificially optimized for search.” Google also updated its support page with tips on how to navigate this and future updates.
These updates will not radically change how rankings work. Google compares it to recommending top restaurants: Your list of favorites might change over time, but that doesn't mean the ones that dropped down are bad and banished from the list. It’s just that others have adapted better to your changing tastes.
Major Google algorithm changes like this typically occur a few times a year. The last one occurred in March of 2024.
How to Adapt to the Core Update
- Keep the timeline of this core update in mind when collecting data. If you notice a sudden shift in your website's traffic during the month-long rollout, resist the urge to make immediate changes. Give it time. Allow at least a week for the data to stabilize before drawing conclusions about the update's impact on your content.
A buffer period before and after changes will draw a clearer picture of the situation and enable marketers and webmasters to make informed decisions. Compare post-update data to pre-update metrics. Focus on such key performance indicators as organic search traffic, rankings, and conversions.
Smart decisions based on sound data are the keys to raising website visibility.
- Don’t make sudden changes; prioritize content optimization carefully. Slight shifts in rankings, say from 5 to 8, might not indicate major changes. Significant drops, say 5 to 30, signal a thorough content and page structure audit. To improve your website ranking, you must understand how Google's algorithm updates relate and respond to your content.
Google designs its core updates to improve search quality and user experience. Your changes should align with those goals. High-quality, relevant content that serves your audience's needs does that. In this case, virtue really is its own reward.
- Think long term when you optimize content. Google clearly intends to empower “genuinely helpful” content. Those explicit terms carry an implicit warning: Don’t load your site with quick, superficial pages that exist only for search rank. Value-rich cornerstone content is the foundation of staying power for website rankings.
Trends come and go in SEO, but E-E-A-T is the evergreen answer to any Google search algorithm changes. They always favor content that demonstrates Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness.
Key Takeaway
Exact details of the August 2024 Google Core Update remain unclear, but the update’s impact is substantial enough to rise to the level of a core update – a major change to Google's search algorithms. It’s clearly affecting rankings, so monitor your website's performance closely and adapt your content strategy accordingly.
That’s not easy. Northwoods stands ready to help. We'll keep you informed of the latest SEO developments so you can maintain and improve your search engine rankings.
If you need expert SEO insights and guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out! Our team can help you develop and execute an SEO strategy that gets results.