Many SEO experts anticipated a new update by Google in August 2024, and keeping this in mind, Google has made all the speculations come to reality with its new update.
So, let’s dive into the update!
What Google has said about the update and our takeaways from it!
Google has launched a broad core update with the intention of prioritizing the genuine content that is helping the readers rather than content made for search engines.
The update will also provide value to independent sites that are creating quality content over SERP. It is said in the official statement by Google that the update has been taken into account on the basis of creators feedback. So it is being considered that platforms like Reddit and Quora, who boosted their rankings a lot after the March 2024 update, may see a downward fluctuation, while independent websites can see an improvement in their rankings if they create more engaging content.
Also, the official core update blog is redirecting the users to the in-depth guide on core updates by Google and how to deal with them. Our take on this is that an SEO expert should wait until the rollout of the update is completed, which is mentioned around 4 weeks.
Steps to check the effect of the update on your website
As recommended by Google, it’s essential to closely monitor your website’s traffic and rankings using tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics to assess the impact of the August 2024 core update.
How to Track Changes
- Regular Check-Ins: Check your webmaster and analytics tools at least twice a week to observe gradual changes in your website’s performance metrics.
- Patience is Key: If you don’t see immediate fluctuations, remember that the update’s full rollout can take time. Check out the page to see when the update is completed.
- Benchmarking: Assuming the update is complete by September 12th, wait until September 19th to compare traffic and rankings from the two-week periods before and after the update (August 8th–15th vs. September 12th–19th).
- Analyze Top Keywords and Pages: Compare the average positions of your top-ranking keywords. If you notice significant shifts of more than three positions for a majority of keywords, it’s likely that the update has impacted your website.
- Consider Search Types: Look at search types separately. This means separate comparisons for web search, Google Images, video mode, and the news tab.
How To Deal With August 2024 Core Update Impact On Website
If your website has experienced a significant decline in traffic and rankings. You now need to be strategic to deal with it. As you know, the update is about content quality, so go through Google’s self-assessment guide that helps creators evaluate their content’s quality, relevance, and user-friendliness.
Tips to Follow While Going Through the Self-Assessment Guide:
- Look at your website pages and go through them. Are they fulfilling user intent?
- You can also ask an SEO expert or someone you trust to go through your website to do the assessment.
- Prioritize evaluating the pages that have suffered the most significant declines in your analytics report.
Key Questions for Self-Assessment
The guide includes over 35 questions to assess your content, including:
- Does your content offer unique insights, research, or analysis?
- Is your content comprehensive and in-depth?
- Do your titles and headings accurately reflect the content?
- Does your content instill trust and credibility?
- Is your content authored or reviewed by a subject matter expert?
- Does your website have a clear focus or purpose?
- Does your content leave readers satisfied and informed?
Do’s and Don’ts to Get Back Your Rankings
When making content changes, remember these guidelines:
- Avoid Instant Fixes: Don’t try to remove the elements instantly if you see them harming your SEO. Instead, focus on those parts that can help a user fulfill his/her intent after he enters the webpage.
- Focus on Meaningful Improvements: Enhance readability and navigation by restructuring or rewriting content. Don’t use AI tools solely to copy and paste the content.
- Deletion as a Last Resort: Only delete content if it cannot be remolded.
Conclusion: Patience is the Key
Implementing changes may take time to impact search rankings. Some changes might be reflected within days, while others could take months. In some cases, results may not be apparent until Google’s next core update. So analyze and take help from experts if needed.