Google’s Core Update for August 2023

As you all know, this August 22nd, Google released its first core update after five months. Since Google has been handling over 92% of web search queries, this algorithm update has been creating quite an impact in the SEO world. The August update is the second broad core algorithm update for 2023 and it may take around two weeks to complete. This update has been designed with the intention of improving search results by recognising and favouring web pages that offer high-quality, relevant content.

What should you know about Google Core update, August 2023?

The first thing you should remember is that this is a global update and would impact all regions and languages worldwide. It also focuses on all types of content, including blogs, websites and even images.

As mentioned earlier, the rollout may take up to two weeks to complete, and therefore as a website owner, if you see a drop in your search rankings, you should wait till the update fully rolls out to make any drastic changes in your web content. As per Google, this is not a penalty but rather Google’s way of rewarding great content.

Which websites have been hit by this update?

Certain businesses currently undergo significant declines in their website traffic due to core updates. The traffic gains and losses have been ranging from 20 to 80% since then. People on SEO forums and comment sections of websites like WebmasterWorld and BlackHatWorld have been discussing changes in their website traffic and rankings caused by a recent Google update.

Here’s a peek at some of the discussions that started on Friday, August 25th, and continued over the weekend:

·   On Sunday, some users experienced around a 50% drop in traffic and noticed that about 30% of their web pages had been removed from Google’s index. This trend has been ongoing since August 17th. Meanwhile, some others mentioned that their rankings had improved over the past two days.

·   On Friday, a hotel website in the UK experienced a large decrease in traffic, hitting a low point for August. On the same day, someone also noticed changes in the US finance sector’s search results, starting around 11 a.m. PT.

·   Some users reported positive increases in traffic, ranging from 20% to 50% higher each hour.

·   On a different note, on July 20th, a large website with 900k indexed pages started seeing a 20% boost in traffic, mainly due to an increase in the number of indexed pages rather than improved ranking.

·   Traffic was exceptionally high during the weekend, with search traffic up by 27% and direct traffic up by 53% at one point. There were speculations that this might be related to the post-COVID economy stabilising.

·   As of August 27th, there was a slight increase in traffic and impressions, and some users felt that this update had a smaller impact compared to previous unannounced updates.

How to recover from a core update?

In case you notice a decline in your search rankings following a core update, staying calm and taking appropriate measures is crucial. Remember, seeing a negative impact from the update doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s an issue with your website. It doesn’t mean any keyword spam or any technical issues with your site. Instead, below are some tips that can aid in your recovery from a core update:

·       Evaluate your content to ensure it maintains quality, relevance, and authoritativeness.

·   Enhance the optimisation of your content for search engines.

·   Engage in the promotion of your content across social media and various channels.

·   Practice patience, as recovering from a core update might require a certain period.

·   By adhering to these recommendations, you can enhance the likelihood of recuperating from a core update and reinstating prominent positions within Google’s search outcomes.

How to create high-quality content that will be rewarded by Google’s core update?

Make sure to craft your content with your audience in mind, rather than catering solely to search engines. Update the content whenever needed to maintain the “freshness”. Also, prioritise the delivery of content that is valuable and enlightening. Try to provide a comprehensive view that just mentions the obvious points. Do not forget to utilise a language that is both clear and succinct. Moreover, try incorporating high-quality images and videos. Spread the news by promoting your content across social media and various other platforms.

With these guidelines in hand, you can generate content that not only boosts your ranking in Google’s search outcomes but also draws a greater number of visitors to your website.

Conclusion

In brief, Google’s latest core update is currently in the process of being implemented and is expected to finalise by early September, spanning a few weeks. The potential impact this update may have on your website remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the consequences may not necessarily be negative. If your site experiences a decline in its Search Engine Results Page (SERP) rankings, it’s important to understand that this isn’t an indication of any wrongdoing on your part. The recommended approach is to focus on enhancing the quality and relevance of your content and then proceed forward. So, Good luck with improving your search engine ranking too!