Yes, it’s that time of the year again. No, not summer.
Google just announced the rollout of the August 2024 core update.
Here’s what we know.
What is Google's August 2024 core update?
Google’s August 2024 core update is meant to treat smaller independent publishers on par with authority websites that dominate the SERPs. It is the most recent in a series of algorithmic updates aimed at increasing the relevancy and quality of search results.
Google core updates are significant changes to Google's search algorithm that affect how pages rank in search engine results pages (SERPs). The main purpose of these improvements is to prioritize information that is more useful, and informative, and serves user queries better.
In Google’s own words, the update intends to prioritize relevant search results over how big or small your website is.
Here’s what Google said.
As always, we aim to connect people with a range of high quality sites, including small or independent sites that are creating useful, original content, when relevant to users' searches.
– Google on core updates
Of course, they also included what is now a frequent reminder to focus on creating high-value content that is not designed to just rank in the SERPs.
The focus on helpful content is a core philosophy of Google’s search algorithm, so this shouldn’t surprise anyone.
What is the impact from the August 2024 core update?
The good news is that we see websites negatively impacted by previous core updates, pick up traffic and search rankings. Glenn Gabe of G-Squared Interactive has been tracking about 400 websites that went down from the last September Helpful Content update.
Glenn has reported seeing 18% of those websites see improvements from this update.
The editor of ThisHouseFresh, perhaps the most popular affiliate publisher hit by the last core update has also admitted to seeing positive changes from this update.
Others have joined in as well.
But to be fair, we’ve also seen a few sites drop further in traffic. Here’s an example.
If you’re seeing the same, consider taking action for a core update recovery.
What did Google change about the August 2024 update?
I compared Google’s help page on core updates from July 2024 to August 15, 2024 when the core update was announced.
There has been quite a bit of activity on the page. Here are some significant revisions I found.
How core updates work
The previous statement under How core updates work sought to explain that sites seeing a decline in traffic may not have done anything wrong, and that changes in the SERPs were only a reflection of changing search intent.
However, the new wording from Google doesn’t address policy violations. Instead, it focusses on Google’s goal of ensuring reliable information to readers.
Check if there's a traffic drop in Search Console
This is a newly added section that we haven’t seen before. Perhaps, to ensure that your pages were actually affected by a core update and not other changes, it walks you through diagnosing a traffic drop inside Search Console.
To ensure that your website was affected by a core update, Google suggests waiting for the update to roll out completely, to review large drops and reassess user intent in the SERPs.
Assessing a large drop in position
This used to be the second section that has now been moved down. It specifically addresses a large sustained drop in position.
The section now links thrice to Google’s article about creating helpful, people-first content. That page hasn’t been changed.
So they obviously want us to re-read that article and apply the guidelines in it.
Things to keep in mind when making changes
Another new section!
The last article about core update assessment was woefully understated, so it looks like Google put in more specific guidelines in the revised version.
This part looks like it is specifically written to address the misinformation that followed the last few core updates.
What’s interesting is that it only addresses the content side of things, so that tells you how important just content optimization can be to the search algorithm.
Google’s main recommendations are to
- Avoid making small changes
- Improving content and the user experience
- Avoid deleting useful content when it can be revised.
How long does it take to see an effect in Search results
The old header How long does it take to recover from a core update? has been revised to this, perhaps in a bid to dissuade users from expecting results like in the past.
While this section has largely been condensed to keep its original meaning, I found that it sounds more positive.
While the previous article mainly identified the next core update to see changes – “Content that was impacted in Search or Discover by one might not recover—assuming improvements have been made—until the next broad core update is released,” the new information provides some hope for quicker core update recoveries.
This line in particular – “If you've made improvements, it may take time to see an effect in Search results: some changes can take effect in a few days…”
New disclaimer
And of course, there’s a new TnC where there wasn’t one before.
I’d say this is common sense at this point but seeks to address grievances from website owners who may not have made improvements in the search engine’s eyes.
Why is Google's August 2024 core update important?
Google's August 2024 core update is important because it may finally offer smaller websites, equal opportunities to larger, established domains. In the context of the last few core updates that wiped out a majority of smaller players, this update suggests a ray of hope among the independent content community.
The announcement specifically mentions three points.
One,
This latest update takes into account the feedback we've heard from some creators and others over the past few months.
This is an obvious reference to the backlash that Google faced following its last few core updates that provided little in the way of guidance for affected sites to rectify.
I wouldn’t quite expect an apology, but this is the closest we’ll get.
While a large number of AI-exploiting sites were taken down overnight, we also saw genuinely helpful websites losing most of their traffic.
It seems like Google was made well aware of its mistakes and has taken them onboard. The August 2024 update seems to rectify some of these missteps.
Second,
As always, we aim to connect people with a range of high quality sites, including small or independent sites that are creating useful, original content, when relevant to users' searches.
The subtle nod to small or independent sites is what has excited the community. This is the audience that felt neglected and that their voices weren’t being heard.
Small business owners and blog owners who were genuinely interested in sharing ideas and information about topics they were passionate about were deemed to be unhelpful, with some losing significant portions of their livelihood over a week.
Third,
This update also aims to better capture improvements that sites may have made, so we can continue to show the best of the web.
This is a particularly insightful comment because it suggests that websites that were affected by past core updates can potentially be brought back to life.
To what degree is anyone’s guess, but the fact that Google’s new update will acknowledge positive changes in your website is a sign that you can recover from a previous core update.
What to expect from Google's August 2024 core update?
Google’s emphasis on providing useful information to satisfy users’ needs remains an important prerequisite for websites in the August 2024 core update.
Add this piece of information to every statement for a true picture.
“...sites that are creating useful, original content, when relevant to users' searches.”
Don’t expect the update to favor you if you’ve not been following Google’s fundamental tenet of providing value first to readers.
Your site likely won’t see improvements in ranking if you’ve not revised it since the last core update.
This may mean a content audit to eliminate unhelpful articles or on-page work that improves user experience, like ad minimization.
The good news is that the update announcement also revealed that Google Search will continue to improve in these areas in future updates.
So if you have not worked on your website, there still is hope in a few months.
You may even be able to take everything we learn from the August 2024 core update and apply it to your pages.
I’ll update this page as we learn more about Google’s August 2024 core update.
