The Google August 2024 core update has caused significant volatility in search rankings, according to data providers. The update, which began on August 15, 2024, and concluded on September 3, 2024, showed some signs of improvement for websites affected by the September 2023 helpful content update. However, most of these sites did not experience enough traffic rebound to make a substantial difference.
Although the August core update felt significant, Google stated that the March 2024 core update was actually their largest core update ever. The first few days of the August update were also plagued by a search ranking bug, which was fixed four days later. This means that any movement observed during those initial days should be disregarded when analyzing the impact of the update.
Various data providers analyzed the August 2024 core update and reported their findings. SimilarWeb’s SERP Seismometer recorded a massive spike in SERP ranking fluctuations, with an average fluctuation level of 4.48 in global ranking changes. This represents the highest fluctuation level observed since 2021, according to Shay Harel from Sistrix.
Similarweb also broke down the ranking fluctuations by niche/industry. The retail space experienced the highest fluctuations in the top three results, while the health niche had the lowest. However, all four niches showed similar fluctuation levels in the top ten results.
Semrush also reported intense volatility with the August 2024 update. The peak volatility was significantly higher than the March update, although the average gain and loss in ranking positions were similar to March. The percentage of new URLs that previously ranked beyond position 20 was also comparable to the March update.
Sistrix posted a list of the biggest winners and losers during the August 2024 Google Core update, providing insights into which websites gained or lost visibility during the update.
Despite some recoveries from the September 2023 update, most websites did not see significant improvements or meaningful recoveries. In fact, many sites experienced declines or remained unchanged. The volatility in Google Search results has not calmed down, with ongoing movement even after the update.
Google stated that the August core update aims to improve the quality of search results by promoting genuinely useful content and reducing the visibility of content created solely to perform well in search rankings. This update specifically focuses on promoting useful content from small and independent publishers.
Google has provided guidance on what to do if a website is negatively impacted by a core update. However, there are no specific actions to take for recovery, as a negative rankings impact may not indicate any issues with the website’s pages. Google emphasizes the importance of creating helpful and reliable content for people, rather than focusing on ranking in search engines.
While the data analyzed in this article provides insights into the overall impact of the August 2024 core update, it does not represent individual website performance. Some sites may have seen significant improvements, while others may have experienced devastating declines. Ultimately, the key takeaway is to focus on creating valuable content for users, as Google continues to refine its search algorithms to prioritize useful and relevant results.
