Google has recently completed its August 2024 core update, which began on August 15 and ended on September 3. This update has caused significant movement and changes in Google Search results, impacting the rankings of many websites.
Unlike previous core updates, the August 2024 update took into consideration the feedback received since the September 2023 helpful content update, which negatively affected small and independent publishers. A recent poll showed that 44% of respondents experienced a decrease in rankings and traffic, while only 27% reported an increase. The remaining 29% saw no change.
Although some sites were able to recover from the September 2023 update, it was only a limited recovery. Most websites did not experience significant improvements and instead saw further declines or remained stagnant.
During the initial four days of the August core update, there was a search ranking bug that caused fluctuations. However, this bug was resolved, and any movement during that period should be disregarded. Website owners should compare their rankings and traffic after the update to the weeks before its release to assess its impact accurately.
According to John Mueller, a Search Advocate at Google, the August 2024 core update aims to improve the quality of search results by prioritizing genuinely useful content and reducing the visibility of content created solely for search engine optimization purposes. Google aimed to promote useful content from small and independent publishers based on the feedback received since the March 2024 core update.
Google has provided guidance on its help page about core updates, offering advice for those who may experience changes after an update. However, there are no specific actions to take for recovery, and a negative impact on rankings does not necessarily indicate an issue with the website’s pages. Google encourages creators to focus on writing helpful and reliable content for users rather than solely aiming to rank in search engines.
It is important for website owners to understand the impact of the August 2024 core update on their websites. If improvements have been noticed, it is a positive sign, but if not, there may be a need for further improvements to meet Google’s criteria for ranking higher in search results.
Google releases core updates periodically, so continuous efforts to improve websites and their content are essential. Future updates may benefit website ranking and Google traffic, making it crucial to focus on ongoing improvements for both search engines and website users.
Unfortunately, Google has not provided a feedback form for this particular update. Website owners should stay informed about core updates and consider adding Search Engine Land to their Google News feed for regular updates and insights.
In conclusion, the August 2024 core update by Google has caused significant changes in search rankings and results. Website owners must focus on creating helpful and reliable content for users, as this is the key to ranking well in Google Search. Continuous improvement is necessary to adapt to future updates and ensure a website’s success in terms of ranking and traffic.
