Google is known for constantly updating its search algorithm and system to provide the best possible results for its users. These updates can range from minor tweaks to significant changes affecting millions of websites’ ranking and visibility. One of Google’s most important updates is Google Core Updates August 2023.
Core updates are broad and practical changes that Google makes to its search algorithm and system. They are designed to improve the quality and relevance of the search results by rewarding the sites that offer the best content and user experience.
What is a Google Core Update?
A Google core update is a significant and broad change that Google makes to its search algorithm and system. The search algorithm is the rules and formulas that Google uses to determine which pages are the most relevant and valuable for a given query. The system is the infrastructure and software that Google uses to implement and execute the algorithm.
Google releases core updates several times a year, usually every few months. These updates aim to improve the quality and relevance of the search results by rewarding the sites that offer the best content and user experience. Google applies new or revised criteria to evaluate and rank web pages.
Core updates do not target specific pages or sites but assess the overall content. This means some pages or sites may gain or lose ranking and visibility after a core update, depending on how well they meet the new or revised criteria. However, this does not necessarily mean anything wrong with the affected pages or sites. It simply means that Google has found other pages or sites that are more relevant or useful for the same query.
A Google Core Update 2023 is a possible future change that Google may make to its search algorithm and system. It is expected to improve the quality and relevance of the search results by rewarding the sites that offer the best content and user experience.
The SEO Impact of Google Core Updates
SEO involves various aspects, such as keyword research, content creation, technical optimization, link building, user experience, etc.
Core updates can have a significant impact on the SEO of a website, as they can affect the ranking and visibility of its pages in the search results. Depending on how well a website meets a core update’s new or revised criteria, it may gain or lose ranking and traffic for specific queries.
However, core updates do not target specific pages or sites but assess the overall content. This means there is no definitive list of actions a website can take to improve its ranking after a core update. Instead, Google advises website owners to focus on creating helpful, reliable, and people-first content that meets the needs and expectations of their users.
- E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It is a concept that Google uses to evaluate the quality and credibility of a website and its content. E-E-A-T is especially important for topics impacting users’ well-being, such as health, finance, news, etc. To demonstrate E-E-A-T, a website should provide clear and accurate information about its authors, sources, credentials, reviews, etc.
- Content quality refers to how well a website’s content matches the user’s intent and query. Content quality also involves originality, comprehensiveness, accuracy, readability, freshness, etc. To improve content quality, a website should provide relevant and helpful information that answers the user’s questions and solves their problems.
- User intent is the goal or purpose behind a user’s search query. User intent can be classified into four main types: informational (seeking to learn something), navigational (seeking to find a specific website), transactional (seeking to buy something), and commercial (seeking to compare products or services). To match user intent, a website should provide content that aligns with the user’s expectations and needs.
- Site speed measures how fast a website loads and responds to user interactions. Site speed is essential for SEO, affecting user experience and satisfaction. A slow site can cause users to bounce or abandon the site, which can negatively affect the ranking and traffic of the site. To improve site speed, a website should optimize its images, code, server, cache, etc.
How to Prepare Your Website for Google Core Updates
Core updates are inevitable and unpredictable, and they can have a significant impact on the SEO of a website. However, this does not mean website owners should panic or despair when a core update happens. Instead, they should focus on following the best practices for SEO and creating helpful, reliable, and people-first content that meets the needs and expectations of their users.
- Follow the self-assessment questions from Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines: Google provides questions that website owners can use to assess and improve their content. These questions cover E-E-A-T, content quality, user intent, site speed, etc. By answering these questions honestly and objectively, you can identify the strengths and weaknesses of your content and make the necessary improvements.
- Conduct an audit of your site performance: You can use various tools and resources to monitor and analyze your site’s performance and ranking in the search results. These tools include Google Search Console, Google Analytics, PageSpeed Insights, etc. These tools can help you identify and fix any issues or errors affecting your site’s SEO, such as broken links, duplicate content, slow loading speed, etc.
- Get feedback from others: You can also get feedback from others, such as your users, customers, peers, experts, etc. You can use surveys, reviews, comments, social media, etc., to gather feedback and opinions about your content and website. You can use this feedback to improve your content quality, user experience, E-E-A-T, etc.
- Keep up with the latest trends and updates: You should also keep yourself updated with the latest trends and updates in your niche and industry. You should also follow Google’s official announcements and guidelines regarding core updates and other search algorithm and system changes. You can stay informed and updated with blogs, newsletters, podcasts, forums, etc.. Doing this lets you anticipate and adapt to your users’ and Google’s changing needs and preferences.
Conclusion
Core updates are inevitable and unpredictable, and they can significantly impact the ranking and visibility of your website in the search results. However, this does not mean you should panic or despair when a core update happens. Instead, it would help if you focused on following the Google Core update guidelines for SEO and creating content that demonstrates E-E-A-T, content quality, user intent, site speed, etc.
