
In its latest guidance revision, Google has issued more targeted recommendations for websites impacted by core algorithm updates.
The updated document, which was made available alongside the August core update launch, features multiple new additions and removals.
The new additions:
The two new notable sections include “Check if there’s a traffic drop in Search Console” and “Assessing a large drop in position.”
The “Check if there’s a traffic drop in Search Console” section provides comprehensive guidance on using Search Console to determine whether a core update has affected a website.
The recommended steps include:
- Confirming the completion of the core update by checking the Search Status Dashboard.
- Waiting at least a week after the update is finalised before reviewing Search Console data.
- Comparing search results before and after the update to identify changes in rankings.
- Reviewing various search categories (e.g., web, image, video, news) separately.
The “Assessing a large drop in position” section offers advice for websites that have experienced a considerable drop in rankings following a core update.
The recommendation is to thoroughly evaluate the website’s content against Google’s quality standards, concentrating on the pages that are mostly affected by the update.
Additional changes:
The revised document now includes a section titled “Things to keep in mind when making changes,” which encourages website owners to prioritise meaningful, user-centred improvements over quick fixes.
It suggests that removing content should only be considered a last resort, as this indicates the content was crafted for search engines instead of users.
Another section titled “How long does it take to see an effect in Search results” addresses the expected timeline for tracking ranking changes after content updates.
Google notes that it may take several months for the full impact to appear, potentially requiring patience until the next core update.
The document concludes with a note stating that rankings may fluctuate without any modifications to the website due to the introduction of new online content.
Deleted contents:
Several sections of the earlier document have been either removed or replaced in the new version.
The paragraph conveys that pages impacted by a core update “haven’t violated our spam policies” and draws an analogy between core updates and refreshing a list of popular movies that have been removed.
The newly added section “Assessing a large drop in position” has replaced the former section “Assessing your own content.”
Specific details regarding the timing, frequency, and recovery aspects of core updates have been eliminated from the “How long does it take to recover from a core update?” section.
Change in pitch and perspective:
There is a noticeable shift in tone and focus in this update.
While the previous guide explained the nature and purpose of core updates, the current version offers more practical advice.
For example, the updated sections in Search Console now provide clearer directions on how to identify and rectify drops in rankings.
To wrap things up:
Below is a list of new and removed items in Google’s updated Core Algorithm Update Guidance.
Inclusions:
- The section under “Check if there’s a traffic drop in Search Console” provides detailed instructions on how to use Search Console to find changes in ranking.
- The section “Assessing a large drop in position” provides advice for websites that see notable drops in ranking following a core upgrade.
- “Things to keep in mind when making changes” recommends significant enhancements rather than superficial ones.
- The “How long does it take to see an effect in search results” section establishes a timeline for when ranking adjustments after content upgrades will occur. It also says that a future core upgrade may be necessary and that the full impact may not be felt for several months.
- The closing paragraph mentions how fresh material may cause rankings to shift even in the absence of website upgrades.
Exclusions:
- Pages affected by a core upgrade “haven’t violated our spam policies,” according to this text.
- Comparing updating a list of the top movies to updating core upgrades.
- The new section, “Assessing a large drop in position,” has taken the place of the previous one, “Assessing your own content.”
- Insights on factors affecting recovery time and the timing of core upgrades.
Access to Google’s earlier core update guidance is now available via the Wayback Machine.