In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying updated with search engine algorithms is paramount to maintaining a strong online presence. Google, the search giant, frequently rolls out updates to improve user experience and content relevance. One such significant update is the Google Core Update which just rolled out on August 22nd, 2023, and will impact all websites, including our More Floods members. In this blog, we will delve into what the Google Core Update is, how it can impact your website and SEO, and what steps you can take to ensure your digital strategy remains effective.
Understanding the Google Core Update
Google Core Updates are broad and fundamental changes to its search algorithms. Unlike smaller updates that focus on specific issues, core updates aim to reassess how Google ranks websites and content. These updates are typically rolled out a few times a year, causing notable fluctuations in search engine rankings. Google’s goal is to reward high-quality, relevant content while demoting low-quality or outdated material.
The Impact on Your Website and SEO
- Ranking Fluctuations: With a core update, you may notice significant fluctuations in your website’s search engine rankings. Some pages may rise in rankings, while others might drop. These changes can be unsettling but are often part of Google’s effort to ensure the most accurate and beneficial results for users.
- Content Quality Matters: Google values high-quality, authoritative content. If your website contains outdated, inaccurate, or low-value content, it may experience a drop in rankings. To combat this, regularly audit and update your content, ensuring it’s both informative and relevant to your audience.
- E-A-T Signals: Google pays close attention to E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) signals, particularly for websites that provide information related to health, finance, and other critical areas. Ensure that your website’s content reflects your expertise, features authoritative sources, and builds trust with your audience.
- Mobile Friendliness: Google continues to prioritize mobile-friendly websites. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile devices, it may experience a decline in rankings. Responsive design and fast loading times are crucial for a positive user experience.
- Backlink Quality: Inbound and outbound links play a significant role in SEO. Low-quality or spammy backlinks can negatively impact your website’s credibility. Regularly audit your link profile and disavow toxic links to maintain a healthy backlink profile.
Steps to Adapt and Thrive
- Audit Your Content: Regularly assess your website’s content for accuracy, relevance, and value. Update outdated information, remove or improve low-quality content, and ensure your articles reflect current trends and data.
- Focus on E-A-T: If your site provides information in sensitive niches, pay particular attention to E-A-T signals. Showcase your expertise, cite authoritative sources, and build trust with your audience through transparent and well-researched content.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensure your website is responsive and optimized for mobile devices. Mobile friendliness is not only crucial for SEO but also for providing an excellent user experience.
Backlink Profile: Regularly review your backlink profile. Disavow toxic links, and aim to build high-quality, relevant backlinks from authoritative sources in your industry. - Monitor and Adapt: Core updates can lead to fluctuations in rankings. Continuously monitor your website’s performance and be prepared to adapt your SEO strategy accordingly.
Depending on the severity of the impact to your SEO, these Core Updates can have little effect or require several months of work to get back to where you once were. At Trusted Restorer Digital Marketing, we are monitoring the impacts from this update and staying active in SEO forums and utilizing software platforms to make sure we understand how companies around the world are adapting.
We then wait to see if Google rolls back any features that they have found to have a global negative impact. From there we begin to deploy our learnings, reverse engineer from websites that are performing well and apply our best practices and knowledge to help our customers rank better, where applicable.
Conclusion
While Google Core Updates can be challenging to navigate, they present an opportunity for businesses to improve their digital presence. By focusing on content quality, E-A-T signals, mobile optimization, and backlink quality, you can not only weather the storm of algorithm changes but also emerge stronger in search engine rankings. Remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and staying informed about industry updates is key to long-term success. If you are using Trusted Restorer Digital Marketing, you can trust that we are doing everything we can to help minimize the impact and get you back up and ranking. If you are utilizing a different agency, you should make sure you understand their strategy for adapting to this update and getting you back on track. If you are doing your own marketing in-house, hopefully some of these points can help you minimize the impacts from this update.
At Trusted Restorer Digital Marketing we are committed to helping businesses like yours adapt to these changes and thrive in the digital landscape. If you have questions or need assistance with your SEO strategy, please don’t hesitate to email us at support@trustedrestorerdigitalmarketing.com or call us at 1.833.685.2796. We are here to help make sure you are successful in the restoration industry!
