How to Recover from the Latest Google Update
Did your website get caught up?
Understanding Google Core Updates
Google core updates can have massive implications for businesses that rely heavily on organic traffic. With Google handling nearly 92% of the web’s search queries, a dip in traffic caused by a core update can be detrimental to many businesses.
In this article, we will explore the basics of Google core updates, their implications, and Google’s official take on recovering from them.
Overview of Google Core Updates
Google’s search algorithms are constantly updated to improve the relevance and authority of search results.
However, there are times when Google makes significant changes to its algorithms, and these are referred to as core updates. These updates are designed to ensure that relevant and authoritative content is presented to searchers.
The most recent core update, the March 2024 core update, is expected to be significant. It aims to tackle the use of AI to produce spammy content at scale.
Additionally, this update integrates Google’s Helpful Content System into its core algorithm, reducing low-quality and unoriginal content in search results by 40%.
Implications of Google Core Updates
For businesses heavily reliant on organic traffic, a core update can lead to significant drops in website traffic. In some cases, the impact of a core update can be worse for a business than a recession.
It is crucial to understand the implications and take the necessary steps to recover from the update.
Google’s Official Take on Recovering from a Core Update
Over the years, Google’s stance on recovering from core updates has varied. Initially, the company stated that pages that drop after a core update don’t have anything wrong to fix.
However, in more recent statements, Google has implied that there are fixes that can be made to recover from a drop in rankings caused by a core update.
John Mueller, a Search Advocate at Google, has indicated that it is possible to make changes to a website that can bring back lost traffic after a core update.
He suggests focusing on incremental improvements to recover from the drop in rankings. This indicates that there are strategies that can be employed to recover from a core update and regain lost search visibility.
Recovery Checklist for Google Core Updates
To recover from a dip in traffic caused by a Google core update, it is essential to follow a recovery checklist. Here are the steps you can take:
Don’t Panic
Seeing a significant drop in rankings can be a cause for concern, but panicking won’t help. It is important to stay calm and approach the situation strategically. Understand that recovering from a core update takes time and effort.
Use Data to Identify Content that Needs Improvement
Analyze your website’s data to identify the pages that have been most affected by the core update. Look for patterns and trends to understand the specific areas that need improvement. This can include pages with decreased organic traffic or lower keyword rankings.
Improve the Relevance and Authority of Problem Pages
Once you have identified the problem pages, focus on improving their relevance and authority. Optimize the content by including relevant keywords, providing valuable information, and ensuring the page meets the user’s intent. Additionally, work on building quality backlinks to enhance the authority of these pages.
Strategies for Post Core Update Recovery
In addition to the recovery checklist, there are additional strategies that can help in recovering from a Google core update.
Revisit Your Technical SEO Basics
Revisiting your website’s technical SEO aspects is crucial for recovery. Ensure that your site is optimized for mobile devices, has fast loading times, and follows proper URL structures. Fix any crawl errors, broken links, or duplicate content issues that may negatively impact your website’s performance.
Conduct Competitor Analysis
Analyzing your competitors’ websites can provide valuable insights into their strategies and approaches. Identify areas where your competitors are performing well and leverage that information to improve your own website. Identify gaps in content, backlink opportunities, and potential areas for improvement.
Offset Traffic Loss by Publishing New, High-quality Content
One effective way to recover from a drop in rankings is by publishing new, high-quality content. This can help attract new traffic and improve your website’s overall relevance and authority. Focus on creating informative and engaging content that resonates with your target audience. Incorporate relevant keywords and optimize each piece of content for SEO.
By following these strategies and implementing the recovery checklist, you can increase your chances of recovering from the latest Google core update. Remember that recovery takes time, so patience and persistence are key. Stay updated with the latest SEO best practices and adapt your strategies to meet the evolving algorithms of search engines.
