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Google just released its August Core Update, leaving many users frustrated. In this article, you will find an in-depth breakdown of the August Core Update, including all the changes you need to be aware of and how to navigate through the update.
Google continues its ongoing effort to improve the quality and usefulness of its search engine, and with that comes many changes and updates. Google’s latest update was completed on September 3 and has caused a lot of ranking movement and changes to the overall Google Search results. Creators witnessed more drops in traffic and what appeared to be random fluctuations in ranking and traffic. Let’s explore the latest from Google.
Google launched its August 2024 core update to Google Search, completing the update on September 3. According to Google, the update was designed to “continue our work to improve the quality of our search results by showing more content that people find genuinely useful and less content that feels like it was made just to perform well on Search.” The August core update was not a run-of-the-mill update but one to address the feedback Google heard from some creators since its September 2023 content update.
The September 2023 update appeared to harm many small and independent publishers. Google stated that it aims to “connect people with a range of high quality sites, including small or independent sites that are creating useful, original content, when relevant to users' searches,” which it will continue addressing in future updates.
Google’s update in August has left many creators confused as their rankings dropped. While some creators noticed some improvements, the majority still feel the adverse effects with no clear answer or recovery in sight.
All hope is not lost. Search Engine Land reported that for the first time, they saw some movement with some sites hit by the September 2023 update.
Creators also noticed a decrease in Domain Authority metrics. Domain Authority (DA) is a metric developed by Moz that predicts how well a site might rank on search engine result pages. This metric is based on factors such as the number of root domains linked to a website and the overall number of links.
It is vital to remember that DA is NOT something Google uses to determine your rankings. While it is discouraging to see your DA drop, creators must remember that it does not necessarily reflect a website’s actual performance in Google’s eyes.
Taking everything into account, many wonder why their DA is dropping. Keri Hedrick from Our Globetrotters explains why your DA might be plummeting.
“I believe it’s because so many of our sites were hit by updates and ranking changes. Losing the first few spots on page 1 dramatically drops the frequency of other sites organically linking to you. Legit sites and the scrapers. Other blogger sites we may have swapped with, contributed to, etc., in the past are also dropping or having content clearouts of anything they think will ‘displease Google.’ So it’s a vicious cycle.”
NOTE: DA can be a helpful benchmark, but it is key to remember that it is not a ranking factor, and the degree to which it correlates with Google’s ranking system is unknown.
There’s no need to panic! According to Simon Zhelyazkov from Backpack Moments, there are two main reasons why you might be seeing zero page views:
A problem on Google’s side: Google often encounters issues affecting data reporting.
A disconnect or glitch on your side: It is common for your GA4 tracking code to glitch or become disconnected. A disconnect can happen for various reasons, including site updates or changes to analytics settings. Resolving the issue is usually straightforward: simply re-add the tracking code to your site, and GA4 should start collecting data again.
During the first four days of the August core update, there was a big search ranking bug that was resolved a few days later. The bug caused unexpected drops in rankings for many sites but was a purely technical bug with no link to the type or quality of content. Creators should disregard any movement they saw during those days.
Don’t Give Up, Recovery is Possible: While Google’s constant updates can become very demotivating, considering all the effort poured into building a website. Creators must remember that recovery is possible. It may just take some time. Reports from SERoundtable reveal that there have been signs of life for sites heavily affected by the September update, which saw no improvement until recently. It may be difficult to believe there is hope, but Google’s John Muller recently mentioned that sites could grow again after being affected by updates.
Diversify Your Traffic Sources: It may be helpful to explore other traffic sources in the wake of Google updates. There are numerous strategies to bring traffic to your sites, including social media, email marketing, paid ads, and collaborations.
Keep Calm Until the Update is Fully Rolled Out: Google’s updates can take up to a month to fully roll out, and during this time, you will likely see fluctuations in your site’s performance. Do not panic and wait for the update to complete.
Keep Your Long-Term Goals in Mind: Content creation has changed. That is just reality. Rather than giving up on your goals, the best thing you can do is adjust when necessary, create a definitive strategy and commit to your long-term goal.
Stay Updated with Changes in the industry: Stay updated with industry news, follow updates from reliable sources, and join communities where you can share challenges you might be facing with others experiencing the same. Keeping up to date with industry developments will help you anticipate and navigate changes, adapt your strategy, and grow your site.
Building a website requires immense effort and dedication, and seeing it take a hit is challenging. The important thing is to stay up to date with Google’s announcements and join and share in communities that may be facing challenges similar to yours.
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