Google has released the November 2024 Core Update, which affects global search rankings. This follows the August 2024 core update and is part of Google's regular updates to its search algorithms. Core updates are broad changes designed to improve the delivery of helpful and reliable search results. They do not target specific sites but rather assess and update Google's systems as a whole.
Core updates ensure that Google presents the most relevant and reliable search results. These updates are broad and affect the overall search algorithm, not individual sites. They can be compared to updating a list of favorite restaurants based on new experiences and changes over time.
Checking for Traffic Drops
If you notice a drop in your site's search ranking, use Google Search Console to investigate:
- Confirm the core update has completed by checking the Search Status Dashboard.
- Wait at least a week after the update completes before analyzing your site.
- Compare your site's performance before and after the update.
- Assess whether the drop is small (e.g., from position 2 to 4) or large (e.g., from position 4 to 29).
Assessing Large Drops
For significant drops in ranking:
- Conduct a self-assessment to ensure your site delivers helpful, reliable, and people-first content.
- Evaluate the most impacted pages and compare them to others that may be performing better.
- Avoid quick fixes and focus on sustainable, user-centric improvements.
- Consider restructuring or rewriting content for better readability and navigation.
- Deleting content should be a last resort and only if it cannot be improved.
Improvements may take time to reflect in search results, ranging from a few days to several months. Changes are not guaranteed to have a noticeable impact, as Google's search results are dynamic and constantly evolving with new content.
Key Points to Remember
- Core updates are broad and affect overall search algorithms.
- Use Google Search Console to analyze traffic changes.
- Focus on delivering helpful, reliable, and people-first content.
- Be patient, as changes may take time to reflect in search results.
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