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Anytime Google makes changes to its algorithm, website owners feel anxiety as they wait to see how it will affect their website rankings. In the dynamic world of digital marketing, it’s critical to stay in step with Google’s algorithmic shifts – and the recent August 2023 Core Update was no different.
What is a Core Update?
Google periodically refines its search algorithm to enhance user experience and improve search outcomes. These updates run the gamut from minor refinements to substantial transformations, with core updates falling into the latter category.
Core updates typically involve comprehensive and consequential changes to Google’s ranking algorithm. Their purpose is to reassess how Google evaluates and ranks web pages, and once applied, these changes often impact search rankings for the majority of websites.
Google describes core updates like this: “One way to think of how a core update operates is to imagine you made a list of the top 100 movies in 2021. A few years later in 2024, you refresh the list. It’s going to naturally change. Some new and wonderful movies that never existed before will now be candidates for inclusion. You might also reassess some films and realize they deserved a higher place on the list than they had before.”
Key Insights Into the August 2023 Core Update
Google initiated the rollout of its latest Core Update during August, and it was fully completed in early September. Similar to past updates, these changes were aimed at enhancing the search algorithm, ensuring that users are served more relevant search results when they input queries into the search engine.
It’s important to remember that core updates are impartial. They don’t target specific niches or industries, instead their changes are applied across every website on the internet – regardless of content or affiliations. For this particular core update, many of the changes were focused on updating the product review system, which is now known simply as the “reviews system.”
Google’s Emphasis on Enhancing User Experience
Google’s main objective with these updates revolves around elevating user experience. This is achieved through the continuous refinement of their algorithm and enhancing the way they interpret a user’s search intention. The August 2023 Core Update upheld this commitment, with Google directing its attention to several key factors:
- Content Quality: Google continues to recognize and reward websites that offer high-quality, informative, and reliable content. Websites that produce subpar or outdated content will witness a decline in their search rankings.
- User Engagement: Metrics such as engagement rate, time spent on page, and click-through rate carry substantial weight in a website’s ranking. Websites that successfully engage users and retain their interest are poised to benefit from this update.
- Mobile Friendliness: Given the ever-increasing prevalence of mobile searches, Google places considerable emphasis on the mobile-friendliness of websites. Websites providing a seamless mobile experience are more likely to attain higher positions in search results.
Adapting to the August 2023 Core Update
With the recent updates, what are some ways you can ensure your content stays valuable and ranks well?
- Content Evaluation: Conduct a comprehensive content review, especially as it pertains to your products or services.
- Enhance User Experience: Prioritize user experience across all devices. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, loads quickly, and provides an error-free experience.
- Focus on E-A-T: This acronym, signifying Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, holds significant weight in Google’s content evaluation. Establish your brand as a reliable authority in your niche, highlighting your expertise.
- Prioritize Core Web Vitals: Concentrate on enhancing metrics such as loading speed, interactivity, and layout stability. Google highly prioritizes these.
Google’s August 2023 Core Update signifies another stride in the search giant’s persistent endeavor to elevate user experiences and generate more relevant search outcomes. If you’ve noticed your web rankings slipping or simply want to ensure your website is optimized for search and user experience, reach out to us today! We would love to discuss the tools and strategies you need to succeed.
