Google announced that a Core Algorithm Update would be rolled out starting Nov. 17.
Although core updates usually happen several times a year, many SEOs took to Twitter to bemoan the timing of the updates – just before the busy holiday shopping period kicks off.
What Happened
Google announced that a Core Algorithm Update would be rolled out starting Nov. 17.
Websites’ rankings can have noticeable effects after core updates are rolled out, with some websites seeing drops in traffic and rankings while others benefit from the updates.
According to Google’s John Mueller, the updates usually take a couple of weeks to roll out completely.
Mueller said on Twitter that is unlikely that websites would see the effects in the hours after the update was announced.
What This Means For You
The Google Search Central Blog includes information on what site owners should know about Google’s Core Updates here.
The blog underscores that some previously unperforming pages could now see a boost, and vice versa. It says, “One way to think of how a core update operates is to imagine you made a list of the top 100 movies in 2015. A few years later in 2019, 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.”
If you do see a drop in your rankings, Google recommends focusing on your content. As we have said before and will say again, Content is King! Writing great, relevant content around topics readers are interested in is the most important aspect of SEO.
Google further states that you shouldn’t expect changes you make to immediately improve your site after a core update. In fact, it states that some sites won’t see improvements until the next core update.
However, doing nothing, guarantees that your site will not see improvement. So, by all means, work to improve your content.
Complaints on the Timing
Although core updates usually happen several times a year, some high-profile SEOs took to Twitter to bemoan the timing of the updates – just before the busy holiday shopping period kicks off.
However Google’s public search liaison Danny Sullivan was quick to respond, Tweeting, “Barry, we had an update last year later in the season. Years and years ago, there was this thing about trying not to do updates around this time. I don’t think we’ve said anything like that recently, like you suggest. And also, it’s really not what most need to worry about…
So there you have it. This is just what we preach at softserveSEO: Stick to the fundamentals and best practices of SEO. In the long run, if you follow best practices and ensure you check your boxes when it comes to SEO, including having that great content, your pages will come out on top.
