The August 2023 Google Core Update has arrived, and it is causing fluctuations in search rankings. Webmasters need to be prepared for potential changes in their website rankings. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the update and offers guidance on how to navigate it.

Purpose of Google’s Algorithm Adjustments

Google’s foremost objective is to provide users with the most relevant and reliable search outcomes. Considering the ever-expanding online landscape, which presents an abundance of content, Google constantly adapts to the challenge of sifting through this vast information. While daily algorithm refinements are commonplace, it’s the broad core updates like the August 2023 release that fundamentally reshape the search landscape. These updates establish fresh standards for content quality, relevance, and user engagement, guaranteeing that the highest-quality and most pertinent content ascends to the forefront.

Understanding Google’s Algorithm Update Frequency

Google is committed to providing users with relevant and valuable search results. To achieve this, they continually refine their search ranking algorithms, making frequent adjustments. These changes range from minor tweaks to major overhauls, some which are listed below: 

  • Transparency in Algorithm Updates: While Google introduces numerous daily changes, they place a strong emphasis on transparency, particularly when it comes to significant algorithm updates. This transparency is vital to keep website owners and SEO experts informed.
  • Monitoring Unconfirmed Updates: Not all changes are immediately noticeable, and some may lead to unexplained fluctuations in website traffic. These fluctuations, known as “unconfirmed updates,” are closely monitored by SERP volatility sensors and SEO professionals.
  • Google’s Annual Experiments: Google conducts a substantial number of experiments each year, totaling over 600,000. These experiments explore new features and functionalities, including improvements in natural language processing (NLP) and advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, such as Bidirectional Encoder Representations (BERT).
  • The Imperative for Marketers: For marketers, staying updated on algorithmic shifts is crucial. This knowledge empowers them to optimize their websites to meet the latest search engine requirements, ensuring their brand remains visible to potential customers. Keeping an eye on search result volatility is also a valuable practice.

 

Understanding the August 2023 Core Update

Google Core Updates have a significant impact on how websites are ranked in search results. The August 2023 Core Update began its rollout on August 22, marking the second broad core algorithm update of the year. Similar to the March 2023 update, the rollout is expected to take approximately two weeks.

Key Details about the August 2023 Core Update

The August 2023 Core Update brings several important aspects to consider:

  • Targets All Types of Content: This update affects all content types, including blogs and images.
  • Impact on Features: It influences Google Discover and featured snippets.
  • Not a Penalty, but a Reward: It is not a penalty but rather a reward for high-quality web pages.
  • Global Reach: The update is global and affects all regions and languages.
  • Rollout Duration: The update’s full rollout is expected to take about two weeks.
  • Continuous Improvement: Post-update recovery is not guaranteed; website owners must focus on ongoing improvement.

 

Implications of the August 2023 Core Update

This update aims to enhance how Google provides search results to users. It takes a holistic approach by reviewing websites as a whole. If your website is impacted, it does not necessarily indicate a specific mistake but rather reflects that other pages are now considered more valuable based on updated ranking guidelines.

Recommended Actions Post-Update

Depending on your website’s performance after the August 2023 Core Update, different actions may be required. Here are Google’s suggestions for managing the impact:

  • Understand that a drop in rankings doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem with your web pages.
  • Reflect on a set of questions provided by Google if your site experiences an impact.
  • Note that while minor recoveries in rankings may occur between core updates, the most significant changes typically follow subsequent core updates.

Google’s Advice for August 2023 Core Update

Google advises websites to assess their content quality. The focus should be on delivering relevant information and resources to users. Consider the following questions for your worst-performing pages:

  1. Does the content meet the user’s search intent?
  2. Is the content original and informative?
  3. Are there any spelling or stylistic issues?
  4. Is the content easily understandable?
  5. Is the content trustworthy and backed by authoritative sources?
  6. Was the content created with the user’s experience in mind?
  7. Is the content authored by an expert in the subject?
  8. Do on-page elements, such as title tags and headings, provide a clear summary of the content?
  9. Is the content free from mass-production or spam?

The key takeaway is to ensure a high-quality website with valuable content, aligning with Google’s guidelines for improving page rankings.

Impact and Recovery After the Core Update

Ranking fluctuations and volatility are common after a core update, and the pattern often resembles previous updates. Expect high volatility during the first week, with a gradual return to normal by days 12-14. Google may also roll back elements that led to undesirable search results during the update.

Conclusion

The world of SEO is dynamic and ever-evolving. It demands a continuous and committed effort from website owners and SEO professionals. The August 2023 Core Update from Google serves as a poignant reminder of this fact. To achieve and maintain success in the realm of SEO, it’s imperative for website owners to embrace a proactive approach. This approach involves not only staying informed about the latest algorithm changes but also consistently fine-tuning and enhancing their websites to align with these adjustments.