Each year Google releases a number of algorithm updates. Core updates affect how webpages are ranked and weighed. Each Google algorithm update stems from their mission to instantly provide internet users with relevant and trusted information about a question or topic they are interested in. The August 2024 core update is focused on boosting high-quality, engaging content and demoting low-value, SEO-focused material on the internet. This Google core update is intended to benefit content that users find genuinely useful rather than content that is seemingly made to perform well in the algorithm.
According to Google, the full roll-out of the August 2024 core update could take up to a month. While it could take months to see how this latest core update will impact websites, there are a number of measurable metrics every website manager should monitor for the remainder of the year and heading into early 2025.
- Traffic Trends: Keep an eye out for any irregular traffic trends in your website analytics. Compare your annual and monthly website traffic to the previous year.
- Dropping or Rising Pages: Monitor any change in performance of individual pages — particularly pages that have not been updated in a while.
- Google Search Console: Consistently review Google Search Console to understand any changes in how users are finding your website online.
It’s also important to remember not all drops in traffic are a result of a core update. During the rollout, it is also common to experience volatility in your website’s search rankings — often resulting in significant drops and rises for keywords within a short timeframe. These atypical movements can affect how you interpret your more recent data. This is why it’s important to regularly monitor your website analytics and keep a record of all website changes being made throughout the year. Understanding long-term trends and comparing this year’s data to years past, will be critical in understanding the long-term impact of core updates. All Google algorithm updates are constantly evolving. While we all wait to see how this latest core update will have a lasting impact on websites, we can set ourselves up for proper reactions through regular reporting and an in-depth SEO audit.
Katava Marketing is a full-service marketing agency that provides world-class marketing strategy and support to businesses of all sizes. We are devoted to helping you deliver high-quality digital marketing to your customers that will drive results. If you need help navigating Google’s latest updates, contact us today at (973) 998-8008 or fill out this form to get started.
