The recent Google core updates have had a significant impact on the SEO landscape. While some sites have seen their rankings and traffic drop significantly, others have been able to recover more quickly than ever before.
In this blog post, we will explore what are Google's core updates, what factors contribute to a faster SEO recovery, and how you can make sure your site is prepared whenever Google rolls out another core update.
Google updates its search algorithms regularly, with the aim of providing the best possible search results for users. However, not all updates are equal - some are more significant than others. Google refers to these major updates as 'core updates'.
The most recent core update was released in November 2021 and left webmasters shocked, as Google hasn't had an update during that time in the previous years. While the update had a significant impact on the rankings of many websites, others were able to recover more quickly than ever before.
There is no one specific answer to this question - a wide variety of factors can contribute to a site's ranking drop after a core update. However, one of the most common reasons is that the site has been penalized by Google for violating its Webmaster Guidelines.
Other reasons include:
Low-quality content are pages that offer little value to users and are often written for the sole purpose of ranking high in the SERPs. As a result, site owners who have lots of low-quality content are more likely to see their rankings drop after a core update.
Google has long been cracking down on sites that are over-optimized for keywords. If your site is using aggressive SEO tactics such as keyword stuffing or excessive link building, you're more likely to see a ranking drop after a core update.
If your website has any sort of technical issue - from crawl errors to 404 pages - you're more likely to see a drop in your rankings. Google bots may not be able to crawl your site properly, or users may be getting error messages when trying to navigate your website.
There are several factors that can contribute to a faster SEO recovery from a core update. The most important of these include:
If you don't have a robust SEO strategy in place, your site is likely to be more adversely affected by a Google core update. A good SEO strategy should include on-page optimization, link building, and content marketing. These are all essential aspects of SEO that will help your site rank higher and recover more quickly from a core update.
Google has always placed a lot of emphasis on content quality, and this is even more important during a core update. If you're creating quality content on your site, it is likely to rank higher and recover more quickly from a core update. You should make sure your content is well-written, informative, and up to date.
If your website is not in good health, it is likely to be more adversely affected by a core update. You should make sure your website is fast, mobile-friendly, and error-free. You can do this by conducting a site audit or technical SEO regularly to identify and fix any issues. You're also encouraged to use a tool like Google's PageSpeed Insights to get more information on how you can improve your website's speed and performance.
Backlinks are external links that point to your website. They are a vital part of SEO, and having a strong backlinking strategy can help your site recover more quickly from a core update. If you have a strong backlinking strategy in place, your site is more likely to rank higher and recover more quickly from a core update. You should make sure your backlinks are high-quality, relevant, and coming from trustworthy sources. Your backlinking strategy should also include a mix of both short- and long-term links.
The latest SEO tools can be very helpful in recovering from a core update. If you're not using the latest SEO tools, you're likely missing out on important information that can help your site recover more quickly. Some of the best SEO tools currently available include Google's Search Console, Moz's Pro Tools, and SEMrush's Suite.
These tools provide a wealth of data on how your website is performing, what changes you need to make to improve your SEO, and which keywords you should target. They can be especially helpful in identifying any issues that may have caused your site to rank lower after algorithm updates.
One of the best ways to ensure a fast SEO recovery is to monitor your rankings and traffic closely. If you notice a significant drop in your rankings or organic traffic, you can take corrective action quickly. You can use tools like Google Search Console or Google Analytics to track your website's performance over time. While if your site drops in rankings, it's not the end of the world. Many sites have been able to recover quickly by following the tips mentioned above.
As you can see, there are several factors that can contribute to a faster SEO recovery from a core update. By following these tips, you can ensure your site is prepared for whatever Google throws your way.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question - the recovery process will vary from site to site. However, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of recovering faster:
If you make sure your website adheres to Google's Webmaster Guidelines, you're much less likely to be penalized by the search engine. You can read more about Google's guidelines here:
If you find any technical issues on your website, fix them as soon as possible. This includes fixing crawl errors, setting up 301 redirects, and making sure your site is optimized for mobile. You can use Google's Search Console to help you identify any technical issues on your website.
If the quality of your content is low, work on improving it. This includes writing longer, more in-depth articles, adding images and videos, and making sure your content is engaging and useful to users.
If you're using aggressive SEO tactics such as keyword stuffing or excessive link building, stop doing it. These tactics can get your site penalized by Google and can make it harder for your site to recover from a core update.
It's important to keep an eye on your website's rankings after broad core updates. If you see that your site has dropped in the SERPs, take action immediately and try to Figure out what went wrong. You can use a tool like SEMrush to help you track your website's rankings over time.
A broad core update can be a major blow to your website's SEO. If you're not prepared, your site may never recover. But with the right strategy, you can ensure a faster SEO recovery and get your site back on track. The tips mentioned above are a good place to start. If you have any questions or would like more advice on recovering from a core update, please contact us to speak with an SEO specialist.