Google’s August 2024 Core Update completes with even more gains for Reddit

Google’s August 2024 core update, which commenced on August 15 and concluded on September 3, has significantly impacted search rankings and website visibility, according to a Google spokesperson. This latest update follows feedback from the September 2023 helpful content update, which had adversely affected many small and independent publishers.

The August update aimed to refine Google Search by promoting content that is genuinely useful while reducing the prominence of content created merely to perform well in search results. John Mueller, a Search Advocate at Google, emphasized that the update was designed to better reflect site improvements and surface high-quality, original content from various sources, including smaller publishers.

Initial observations indicate that the update led to substantial ranking changes, with some recovery noted for sites previously affected by the September 2023 update. However, overall, many sites saw minimal improvement or further declines. A recent poll revealed that 44% of respondents experienced decreased rankings and traffic, while only 27% saw improvements. The remaining 29% reported no change in their search performance.

Notably, the early days of the update were marred by a significant search ranking bug, which skewed results temporarily. Google has advised ignoring data from the first four days and focusing on performance metrics from the latter part of the update. Comparisons should be made with data from before the update’s rollout for more accurate assessments.

In response to the feedback received since the March 2024 core update, which was notably extensive, the August update sought to address concerns about the impact on smaller publishers. Mueller highlighted that the update was part of an ongoing effort to ensure diverse and high-quality content surfaces in search results.

Google also updated its help page with more detailed guidance for those affected by core updates. The advice remains consistent with past recommendations: focus on creating content that is genuinely useful and relevant to users, rather than attempting to game the system. Google stresses that significant recovery from negative impacts often occurs after subsequent core updates, and there is no special action required for the current update.

For webmasters and SEO professionals, the key takeaway is to continually improve website content and user experience. While the August update has introduced new dynamics to search rankings, ongoing efforts to provide valuable and well-crafted content remain essential for maintaining and improving search visibility. Google has confirmed that no feedback form will be provided for this update, and users are encouraged to refer to existing guidelines for managing core update impacts.