August 2023 Google Algorithm Updates: What you need to know

In a significant announcement on August 22nd, 2023, at precisely 12:39 PM, Google unveiled its latest core algorithm update. This update comes on the heels of the previous one in March, and as per past patterns, it is expected to take approximately two weeks to fully roll out. As such, it’s crucial for SEO professionals to closely monitor their SERP rankings and overall organic traffic throughout this period.

But what’s the primary objective behind this core update?

As with its predecessors, Google’s core updates are all about enhancing the quality of its algorithm to ensure that users receive the most relevant, accurate, and up-to-date search results. It’s important to note that core algorithm updates do not target specific websites or pages, so you need not worry about manual penalties or site de-indexing due to spam or guideline violations.

However, the impact of this update won’t be uniform for all websites. In fact, some high-quality and relevant websites that may have been previously overlooked could witness significant improvements in their SERP rankings, thanks to adjustments made to Google’s search algorithm. Conversely, other websites that previously held top positions in the SERPs may see their rankings decline. Stay tuned to discover all the ins and outs of Google’s latest core update.

Taking a quick look at Google’s updates in 2023 so far, there have been just two core updates – the most recent one and the March update. Additionally, there have been two review updates, one in April and a significant product reviews update in February that concluded on March 7th. Prior to 2023, the last major core update occurred in September 2022, but it had a less profound impact compared to previous core algorithm updates.

Upon Google’s announcement of the August 2023 core update, the SEO community was buzzing with comments and speculations from experts worldwide. Countless website owners are eagerly awaiting the effects of the update, with some expressing confidence that it will benefit them.

While Google’s official announcement took place on August 22nd, some SEO professionals claim to have detected evidence of the update several days before. These users report experiencing declines in traffic 5 to 7 days prior to Google’s announcement, suggesting that the update may have been quietly rolling out for a week or two already. Nevertheless, the implementation process will take at least a few weeks, and Google will update its ranking release history page once the rollout is officially completed.

In the interim, SEOs should vigilantly monitor their SERP rankings and analyze their website’s performance until the rollout concludes. It’s entirely possible that your site may remain entirely unaffected by the update, so there’s no need to panic.

Now, what does it mean if your site experiences a drop in position rankings?

Unlike certain Google updates, such as the recent Link Spam Update, a decrease in rankings following a core update does not necessarily indicate a problem with your website’s quality or rankings. As mentioned earlier, websites that were previously ranking lower but were highly relevant to user queries might see a boost in their rankings, which could cause other sites to experience declines.

This doesn’t imply that your site has been flagged for link or keyword spam, nor does it suggest technical issues with your site like crawling errors, duplicate content, or noindex tags. Instead, your focus should be on improving content relevance, quality, and authoritativeness. Ensure that your content embodies the principles of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), with the additional “E” added in December 2022 to stand for experience. Google’s quality raters now favor content that demonstrates firsthand experience, such as providing evidence of using a product being reviewed. These quality raters play a significant role in defining what constitutes a high-quality website, which in turn influences Google’s search algorithms. Hence, E-E-A-T is likely to play a substantial role in this latest core update, so be sure to reflect it in your content.

For those whose websites see negative impacts from the core update, Google provides a series of suggested questions to help improve content quality. It’s essential to emphasize that pages experiencing performance dips after core updates aren’t necessarily “wrong.” To recover any lost SERP rankings, Google offers these questions to help you enhance the quality of your content, as high-quality, highly relevant content is what their search algorithms reward:

1. Does your content contain original research, insights, or analysis?
2. Does it provide a comprehensive overview of the topic beyond the obvious?
3. If your content draws from other sources, does it offer originality and additional value beyond mere rewriting?
4. Does the header provide a reasonable and accurate overview of the information presented in the content?
5. Have you avoided using exaggerated “click-bait” titles?

Answering these questions will assist you in identifying quality issues with your content, ultimately improving your SERP rankings.

In conclusion, Google’s new core update will continue to roll out over the next few weeks, likely concluding in early September. Whether your site is affected by the update remains uncertain, and the impact won’t always be negative. If your site experiences a dip in SERP rankings, it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. The best course of action is to work on enhancing the quality and relevance of your content and then move forward.