Google embarked on it’s second core algorithm update of 2024 in mid-August, which took roughly a month to roll out, finishing in mid-September 2024. Now that we’ve seen the effects of what it changed about the world of search and SEO, we can lay out the details of those effects and what they will mean for websites in the long-term. What made this core update unique and very different from traditional core updates is that it was more of a hybrid between a traditional core update and one of Google’s ‘Helpful Content’ updates that began popping up in recent years.

Here are some highlights from what the Google August 2024 Core Update aimed to improve upon from previous iterations:

  • Build on feedback from the reality of the much maligned September 2023 helpful content update that had a negative impact on many smaller sites across the web.
  • Improve the algorithm’s ability to read content that is made for humans and helpful to finding/learning about products, services and information.
  • Promote the algorithm to be more proactive and nimble in understanding improvements made to sites to make their content truly more helpful, when transitioning old or unhelpful content to be optimized for humans.

Google was diligent in its review of feedback from the past two major updates within the last 12 months. Both updates were not met with rejoicing from publishers and websites looking to crawl up the rankings, as they did not favor smaller, local sites across the web as much as they intended. Now, with this latest update, Google continues to get better at understanding helpful, human-forward content and promoting smaller websites that do a good job of keeping their sites optimized to gain views and conversions.

Sites that previously manipulated search tactics to drive traffic with unhelpful and junk content will begin to feel Google squeezing them out in favor of properly optimized websites.

Thankfully for DigitalParc’s clients, we do not engage in unhelpful content, even before Google began deliberately updating the algorithm to discourage bad content. In the past month, we have seen a majority of SEO clients not only retain rankings but also see new improvements across the board in new keywords, keyword improvement and more organic presence collectively.

Though this is good news now, there may be another core algorithm update in the works. Even though the last one worked largely as intended, there’s no telling what effect it could have on individual sites once it happens. Regular SEO maintenance can help sites capitalize on good gains and negate negative impacts quicker than no action.

Interested in getting your site ahead of the competition? Contact DigitalParc today to get starterd.