How Google Algorithm Updates Affect SEO in 2024
Have you noticed your website traffic takes a dive or suddenly spikes just after a Google update? Keeping up with algorithm changes is overwhelming, but it's important to ensure your website performs at its best.
A Google algorithm is rules that Google uses to determine which websites should be displayed at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs). When you type a query into Google, the algorithm evaluates millions of website pages, showing you the most relevant and trustworthy results. The results are not set in stone, in fact, Google updates their algorithms up to six hundred times each year, focusing on ensuring that search results are relevant and useful to the user.
Google has two types of updates. The first are minor adjustments and then there are core updates. Core updates are big changes that can impact your ranking significantly. Core updates tend to affect numerous websites across all industries. While they sound scary, they are there to improve user experience (UX).
Google's algorithms are constantly evolving, but there are common updates you need to be aware of that will influence your SEO success:
Once Google has completed an algorithm update, it's not uncommon to see some shifts in your website traffic and rankings. Some websites boost their visibility, while others drop significantly in ranking. This is due to the fact that the algorithm now causes Google to re-evaluate your site content and structure.
You will find rankings stabilise following the initial changes. Keep an eye on your performance and make SEO adjustments as needed. Always focus on long-term improvements in quality content, site performance, and user experience.
Dealing with a Google algorithm update doesn't have to be overwhelming, there are tools you can use to assess how the update has impacted your website:
Google Analytics is a free tool you can use to determine traffic trends and sources, along with user behaviour, landing page performance, and you can create custom alerts, notifying you of any major traffic fluctuations.
Google Search Console is another valuable tool that can be used to identify search performance, keyword ranking, index coverage, along with any manual penalties against your website, URL inspection, and sitemap submissions.
Google's algorithm updates are constantly evolving, which is why it's so important to stay updated with these changes, maintaining a powerful SEO strategy that achieves results. When you understand the different updates, you are equipped to handle the shifts in ranking, improving your online presence.
These updates are not designed to confuse and frustrate you, they are designed to make searching online a pleasant experience for users, ensuring that they have easy access to relevant and accurate content. Are you ready to improve your website and align with the latest Google algorithm updates? Contact the Genie Crawl team today.
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