In this reaction article, I will analyze and interpret the WordStream blog on the August 2024 Google Core Update while reacting to each section, examining its impact on SEO strategies, and incorporating data-driven insights along with relevant social media reactions.
What Happened with the August Core Update?
The August 2024 Core Update continues Google’s mission to enhance search quality by promoting genuinely useful content. Tom Demers, the blog author, indicates that Google introduced this update following feedback from the SEO community, addressing volatility caused by prior changes. It targets content created solely for ranking purposes, emphasizing authenticity and relevance.
This update echoes Google’s ongoing effort to devalue “thin” or manipulative content. The backlash to March’s Core Update resulted in significant volatility, as confirmed by SEMrush data, showcasing fluctuations across rankings.
Reaction: This update is consistent with Google’s long-term mission to prioritize user-centric content. Many in the SEO community echo this sentiment, with Jake Boly (@Jake_Boly) lamenting the rankings shakeup on Twitter:
“Traffic is dropping back down. Articles that were ranking are vanishing…yet again. More spam than usual in SERPs atm.” — Twitter, September 19, 2024
While fluctuations are common in core updates, the August 2024 update reveals Google’s commitment to refining SERP results. For businesses reliant on affiliate and publishing models, the challenges of keeping pace with these updates can be daunting.
How is the August Core Update Impacting Websites?
As Demers notes, the volatility has been extreme, with many sites experiencing dramatic traffic shifts. The blog highlights two key categories affected:
- Publishing/Affiliate Sites: Several publishers, particularly those relying on high-volume, low-quality content, faced significant traffic drops. In some cases, traffic recovery was seen, but commercial intent terms (e.g., “best X for Y”) were negatively impacted.
- Business Sites (B2B, SaaS, eCommerce): These sites saw recovery in some cases, with strategies such as content pruning and reduced aggressive anchor text proving useful.
Reaction: Content pruning and reducing keyword-stuffed anchor texts have been key strategies for many SEO professionals. According to Ryan Darani on Twitter:
“If your site ISN’T recovering, you have to ask yourself: Should it have been getting traffic in the first place?” — Twitter, August 23, 2024
The push to improve content quality encourages companies to focus on long-term SEO tactics, such as genuine engagement metrics and content relevance, rather than short-term tricks.
What is Google Saying About the August Core Update?
Google’s statements remain predictably vague, although the acknowledgment of creator feedback is notable. The search engine titan aims to correct some of the damage from previous updates by allowing smaller, independent sites to recover, provided they offer high-quality, original content.
Reaction: This aligns with Google’s Helpful Content Update, where over-optimized content was heavily penalized. Social media reflects mixed feelings about these efforts. Glenn Gabe, a known SEO analyst, elaborates on this in a video discussion, emphasizing the benefits for smaller creators.
Smaller sites that have suffered ranking penalties in the past now have a shot at regaining positions if their content proves valuable and relevant. This change is part of a larger trend toward leveling the playing field.
What Does the August Core Update Mean for Your Business?
For local businesses, especially those focused on map listings or local SEO, this core update has minimal impact. Demers explains that local search results, driven by Google My Business profiles, are less volatile and more stable.
Reaction: Many business owners rely heavily on local SEO, often unaffected by core updates. However, for those relying on organic traffic through non-local queries, such as affiliate or eCommerce-driven sites, the changes were substantial. Several brands saw reduced visibility for highly commercial terms, making diversification of traffic sources even more important.
Ryan Darani’s advice remains crucial here:
“A glimmer of hope for SEO recovery—but only for those playing by the rules.” — Twitter, August 23, 2024
Business owners should analyze their post-update traffic patterns using Google Search Console and consider diversifying their SEO efforts, focusing on local optimization, content relevance, and user engagement.
How to Respond?
To respond effectively, Demers suggests several key actions for websites impacted by the update:
- Content Audits: Perform regular content audits to remove or update outdated, low-performing content.
- Backlink Analysis: Analyze backlinks and anchor texts to ensure they are not overly aggressive.
- Engagement Metrics: Focus on improving user engagement by offering more relevant, valuable content.
Reaction: The advice here is largely practical and mirrors the core SEO strategies that have been effective for years. Glenn Gabe, a respected SEO strategist, emphasizes the need for sites to align with user intent and avoid the “thin” content trap. His view reflects a broader industry perspective that continuous content refinement is necessary:
“If you’re not focusing on real user value, your site will never survive long term.” — Twitter, August 2024
Many SEOs highlight the importance of this update in reinforcing the industry’s long-standing mantra: quality over quantity. Post-update recovery will likely hinge on delivering high-quality, original content that directly addresses user needs.
Social Media Reaction to the August 2024 Update
The August Core Update sparked diverse reactions across social media platforms, particularly on Twitter and LinkedIn, where SEO professionals shared their experiences with the traffic shifts. Ryan Darani, Jake Boly, and Glenn Gabe were among the most vocal influencers analyzing these changes.
- Ryan Darani celebrated recovery for sites that “play by the rules,” highlighting those adhering to Google’s quality guidelines.
- Jake Boly expressed frustration with the fluctuating SERPs, describing the volatility as disheartening, especially for small publishers.
- On LinkedIn, SEO professionals debated whether Google’s focus on user intent sacrifices niche content.
Actionable Recommendations for 2024 Google Core Updates:
- Evaluate Content Regularly: Audit content monthly to assess engagement and traffic. Focus on informational value and prune outdated or low-performing pages.
- Diversify Content Types: Balance commercial intent with informational queries. Google rewards websites that cater to a broader audience.
- Optimize for Local SEO: Small businesses should focus heavily on Google Business Profiles, reviews, and local citations, ensuring consistency across directories.
- Update Backlink Strategies:Avoid overly aggressive anchor text in backlinks. Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to assess your site’s backlink health.
- Build for User Experience (UX): Google continues to prioritize user-centric design. Ensure your website is fast, easy to navigate, and offers valuable content that satisfies user intent.
- Monitor Algorithmic Trends: Keep up-to-date with Google’s public announcements and data from SEO tracking tools. React quickly to changes that may impact your rankings.
To sum it up
The August 2024 Core Update continues Google’s focus on refining SERP quality by prioritizing user-focused content over keyword-stuffed or manipulative strategies. The shift requires businesses to align more closely with best practices that emphasize content quality, engagement, and relevance.
To remain competitive, businesses should:
- Audit content regularly.
- Monitor ranking shifts post-update.
- Focus on authentic user experiences.
While some in the SEO community remain frustrated by the volatility, many see this as an opportunity to rebuild rankings with a more sustainable, user-centric approach. Through social media, SEO professionals echo the sentiment that this update is part of Google’s long-term vision of improving search quality, rewarding those who prioritize real value over SEO tricks.
Source : https://www.wordstream.com/blog/august-2024-google-core-update