With over two trillion searches annually and a history spanning more than two decades, it’s no wonder Google frequently updates its search algorithm. Last year alone, the search engine introduced over 3,000 changes to Google Search. This year, Google has begun to publicly discuss its Google core updates.What constitutes a Google core update? Unlike other updates, a core update significantly and broadly modifies Google’s search algorithm and systems. While most updates pass unnoticed, core updates draw attention due to their visible impact on search results.Continue reading to explore these core algorithm updates from Google, including recent examples. Additionally, gain insights on recovering from extensive updates. For personalized advice, connect with us online for a consultation or call us at 888-601-5359!A Google core update occurs when the company makes significant and broad changes to its search engine algorithm and systems.These updates are designed to enhance the user search experience, offering more pertinent, valuable, and credible content. Typically, core updates occur multiple times a year and are confirmed by Google.Examples of recent updates to Google’s core search engine algorithm include:1. March 2019 Core UpdateIn early March 2019, Google released the March 2019 Core Update. While Google did not provide specific details, industry research indicated that sites with low-quality content experienced the most significant changes, with decreased rankings and traffic. The study also showed that most affected websites focused on improving their content.2. June 2019 Core UpdateIn early June 2019, Google released the June 2019 Core Update. Google stated that the update mirrored previous core updates and did not introduce significant changes like past updates on page speed. However, Google recommended reviewing its 2011 blog post, “More guidance on building high-quality sites,” for long-term website improvements.3. September 2019 Core UpdateIn late September 2019, Google released the September 2019 Core Update. Webmasters noted a negative impact from the June 2019 Core Update, followed by improvements in rankings and traffic post-September. Some also mentioned that healthcare and news sites were notably affected.Google’s core updates rarely provide detailed information. This is because the updates often influence a range of ranking factors rather than a single one. Additionally, to prevent spammers and black-hat SEO, Google must safeguard the workings of its search engine algorithm.Generally, core Google Search updates occur several times per year, typically every few months.Google usually announces updates a few days before or on the day of release, though some updates may take several days to roll out to users. 
You can check for core updates in various ways:
Follow Google SearchLiaison on Twitter
Utilize free algorithm monitoring tools like RankRanger and AccuRanker
In some cases, you can even subscribe to updates, like with AccuRanker (which also serves as a Google position checker), to stay informed.”Google core updates are like a list of TV show recommendations that change yearly as new shows are introduced and older ones retire to keep the list relevant and current.”A Google core update distinguishes itself from other Google updates for several reasons, including:
Google announces core updates, but not other algorithm updates
Google acknowledges core updates, but not other algorithm updates
Google names core updates, but not other algorithm updates
The structure of core updates also differs from regular Google updates. A core update involves Google modifying multiple features of its search algorithm in ways that can enhance search results’ relevance and helpfulness across various industries and user intents. These are broad and noticeable changes, in contrast to updates that may go unnoticed.Consider a core update as a list of TV show recommendations for the upcoming fall season. As new shows debut and others retire, your recommendations will change annually to keep the list current and pertinent.Should you suspect a Google core update has negatively impacted your website, look for these indicators.Decreased rankingsWhen a broad Google update occurs, SEOs often examine search engine results pages (SERPs).Your rankings in SERPs can indicate whether a core update has harmed or helped your site. Remember to monitor your rankings for several days before drawing conclusions about the update’s impact. You can check your rankings using tools like:
Google Search Console
Ahrefs
Google Search
For the best results, review your rankings for various keywords, including those with different intents, such as an informational keyword like “how to bathe a cat” and a transactional keyword like “cat shampoo and conditioner.”Decreased trafficYou can also identify a core Google update by examining your organic traffic. If your rankings in search results decline, you will experience a traffic loss. Depending on your before-and-after rankings, you may notice a significant drop in traffic, as the top five positions on Google receive 68% of all clicks. Use Google Analytics to check your site traffic and compare it year-over-year.While you can analyze your site-wide traffic, take the time to review individual page traffic as well. You may also want to assess other performance metrics, such as bounce rate. Once you determine that a broad Google Search update has affected your site, you can begin making improvements.For assistance in getting started, consider investing in an SEO audit or consultation.Stay informed about Google’s algorithm, even during periods without updates, with our helpful Google cheat sheet:Are you concerned a Google core update may have affected your website negatively?Follow these steps to help your website recover and regain its rankings (and more):Review Google’s quality rater guidelinesBefore you start auditing your site for issues, take a moment to read Google’s search quality rater guidelines. These guidelines outline what Google expects from websites and how it evaluates Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T). 
Take notes while reviewing the guidelines and apply your findings in the next step.Assess your current contentNext, evaluate your content.Depending on your website’s size, you may focus on your most valuable pages or review all content. If the core update impacted only some of your content, analyze both affected and unaffected material. Google suggests asking four types of questions when examining your content:
Content and quality
Expertise
Presentation and production
Comparative
Learn more about these questions in the table below:Your responses will help you gauge the current quality of your content.Provide your readers with the best content possibleOnce you assess your content and answer the above questions, you can begin enhancing your content. To streamline the process, compile your audited pages and prioritize them from most to least valuable. For instance, a service or product page might require immediate attention over a blog post.For example, if your service page doesn’t compare to other search results, you might notice that competitors’ product pages offer more value to consumers. In response, you could add a product video and content about using your product.By providing helpful and relevant information, you enhance the user experience on your site significantly.Develop a robust backlink profileLinks are among the most powerful ranking factors in Google. Therefore, it’s essential to examine your backlink profile, the number of websites linking to yours, using tools like Ahrefs. When a website links to yours, it’s doing so for a reason—such as sharing excellent content.Improving your content can lead to more and higher-quality links to your site. For Google, links act as a vote of confidence. Another website endorses yours, signaling to Google (and its audience) that you have relevant and trustworthy content.This effect is magnified when a high-quality and reputable site, such as a renowned news site, a leading industry blog, or a government website, links to yours. With these four initial steps, you can start recovering from a broad Google Search update.SEO is a time-consuming process, so it’s crucial to act promptly when recovering from a Google core update. Begin by reviewing Google’s standards, auditing your content, enhancing it, and attracting links to it.For assistance in elevating your website from the bottom of Google’s search results to the top, contact WebFX. Our SEO services can help repair your site and rankings, driving more traffic, leads, and revenue to your business. Contact us online or call us at 888-601-5359 to learn more today!
