Navigating the Changes: What to Expect After the August 2024 Update
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Chapter 1: Understanding the August 2024 Algorithm Update
Is your website still functioning after the latest changes?
If you're engaged in SEO for your website, you're likely monitoring Google's algorithm adjustments closely. Many have expressed frustration over declines in keyword rankings and a drop in organic traffic following the June 2024 spam update. Regardless of whether you've addressed the issues from that update, Google has introduced another significant algorithm change in August 2024.
In my role managing both client websites and my own, I closely observe the effects of Google updates and the discussions among other site owners. A particular comment on Twitter resonated with me:
"I'm not alone in thinking that multiple updates may adversely affect smaller content creators."
These smaller entities often find it challenging to compete with larger platforms like Reddit, Quora, and Forbes, which have gained traction post-update. But is the user-generated content on Quora genuinely superior to what you can find on smaller, independent sites? I find that hard to believe!
Nonetheless, Google has favored user-generated content for some time, which complicates the ability of smaller websites to secure spots in the top 10 results. With the August core algorithm update, Google has pledged to address this concern and enhance its ranking system:
"This update reflects the feedback we've gathered from various creators and others over recent months. Our goal is to connect users with a variety of high-quality sites, including smaller independent ones that offer valuable, original content, whenever relevant to users' searches. We will keep working on this area in future updates."
This update also aims to better recognize any improvements that sites may have made, ensuring that we can showcase the best the web has to offer. Google announced this optimistic change on August 15 and completed the rollout by September 3.
The response from website owners has been mixed. An SEO consultant on LinkedIn remarked positively about how the August core update benefited his sites. However, many others expressed contrasting views. The reasons behind the varying performances of these websites remain unclear and could be linked to the increased use of AI-generated content and unnatural link-building practices.
If you've observed recent fluctuations in rankings, it may stem from Google's ongoing updates behind the scenes. Having worked in SEO for years, I've witnessed various algorithm changes affect my website.
Chapter 2: My Website's Experience Post-Core Update
Due to my passive management of my website, noticeable shifts—whether positive or negative—are often influenced by external factors. Following the announcement of the core update, I noticed a significant uptick a few days later. Even after the completion of the rollout, my site has continued to experience a steady rise in organic impressions and clicks.
Description: This video provides a survival guide for the August 2024 core update, detailing strategies for website owners to navigate the changes effectively.
It's important to highlight what occurred with some specific pages on my site. For example, my blog post about AI SEO tools, which initially had moderate performance, witnessed a remarkable surge in views and clicks after the core algorithm update.
The overall performance of my AI SEO tools blog post between June and August 2024. Source: Google Search Console.
Today, this post stands as a success:
- It ranks for over 600 keywords, according to Ahrefs.
- It attracts over 2,000 organic visitors each month.
- It holds the #3 position for the highly competitive 'AI SEO' keyword.
- It surpasses industry leaders like Semrush and Backlinko in US search results.
Even though I dedicated significant effort to writing and optimizing this article, I never anticipated it would outshine industry titans with domain authority near 90. This suggests to me that Google is actively experimenting with organic search results and is open to making substantial changes.
If you're curious about the techniques I employed to create high-ranking posts, I detail them in my SEO ebook.
Unexpectedly, not all of my posts enjoyed improved performance. For instance, a review of Videvo, created using AI tools in 2023, has not been updated since its publication. It had been performing consistently in organic search, but since August 15, I've noticed a decline in impressions and rankings.
The overall performance of my Videvo review blog post between June and August 2024. Source: Google Search Console.
Despite the high volatility in organic rankings, I would say the overall impact of the Google August 2024 core algorithm update has been favorable for my website.
The Bottom Line
This positive outcome didn't happen by chance. I believe that building a successful website is a long-term commitment that requires continuous growth and adherence to Google's guidelines. Many website owners may disagree, having opted for faster growth strategies that don't always align with best practices. However, speed doesn't equate to quality, which is why I steer clear of dubious SEO techniques.
If you focus on creating content with your audience in mind, you'll assist Google in its mission "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful." Consequently, there's no need to fear search algorithm updates.
I encourage everyone to think long-term and avoid unethical practices like content duplication or purchasing backlinks. These tactics aren't worth the risk. Remember, it's easier to play by the rules than to recover from a Google penalty. You might experience slower growth compared to competitors who boast about AI and link-building prowess, but your website will remain unscathed.
Description: This video discusses what we know about the August 2024 Google core update, providing insights for website owners navigating the changes.
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