Understanding and Navigating Google Algorithm Updates
Website traffic can change overnight—sometimes dropping sharply or suddenly spiking—and Google’s algorithm updates can sometimes be the reason why. These changes in how Google evaluates content shape how search results are ranked and displayed. By understanding what these updates are and why they happen, you can adjust your SEO strategy to recover from major Google algorithm updates—and even grow your traffic.
What are Google Algorithm Updates?
Google algorithm updates are changes by Google made to how it ranks and displays web pages on its search engine results page (SERP). These updates evaluate factors like content quality, relevance and user experience. Google makes algorithm updates to improve search accuracy, reward helpful content and ensure users find the most trustworthy, useful information online.
How Often Does Google Update its Algorithm?
How often does Google make algorithm updates? The short answer: frequently. Google makes small updates hundreds, if not thousands, of times per year. Often, these smaller updates won’t have a major impact on your organic traffic. However, it also makes several “core updates” per year—major updates that can have a big impact on how your website ranks on Google’s SERP.
How to Recover from Google Algorithm Updates
The first step to recover from Google algorithm updates is to understand how they impact SEO. In short, Google search algorithm updates change how the search engine ranks websites, affecting visibility, traffic and search performance. Core updates have addressed many facets of search rankings from mobile-friendly layout to spam tactics and even content quality.
Because Google algorithm updates can happen suddenly, and because core updates can cause noticeable drops in website traffic or rankings, it might seem like there’s nothing you can do. However, the good news is that there are several steps you can take to recover and strengthen your site’s organic performance moving forward:
- Stay Informed: While some core updates happen out of the blue, sometimes Google signals that a major update is on the horizon, giving you time to prepare. Follow trusted SEO news sources to stay in the loop. How to stay updated with Google algorithm changes also can be as easy as setting a Google alert for “Google algorithm updates”.
- Audit Performance Changes: Use Google Analytics and Google Search Console to compare your current organic traffic with past data. Consider running a technical SEO audit to uncover issues like broken links, slow loading times or indexing errors that might be hurting your visibility.
- Make Well-Timed Adjustments: Avoid making hasty, large-scale changes immediately after an update. Often, rankings fluctuate temporarily. Instead, monitor the data, identify consistent trends and then make targeted improvements based on real results.
How Agencies Help Clients Navigate Google Algorithm Updates
Have too much on your plate already to dive deep into SEO and changes to the Google search algorithm? Consider hiring an expert! Professional SEO agencies can guide you through Google algorithm updates with expert insights and advanced analytics. Here at Strategic America, we monitor changes, interpret data trends and adjust strategies to protect your hard-earned search engine rankings. With our personalized SEO services, we optimize your content and help your website recover quickly if your traffic or visibility takes a hit. That way, you can focus on what you do best and leave navigating Google updates to us.
