Google’s August 2024 Interesting SEO Ranking Update: Insights and Tips for Publishers to Boost Visibility
In a recent update, Google’s Public Liaison for Search, Danny Sullivan, shared key insights about changes to the ranking algorithm and what publishers can expect moving forward. He addressed site recoveries, cautioned publishers against drastic changes to their websites, and provided guidance for those whose rankings haven’t improved.
Continuous Improvements to the Algorithm
Sullivan clarified that Google is still refining its ranking algorithm and indicated that more updates are expected, with a focus on surfacing high-quality content from smaller or independent sites. The aim is to improve how the algorithm ranks valuable, original content, rather than always favoring big-name brands.
He mentioned that Google’s work is not yet complete: “The task of connecting people with a variety of high-quality websites, including smaller independent publishers, is ongoing. We’re committed to further enhancing this with future updates.”
Reassurance for Publishers Left Behind
For those publishers who have not seen their rankings recover after the latest update, Sullivan reassured them that Google is continuing to improve its ability to highlight content from smaller creators. He encouraged these publishers to stay the course and focus on creating great content.
Sullivan’s message was clear: “If you’re feeling unsure about your rankings and you know you’re producing high-quality content for your audience, keep doing it. It’s on us to refine our systems to better reward that content.”
A Warning Against Over-Optimization
Interestingly, Sullivan also cautioned against making unnecessary tweaks to content that’s already performing well in search results. He emphasized that trying to push content from a good ranking to an even higher spot can be risky and might backfire due to the ongoing adjustments in Google’s search index.
He stated, “If your content is already ranking well, it’s a signal that Google values it. People often wonder how to push their ranking up by a position or two. Our advice is to avoid making any major changes just for that purpose, as rankings can naturally shift over time.”
Google’s Handling of Feedback
Sullivan shed light on how Google handles feedback from publishers who experienced ranking losses. He explained that all feedback is collected, reviewed, and shared with Google’s search engineering team for further consideration. While feedback itself doesn’t lead to immediate ranking improvements, it is used to inform broader algorithm updates.
He explained: “I reviewed all the feedback by hand, ensuring that the sites that submitted their concerns were heard. I compiled the most compelling examples and sent them to our search engineers. They continue to review this data to improve search for everyone.”
Feedback Didn’t Directly Lead to Recovery
Sullivan made it clear that no site regained its rankings simply because they submitted feedback. Google’s systems are designed to address problems on a larger scale, meaning individual site adjustments aren’t made based on feedback alone. Instead, Google looks for systemic issues that impact multiple websites and works to resolve them across the board.
He noted, “No one who submitted feedback saw their rankings recover just because of it. That’s not how our systems work.”
Key Takeaways
– Google’s Algorithm Adjustments Are Ongoing: Google continues to fine-tune its algorithms to better surface high-quality content, especially from smaller publishers.
– Focus on Quality, Not Over-Optimization: Content creators should prioritize delivering valuable content to their audience, rather than over-optimizing for search engines.
– Stay Consistent: If you’re confident in the quality of your content but aren’t seeing improved rankings yet, stick with it. Google’s algorithms are still evolving to reward high-quality work more effectively.
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What do experts say: Google’s August 2024 Core Update: Unrelenting Search Volatility Raises Questions Among SEOs
The rollout of Google’s August 2024 core update officially concluded on September 3rd, yet nearly a month later, the SEO community is still grappling with significant fluctuations in search rankings. The sustained volatility has sparked ongoing debates among site owners and SEO experts, leaving many to wonder if the update truly ended, or if a new, unannounced algorithm tweak is in play.
Continuous Volatility After Official Rollout Completion
When Google marked the core update as complete, many expected the turbulence in search results to subside. However, from September 3rd onward, ranking fluctuations showed no signs of cooling down. From about the 2nd week in September, the search landscape remained unstable, with site owners reporting noticeable changes in visibility and traffic. Despite Google’s confirmation of the update’s completion, SEOs have noted irregular movements in the SERPs that suggest the update might still be impacting rankings in ways that aren’t fully understood.
A Persistent Storm of Ranking Changes
The search ranking chaos didn’t end there. A full week after the supposed conclusion, on September 11th, chatter within the SEO industry remained strong. Experts were still seeing heightened volatility, suggesting that Google’s algorithms might be undergoing further adjustments beyond the initial core update. Tools that track search fluctuations continued to register extreme movement, leaving many professionals frustrated by the lack of clarity from Google.
As days passed, spikes in ranking fluctuations were observed around key dates: September 6th, September 10th, and September 14th. And just as things seemed to be stabilizing, another surge was recorded on September 18th, raising more questions about whether Google was implementing further tweaks, even without formal announcements.
Ranking Increases Vanish Post-Update
For many, the most puzzling aspect of this ongoing volatility has been the reversal of ranking gains. Several website owners who experienced positive changes in their rankings during the core update suddenly saw those improvements wiped out in the weeks following the rollout. Gains made around early September were quickly reversed, leaving site owners dismayed as their search visibility dropped once more.
Numerous discussions on social media reveal widespread frustration. SEOs who were hopeful about recovering lost rankings during the update period found themselves back where they started, if not worse off. Despite the many complaints, Google has remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind these fluctuations, providing little in the way of explanation.
What’s Next for SEO?
With the volatility stretching beyond a typical post-update period, many are left wondering when—if ever—things will settle down. The protracted ranking fluctuations since mid-August have put SEOs and site owners on edge, forcing them to remain vigilant in monitoring their performance metrics and adapting to ongoing changes.
Google’s emphasis on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) within its algorithms means that these ranking changes could be linked to how well content aligns with these principles. Site owners should remain focused on producing high-quality, relevant content that meets Google’s evolving standards.
“The landscape changed, is ever evolving and changes remain in place and result in a volatile landscape. Most likely more is to come in the nearest future. And as we have witnessed recently, changes in Google’s Algoritms impact many small/sme and larger companies in a negative way, in terms of their ranking and with this performance results. Google is not really responding, and there is not yet a clear solution to quickly recover websites, which were genuinly optimized and are being “punished” by Google’s updates. I have mentioned it before, AI Search is in the uprise, although it still is not fully clear how SEO will work in the AI Search environment. I for one am convinced that AI Search will eventually take a large part away from Google, undermining its dominant position. SEO Experts have to keep learning how to get websites ranked in AI Search, this journey just started.
Keep monitoring new announcements and news blogs, we should soon get more concrete insights, and learn how to play the game again. SEO is and always have been changing, Solutions and Strategies are always updated and adapted to these changes.”
Dennis Ruiter, Owner KazNeth
