The November 2023 Core Update by Google, marking the fourth major update of the year, concluded its rollout on November 28, 2023. Starting on November 2, this update spanned 26 days, overlapping with the Reviews Update that began on November 8.
Today we released the November 2023 core update. We'll update our ranking release history page when the rollout is complete: https://t.co/hgjEkfpbA2
Related to this, we’ve posted a Q&A on Google Search updates as a refresher about how updates work: https://t.co/N5p3KsJ0ta
— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) November 2, 2023
What Are Core Updates?
Core updates are significant alterations to Google’s algorithms, impacting the ranking and visibility of websites in search results. These updates aim to enhance the quality and relevance of search results, often causing notable shifts in website traffic and rankings.
Concurrent Rollouts: Core and Reviews Update
This update was unique as it overlapped with the reviews update. While these updates occurred simultaneously, they impacted websites at different intervals. This adds complexities to the digital landscape for SEO professionals and website owners, including: more difficulty in identifying cause and effect of ranking fluctuations, risk of conflicting adjustments, and diverse algorithm changes.
What Is the Impact of Core Updates?
Google’s algorithm updates are quite impactful for businesses as they influence how websites perform in search results. Changes in rankings can significantly affect organic traffic, conversions, and revenue. Recognizing and adapting to these updates is crucial for maintaining online visibility and competitiveness.
How to Recover from a Core Update Hit
If your website experiences a downturn following a core update, Google offers some considerations to take into account:
- Recovery Strategies: Google emphasizes that there are no definitive steps for immediate recovery. Experiencing a drop in rankings doesn’t necessarily imply flaws in your website’s content.
- Reflective Questions: Google suggests reviewing your content using this guide of questions for making helpful content. This helps assess and understand your site’s standing after a core update.
- Long-Term Recovery: While minor improvements may be seen between updates, significant recovery typically aligns with subsequent core updates.
Understanding Penalties
It’s important to note that a drop in rankings due to a core update is not a penalty. These updates are about promoting high-quality content rather than penalizing sites.
