How Marketers Can Respond to Google Algorithm and Core Updates
- 17 January, 2022
- Jason Ferry
- SEO Marketing
The Google Search algorithm is constantly changing, and site owners and online businesses need to update their SEO marketing strategies every time there is an update. Google’s slew of algorithm changes ranges from tweaks targeting specific search elements to broad core upgrades, which considerably affect the SEO marketing industry.
Google also alters the type of data it deems essential on a regular basis, which significantly affects the results that appear on the web.
Some marketers believe that Google heavily depends on websites to create and deploy each set of algorithm adjustments, but this is not the case. Although websites are important to Google, they are not the only way the search engine gathers information.
Instead, Google focuses more on entities — a thing or concept that’s distinct, unique, and well-defined — to improve searchers’ experiences.
The information landscape is constantly expanding, and Google employs a variety of sources to give the most relevant results. Their algorithms consider several factors, such as where and when the search was done, where the information came from and when it was written, how the user searches, the device that they use, and so on. So, when a search marketer looks at the algorithm updates, one can see that Google is directing people to highly accessible information from the best sources.
What Occurs During Google Algorithm Updates
Usually, Google updates their algorithms to address specific problems in the SEO industry or the search engine results pages (SERPs). These are often straightforward to identify. When an update focuses on updating specific SERP features, search marketers can easily see what changed.
Take, for instance, COVID testing sites. By looking these up on a search engine, one can see some of the targeted work that Google has done. Google will curate the results so that the user gets information from the Government rather than commercial results, and the maps it displays are specifically tailored to medical elements.
Core updates, on the other hand, are algorithm modifications that change how Google generally indexes and ranks websites. They seldom happen, but their impact is significant.
When core updates occur, site owners see changes to the types of domains shown in the SERPs. One can notice a sudden increase or decrease in traffic, domain visibility, and so on. So, instead of one page suddenly plummeting in rankings, there may be several pages undergoing a sudden increase or decrease in rankings and traffic.
The first step in responding to ranking fluctuations is to figure out what type of algorithm change has occurred. Doing so helps marketers devise efficient SEO marketing strategies for resolving the problem.
How marketers should deal with updates
The way search marketers respond to a Google update is not only determined by what kind of change occurred but also by how it affected their online properties. If a website benefited from the update, it is a positive indicator that Google thinks they have quality information, website credibility, and adequate technical accessibility.
Gaining a boost after a Google algorithm update also gives search marketers the chance to build and compound their SEO capabilities over time. However, things don’t always go as planned. When a significant decline in traffic and rankings happens, SEO marketers frequently find themselves scrambling to find solutions. This is the time when pinpointing the source of the problem can be beneficial since it might take many forms.
A major reason is that the criteria for the vertical may have changed. One SEO in particular shared about their formal client, a reputable medical business offering a test server health test. However, their website was negatively affected by Google’s update to medical results. The SERPs were prioritising other websites like the World Health Organization, Mayo Clinic, and the CDC.
When this happens, one should take a strategic approach to their SEO, which is different from their regular competitive keyword research.
Verticals may change frequently, but there’s also a possibility that the drop in SERP visibility was due to an issue with the site’s properties. It could be that the site owner has missed something, which is a common problem with in-house teams. They may also miss rules or instructions, a particular directive, or a new element from Google. This might mean that they need to play catch-up to get their SEO back on track.
When a website gets negatively affected by a core update, one should stick to the best SEO practices to future-proof one’s properties for possible changes. One should not go against the algorithm nor expect improvements until the next update.
Search marketers may feel the need to exhaust all solutions, but core algorithm updates are focused on the domain, so Google performs a quality assessment of one’s SEO strategy.
What Marketers Should Expect from Future Updates
Because successful marketing methods can anticipate future trends, they don’t simply identify and react to algorithm changes; they can even expect the patterns shaping future updates. And, according to what many SEOs believe, Google appears to be leaning more toward AI modelling.
Google has introduced Multitasking Unified Model (MUM), a state-of-the-art AI tool that helps the search engine comprehend data better than before. It can process text, pictures, and natural language in 75 languages. It will possibly grow to process audio and video in the future as well, and Google is already future-proofing this AI tool.
The more Google uses these models, the more search marketers will have to stay on top of their online assets and keep them in their best form all the time. It’s the greatest approach to be ready for whatever happens next.
Prepare for Google Search Algorithm Updates with Position1SEO
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If you want to know more about our services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today!