Google has announced that its second core update of the year, the August 2023 Core Update, has finished rolling out on September 7, 2023. The update took 16 days to complete, starting from August 22, 2023.
What is a core update?
A core update is a change in Google’s search ranking algorithm that affects how web pages are ranked in the search results. Core updates are designed to improve the quality and relevance of the search results for users.
Core updates are different from other types of updates that Google makes, such as bug fixes, security patches, or feature enhancements. Core updates are more significant and can have a noticeable impact on the visibility and performance of web pages.
Google usually releases core updates every few months, and announces them on its Search Liaison Twitter account and its Search Central blog. Google also provides some guidance on what to do if a web page is affected by a core update.
What is the August 2023 Core Update?
The August 2023 Core Update is the second core update that Google has released in 2023. The previous one was the March 2023 Core Update, which started rolling out on March 15 and completed on March 28.
The August 2023 Core Update was expected to take up to two weeks to complete, but it took slightly longer than that. Google confirmed that the update has completed rolling out on September 7, 2023, at 4:03 pm ET.
The August 2023 Core Update is a broad core update, which means that it affects all types of web pages and topics across different languages and regions. Google does not specify what changes are made in each core update, but it generally aims to reward high-quality and relevant content that meets the user’s intent.
How to check if a web page is affected by the August 2023 Core Update?
One way to check if a web page is affected by the August 2023 Core Update is to monitor its traffic and rankings using analytics tools such as Google Search Console or Google Analytics. A web page may see an increase or decrease in traffic and rankings after a core update, depending on how well it matches the updated ranking criteria.
Another way to check if a web page is affected by the August 2023 Core Update is to compare its performance with other web pages that cover similar topics or keywords. A web page may lose or gain visibility relative to its competitors after a core update, depending on how well it satisfies the user’s needs.
How to recover or improve a web page after the August 2023 Core Update?
Google advises that there are no specific actions to take to recover or improve a web page after a core update. A negative ranking impact does not necessarily mean that there is anything wrong with the web page, but rather that it may not be as relevant or useful as other web pages for the user’s query.
However, Google does provide some general suggestions on how to create high-quality content that can perform well in the search results. Some of these suggestions include:
- Providing original and accurate information that answers the user’s question or solves their problem
- Providing clear and comprehensive information that covers the main aspects of the topic
- Providing fresh and updated information that reflects the current state of the topic
- Providing engaging and compelling information that attracts and retains the user’s attention
- Providing trustworthy and authoritative information that demonstrates expertise, credibility, and reputation
- Providing user-friendly and accessible information that follows web design and usability best practices
Google also says that a web page may see some recovery or improvement between core updates, but the biggest change would be after another core update. Therefore, it is important to keep monitoring and improving the content quality and relevance of a web page over time.
