August 2024 Google Algorithm Impact

In August, Google did it again. 

Can you guess what I’m talking about? Yep, the search engine giant rolled out another algorithm update. The latest core update began on August 15 and finished by September 3.

This update focused on improving the quality of search results and showing content that users find “genuinely useful.”

As always, the core update caused some upheaval in the search rankings. You weren’t alone if you experienced dips in organic traffic or your site’s performance.

Still seeing the effects of the update? Don’t worry. I’ve got some tips to help you adapt your online game.

Let’s examine Google’s latest algorithm update, what it may mean for your search rankings, and some strategies to weather its impact.

Key Takeaways

• Google’s latest core update prioritized sites offering helpful content while downgrading sites written just for SEO and search visibility.
• Google says the update highlighted high-quality content from various sources. 
• Unlike previous core updates, Google issued extended guidance and actionable tips for website owners who experienced drops in their rankings.
• The core algorithm update rewards sites already implementing Google’s best practices for optimizations and content.
• Google suggests waiting a week before checking Google Search Console following a core update.

What Is the Google August 2024 Core Update?

Google announced the algorithm update on X and other platforms on August 15. 

Google’s John Mueller says the update was all part of making search results better and helping users find more helpful content. In a statement, Mueller explained:

• Google listened to feedback from creators and other users before rolling out the latest core update.
• It better captures improvements website owners have made recently.
• Google wants to highlight content from various sources, including small and independent sites.

So, what does the August Google algorithm update mean for websites? Kasey Rossman, SEO Strategist at NP Digital, says:

“This core algorithm update rewards websites already aligned with Google’s best practices related to content and optimizations. The update amplifies the importance of user-centric, valuable content over content created simply to manipulate rankings. The update also improved visibility for smaller and independent websites previously overshadowed by larger websites.”

This update was the second major algorithm core update in 2024. The first core update rolled out in March.

Unrelated Ranking Bug

In mid-August, Google confirmed a ranking bug affected results in Google Search.

John Mueller said the bug was unrelated to the recent core update and explained that sometimes it runs into system errors like everyone else. 

Fortunately, Google fixed the problem within a few days. Google advised to ignore any rankings changes observed during the incident.

Expanded Guidance on Core Updates

As Google explains, search positions are dynamic, which can lead to gains and drops in search traffic. If you’re seeing fluctuations since the update, the best advice may be to sit tight. 

But Google does offer some actionable advice on what you should do if you see changes in traffic in the wake of updates (generally speaking; not specific to the August update):

• Check the Search Status Dashboard to ensure Google has completed the rollout. You can also visit this page to see a full list of historical updates.
• Google suggests waiting a week after an update before checking your site’s performance.
• Review your top pages and queries to assess if the drop is significant or just a small shift.
• Analyze different search types (Google Images, News tab, etc.) to pinpoint where the drop originated.

If your site is experiencing a significant drop, it may be time to step back and evaluate it as a whole. 

Do a self-assessment to ensure your site delivers high-quality, helpful content. Pay extra attention to the pages taking the hardest hits. If you feel your content isn’t hitting the mark, consider rewriting it or making improvements so it’s easier to digest and navigate.

Google advises against making any impulsive drastic changes like deleting entire pages of content. Only consider deleting a page if there’s absolutely no way to salvage the content. Once you’ve made changes, remember that it can take months to see improvements in your rankings.

What You Can Do

Not everything is in your control, but there are some tried-and-true strategies you can turn to no matter what changes Google introduces. They include:

Remembering E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) 

Google’s algorithm updates increasingly emphasize E-E-A-T to prioritize credible sources and combat misinformation, especially on topics that impact users’ well-being or finances.

These are the signals Google uses to ensure searchers get high-quality, reliable information in the search engine results pages (SERPs). 

Using customer personas and journeys 

This approach helps you understand your buyers’ wants or needs and improve the customer experience by identifying their needs, pain points, and key engagement opportunities. 

Sticking to SEO best practices 

Focus on user experience, optimize for local SEO and long-tail keywords, diversify your backlink profile, and track your competitors to see what tactics they’re using.

Using AI (but using it strategically)

AI models are getting smarter, but that doesn’t mean they’re flawless. 

What do I mean by that? Simply that you have to use it strategically to create content. 

Moz has a great guide for using AI with E-E-A-T guidelines in mind. The steps include:

• Starting with a content audit. Ensure your content aligns with E-E-A-T principles and pinpoint where to improve it.
• Understanding your audience. Identify their needs, preferences, and online behaviors, and adjust your content accordingly.
• Planning content. Tailor it to your audience’s needs and interests.
• Demonstrating expertise. Share real-world examples, case studies, or personal anecdotes.
• Building trust with your content. Include detailed author biographies to highlight the credentials and expertise of your content creators. Be sure to cite your sources and present factual, well-researched information, too. 
• Establishing authority. Showcase expert quotes and credentials and link to trusted sites.

Check for volatility

Use tools such as MozCast and Semrush Sensor to track reports of fluctuations in Google’s algorithm. During an algorithm update, these tools can help you understand the impact of the update and identify patterns or trends for specific keyword types. Additionally, tracking volatility can help you assess potential risks to your site. 

What We’ve Seen After the August Algorithm Update

There’s always some volatility following a Google algorithm update. 

To illustrate this, let’s take a look at the impact the most recent update had on my blog at neilpatel.com.

Our Google Search Console data shows that performance improved in the second half of August, which lines up perfectly with when the update was rolling out

We noticed a 17 percent increase in page one keyword rankings month over month (MoM) and a 10 percent increase in total rankings MoM.

Further demonstrating the value of providing helpful, high-quality content (something I pride myself on), we saw a 39 percent uptick in clicks and a 30 percent increase in impressions during the algorithm update.

To give you a better sense of the overall impact of the algorithm update, let’s look at the findings of Barry Schwartz from Seroundtable.com. He ran surveys on several platforms to gauge the effect of the August core update.

His surveys on Seroundtable.com and X found that most sites lost rankings/traffic. 

Specifically, 44 percent said rankings/traffic were down, 27 percent said they were up and 29 percent said there was no change.

However, Schwartz cautioned that the X stats might not be completely accurate as Xdoesn’t show raw stats.

A LinkedIn poll told a different story: 34 percent of respondents claimed a rankings/traffic increase, while 30 percent said their rankings/traffic fell.

FAQs

What sites were impacted by the August 2024 Algorithm update?

The August downgraded low-quality SEO content created purely to do well in search results.

How do I recover from Google algorithm update?

Before taking any action, it’s crucial to wait for the rollout to finish. Then, analyze your top pages and queries to evaluate how your site’s performance has been affected, identifying whether any drops are significant or just minor fluctuations. If you notice large drops, use Google’s documentation to identify areas where you could improve your content.

Conclusion

Google’s core updates always cause turbulence in the search rankings. That means you need to consistently update your strategies to help your site stay visible. 

Sticking to the fundamentals also pays off. So, keep doing what you’re probably already doing: Create high-quality, helpful content, implement SEO best practices, consider Google’s ranking factors, and offer a fantastic user experience.

Sometimes, though, the best move is to do nothing, especially in the early days after a core update. When updates like these happen, give it at least a week until things settle before digging into your data. Then, see where you stand in the rankings and what you can do to climb back up.