A large laptop displays Google search results with a man holding a magnifying glass hovered over the search button.

August 19, 2024

Google Releases August 2024 Core Update

Following Google’s announcement that a core update would be coming—and weeks of ensuing search rankings volatility—Google has finally begun rolling out its August 2024 core update.

This latest core update officially began rolling out on August 15 and may take up to a month to complete. While most of Google’s core updates typically take two to three weeks to complete, the most recent one—the March 2024 core update—took 45 days to finish rolling out.

What’s in this latest core update, and how will it impact your digital marketing efforts?

What Is a Google Core Update?

Core updates are periodic broad changes made to the algorithms and systems behind Search. Google typically doesn’t go into much detail beyond that.

After all, the specifics of how Search works are closely guarded—with the notable exception of the recent Google API leak.

Here’s how Google explains the function of core updates:

“Core updates are designed to ensure that overall, we’re delivering on our mission to present helpful and reliable results for searchers. These changes are broad in nature, and don’t target specific sites or individual web pages. As content on the web changes, we assess and update our systems to keep pace, as a whole.”

Most websites shouldn’t be concerned about how a specific core update will affect their visibility since core updates typically do not change SEO best practices.

As long as you consistently strive to deliver genuine value and a best-of-web user experience, you can rest easy.

However, these updates do change how Search functions in meaningful ways, and some sites see changes in traffic correlated with core updates.

Should I Worry About Google’s August 2024 Core Update?

Since core updates are designed to optimize Search systems and algorithms to deliver the most relevant, useful results for users, you should be concerned about this latest update if:

You don’t regularly update your content for relevance and freshness.
Your site has long-standing performance issues that you haven’t addressed.
You took no action to improve your site after Google’s 2022 Helpful Content Update.

The best websites are relevant, current, and prioritize best-of-web UX. Again, the details of exactly how Google analyzes and weighs all the signals that go into search rankings are closely guarded.

But here’s the big takeaway, and something SEO pros have known for years: You don’t need to know the exact formula for each of these search signals.

You can capture #1 organic rankings by simply following Google’s published guidance, conducting market research, understanding your users, and using a bit of common sense.

What Do I Do If My Rankings Drop Because of the August 2024 Core Update?

Google has updated its guidance for webmasters and digital marketers who notice rankings fluctuations that coincide with core update releases.

Once the core update has finished rolling out—which you can confirm at the Search Status Dashboard—go into Google Search Console and compare data from the week before the rollout began against data captured following the completion of the update.

Then, look at your top pages and queries to determine whether you’re seeing small drops in positions (one or two spots) or larger decreases.

For small changes, you likely don’t need to make any changes. But if you see large drops, dig deeper.

Google also recommends analyzing different search types separately so you can better understand where the decrease occurred.

Above all, Google recommends avoiding quick fixes. Instead, ensure you have a thorough understanding of the best practices for site creation and management, then focus on the long-term health of your site and build pages that deliver the utmost value to users.

Remember, the update just started rolling out, so now isn’t the time to make sudden adjustments. Be patient, and if you discover any issues, check Google Search Console once the update has finished.

Build an Update-Proof Business with VELOX Media

Our diverse team of PPC, SEM, and organic search specialists has helped countless businesses navigate major Google updates. It’s why we’re recognized as a Google Premier Partner, among the top 3% of agencies worldwide.

We don’t fixate on each successive core update. Instead, we help our clients build revenue-driving businesses by using the latest research and proprietary tools, like our New Revenue Model, to devise tailored strategies focused on unique business goals.

Then, we leverage the latest technology and proven techniques, conservatively targeting 400 to 800% revenue increases.

Ready to build a business that won’t wax and wane every time Google updates its algorithms? Contact VELOX today and discover how we can help you achieve sustained search dominance and exponential growth.