On May 4th, 2020, Google turned out the latest in its chain of Google Search Broad Core Updates. This is the first core update to be announced since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. So much has changed since the outbreak of coronavirus took hold here in Ireland and beyond, including major changes in consumer & search behaviour, which is why this core update may have an even more prevalent effect on rankings than most. Some rankings may have changed already, so now is the time to check in on your analytics, and continue to monitor and note the changes with your keyword positions. Going forward, Google has suggested those with depleted rankings to “fix” & improve their content based on previous guidelines, so when the next Google Core Update is announced, you’ll hopefully find your way back up.
What Is A Broad Core Update?
Google is constantly changing, evolving & adapting its algorithms to provide the best possible results for searchers. Minor tweaks are performed daily, but every few months or so Google releases a ‘broad core update’. This is a larger update that may noticeably change where your page ranks on the SERPs. Google ever so kindly informs us when they make these updates so that us content creators can prepare for a ‘Judgement Day’, of sorts. Essentially, Google’s goal is to give credit where credit is due. This means a reassessment of old and new content, every few months, to decide who deserves those top search spots the most. They call these reassessments – ‘Broad Core Updates’.
What Does This Mean For My Website? – A Content Reassessment
This means the content that you worked super hard, (or maybe not so hard?) creating, is going to be analysed by Google’s shiny, freshly-updated algorithm, and it could potentially move up or down in search results. In the blog version of the official update, Google has informed us that if you’ve dropped in the rankings, it doesn’t mean there is necessarily anything wrong with your content, you’re still following the guidelines and offering a fine piece of work. What it does mean is that the latest algorithm has assessed all the content for a particular search keyword and decided that certain results are better and deserve those tops spots.
Why? What Kind Of Content Should You Be Producing?
Google rewards original, informative & valuable content. Make sure that your content offers more than your competitors’. There needs to be freshness and uniqueness. Google’s core updates favour engaging, shareworthy publications. So make sure anything you release on your website is of the highest quality. Be sure to take your time and perfect your work. SEO experts should now be taking the time to inspect analytics and follow guidelines from Google based on previous outputs around topics such as BERT. Covid-19 has taken search queries and spun them like a top, with a lot of topics that were once highly sought after becoming almost irrelevant, and many others seeing a surge in search relevancy.
Content Creation Tips for Core Updates
Whether you have been immediately affected or not, the best way t prepare and recover is to produce or alter old content to adhere to Google’s advice.
- Keep it quality
Make sure your content serves a purpose and informs. Keep it engaging and ask yourself if your content is share-worthy?
- Keep it original
We all know that Google is not fond of duplicate content. Keep it original and fresh. If you’re writing about something that’s already been written about, that’s fine. Ensure you write it in a personalised way and offer something extra to the table.
- Keep it tidy
Grammatical errors will deplete your content quality ranking. Keep headlines and content descriptions to the point and informative.
- Keep it classy
Make sure you’re not writing content for the sole purpose of ranking in search results. Don’t keyword-stuff, write with the good intentions of informing/ educating/ assisting your readers.
If you would like a more detailed list of factors that Google’s algorithm is assessing, the full Google blog-style update includes that and more on their latest core update.
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