November 2024 Core Update: Google releases its new update!
It’s official: on November 11, Google kicked off the rollout of its new search ranking core update. The announcement immediately ignited the attention of those who closely monitor changes in SERPs, and now all we have to do is watch the expected fluctuations over the next two weeks, which is generally how long it takes for this to be completed.
What are the reasons for the update according to Google?
The announcement of the update had actually already been coming for a few weeks, so it was not a particular surprise. Google had also warned that sites penalized by the September 2023 useful content update should not expect significant improvements from this action.
Updates to the core, released several times a year, introduce major changes to Google’s algorithms and ranking systems. Their overall goal is to improve the quality of search results by prioritizing content deemed truly useful by users. As stated on LinkedIn, Google explained that the November update continues its commitment to showing the most useful content, reducing the visibility of content created solely to rank better in search engines. For now, it is still too early to fully assess the impact of the November update.
How to react if the site is affected by the core update?
For those experiencing negative effects, Google has provided some helpful suggestions:
- Specific actions are not required to recover any lost positions: a drop in rankings or loss of traffic does not necessarily indicate problems with the site. Slight improvement may occur between updates, while more significant recoveries often occur with later core updates.
- Wait until the update is complete before analyzing the impact.
- Compare traffic data before and after the update in Search Console.
- Pay particular attention to pages that experience significant declines in position (particularly over 20 positions).
- Assess content quality using Google’s self-assessment guidelines or by taking advantage of SEOZoom tools.
For more information, Google recommends consulting the official documentation on updates to core.
Core updates and targeted updates
These algorithmic changes, which Google implements several times a year, are designed to improve the overall search experience by reevaluating the way content is evaluated and ranked. Unlike targeted updates, core updates affect search results globally, in all regions, and in all languages.
Recovery time and responses for sites affected by updates
For negatively affected sites, Google stresses that recovery could take time, up to several months, as systems learn and validate improvements in a “slow” manner. Specific changes are not guaranteed to result in ranking recoveries, as search results are dynamic and user expectations constantly changing.
It can be useful in this regard to refer to our SERP Observatory to monitor in real time the volatility of Google pages on all keywords and keep an eye on Zoom Authority values on a large scale. In this way, you can always be prepared for changes in Google’s algorithm, promptly intercepting any possible changes that might affect your site’s visibility.
As with previous major updates, Google will announce the launch end date, which typically takes about two weeks. We will evaluate the impact as Google implements the update in search results.
Stay Tuned!
