Uncategorized
The August 2024 Google Update
What is the Impact of the August Google Update So Far?
I've been keeping a close eye on Google's latest algorithm update that began rolling out on 15 August 2024. Google started rolling out this update on 15 August 2024, and if history is any indicator, we can expect it to continue for about two weeks, likely concluding around 29 August. As with previous updates, Google has been characteristically tight-lipped about the specifics, but that hasn't stopped us and the SEO community from analysing and speculating.
How Does This Compare to Earlier 2024 Updates?
2024 has been a busy year for Google updates. We saw the "Helpful Content" refinement in March and the "Page Experience" update in June. However, this August update seems to be more comprehensive, touching on various aspects of search quality.
From what we've observed, this update appears to be a fusion of previous focuses:
- Content quality (building on the March update)
- User experience (expanding on June's update)
- E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) signals
John Muller, a Search Advocate at Google defines this update as: "This update is designed to continue our work to improve the quality of our search results by showing more content that people find genuinely useful and less content that feels like it was made just to perform well on Search.”
For the tech-savvy readers, this means potential changes to how Google's natural language processing algorithms interpret content and possibly tweaks to their machine learning models that evaluate page quality.
With each update this year, Google's getting better at understanding context and user intent. There are improvements and sophistication in the detection of AI-written material. There are also early signs of tweaks in core web vitals and mobile-first has become mobile-only indexing.
The Effects So Far: The Good, The Bad, and The Fluctuating
As with any major update, we're seeing significant SERP (Search Engine Results Page) volatility. Some websites are experiencing dramatic shifts in rankings, both positive and negative.
The Good:
- High-quality, in-depth content is seeing a boost, particularly if it's well-structured and easily digestible.
- Websites with strong E-A-T signals are generally benefiting.
- Local businesses with consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across the web are seeing improvements in local pack results.
The Bad:
- Some websites with thin content or excessive use of AI-generated material are seeing drops in rankings.
- Sites with poor mobile experiences are being hit hard.
- Websites that haven't updated their content regularly are losing ground to more current competitors.
The Changes We've Observed:
- Featured snippets are appearing more frequently for long-tail queries.
- Video content is gaining more prominence in SERPs, especially for "how-to" searches.
- The "People Also Ask" feature is expanding, often pushing organic results further down the page.
Benefits Some Websites Have Seen:
- Increased organic traffic for sites with comprehensive, well-structured content.
- Higher click-through rates for results with rich snippets.
- Improved rankings for pages with excellent Core Web Vitals scores.
Negatives in the SERPs:
- Some long-standing "pillar" pages have lost their top positions to newer, more comprehensive content.
- Increased competition in local search results, making it harder for some businesses to maintain visibility.
- Greater fluctuations in rankings, leading to less predictable traffic patterns.
Our Opinions and Long-Term Implications
While it's still early days, we have some predictions on the medium and long-term impact of this update.
As this update seems to be refining Google's ability to understand and reward truly helpful content. Websites that focus on providing genuine value to users are likely to see sustained benefits.
Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Roundtable notes, "We're seeing a clear trend towards rewarding expertise and authoritativeness. This update appears to be doubling down on Google's commitment to E-A-T principles."
There's a clear push towards rewarding content created by genuine experts in fields like finance and health, further refining what quality content looks like in the eyes of Google. So, it is clear the days of churning out large volumes of mediocre content are truly over. Investing in creating fewer, but more comprehensive and valuable pieces is going to be of high value, where the content is carefully thought out and brings something new and unique to your niche. For more details on how to write authoritative content, we have a separate blog here. Writing higher-quality content could also mean more detailed author bios, links to credentials, or showcasing industry recognition.
There is also increased importance on Core Web Vitals, this will continue to be crucial. By optimising your website's speed, interactivity, and visual stability, is going to go a long way in boosting SEO performance. Another technical development in this August update is what was previously mobile-first indexing is now mobile-only. If your website isn't providing an excellent mobile experience, it's time for a website redesign!
Regardless of updates we always recommend regular content audits, and it goes to show the importance of new content as there has been noticeable decreases in historical pillar pages which have given way to newer more relanvt content off the back of this update. One of the best ways is to implement a system to regularly review and update your content to ensure it remains relevant and comprehensive. Another way to add value to content is via video content integration. Consider how you can incorporate more video content into your SEO strategy, especially for explanatory or demonstrative topics.
The August 2024 update is shaping up to be a significant shift in Google's approach to evaluating and ranking content. The core thing to remember is SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. These updates are Google's way of pushing us all towards creating a better, more useful internet. By aligning your SEO strategy with this goal, you're setting yourself up for long-term success.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by these changes or want to ensure your website is on the right track, don't hesitate to reach out .Why not speak to our team and receive a free SEO consultation, we can discuss SEO opportunities specific to your website and your business goals. Drop us an email or give us a call on: 01794 830042
