On 15th March 2023, Google announced the latest core algorithm update which is the first broad core update of 2023.
The March 2023 core update comes around six months after the last update in September 2022, where the aim was to deliver the most relevant, high-quality search results. Unlike specific, targeted algorithm updates, core updates are rolled out to make improvements to the fundamental algorithms affecting site performance, comprising ‘significant, broad changes’ to Google’s systems.
What to do after a core algorithm update
Following advice from previous updates, there are no changes to be made now that the update has been announced. Google states that pages performing worse than before the core update don’t necessarily have anything ‘wrong’ with them. Rather than targeting specific pages or sites, the changes improve Google’s own system for assessing content. This means that pages previously not receiving a high enough ranking, but have relevant, high-quality content, will perform better in search results.
Since the algorithm aims to reward pages with strong content, it is important to continue posting content that is relevant and helpful for your target audience.
Prepare a plan of action
Google states that the roll-out may take up to 2 weeks to complete, so businesses should be prepared with a plan of action depending on how the update impacts their website:
- If your website sees improvements in rankings, this could be an indicator that your content is providing exactly what it should, while less helpful competitor pages may see a drop in rankings.
- If there is little to no change in your website’s rankings, you may already have a strong, fundamental level of content, but a more creative approach within your content strategy could increase rankings further.
- If you notice your rankings are decreasing and you have been negatively hit by the update, this doesn’t necessarily mean your content is bad, just that other pages are deemed more relevant than yours. In response to this, it may be beneficial to evaluate whether all content on the site is optimised in line with Google’s latest best practice guidelines, before deep-diving into any potential problem areas.
As you can see, a core algorithm update can be a blessing or a curse for some businesses, whereas others might not even notice a difference. Because of this, it is especially important to keep a close eye on analytics and rankings over the next couple of weeks.
If you’re struggling after being hit by the core algorithm update, Fusion Unlimited is a leading digital marketing agency ready to help. If you’re interested in finding out more about what we can do, get in touch with the team today.
by Emily Flude
