As you may have heard, Google has recently rolled out yet another broad core update. The update started to roll out on the 15th of March and is said to take up to two weeks to be completed.
As we see with every Algorithm update, some sites have reported significant changes to their rankings and traffic – some positive and some undesirable! But what exactly is a broad core update, and how should you respond to any ranking changes in the aftermath of one? Let’s take a closer look.
A broad core update is described as a major overhaul or change to Google’s search algorithm. In theory, Google updates are good as they are designed to improve the relevance and quality of search results for users – but there are always winners and losers.
Whenever Google releases a broad core update, it’s not uncommon for many websites to experience significant ranking changes. Some may see a rise in rankings if they’ve been implementing positive changes to their sites, while others may experience a decline if they’ve neglected to do so.
Unlike some other updates that focus on specific issues, a broad core update is much more comprehensive and can have a wide-ranging impact on search rankings for many websites.
So why would your site be affected and what should you do if your website has experienced traffic declines as a result of the broad core update?
Firstly, don’t panic! It’s important to remember that ranking changes are a natural part of the SEO landscape, and they don’t necessarily mean that your website is in trouble or has been penalised (call a manual penalty).
Instead, take a step back and evaluate the situation. There are generally 3 areas that you need to address going forward.
Take a look at your site content and answer the following questions:
If the answer is no – this is perhaps the first place to start. One of the most effective ways to respond to a broad core update is to focus on improving the quality of your content. Google is increasingly placing a strong emphasis on providing high-quality, authoritative content to its users, so it’s important to make sure that your content meets these standards.
To improve the quality of your content, start by focusing on E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. Google places a high value on content that is created by experts in a given field, is authoritative, and is trustworthy.
To improve the expertise of your content, think of your staff as thought leaders in your industry who have great first knowledge to be able to create content that provides real value to your audience. This can help to establish your website as a go-to source for reliable information in your field.
You can read more about improving E.E.A.T here.
To improve the authoritativeness of your content, focus on building high-quality backlinks from other authoritative websites in your niche. This can help to establish your website as a credible source of information in the eyes of both Google and your audience.
Finally, to improve the trustworthiness of your content, make sure that you’re providing accurate, well-researched information that is free from any kind of clickbait or false claims. Your audience needs to trust that the information you’re providing is reliable and truthful.
Earlier in 2023, we wrote an article outlining some of the ‘SEO basics’ that still have impact on your search visibility. Does your site implement features such as meta title optimisation, creating dedicated, valuable landing pages for each service you provide and building great internal and external links.
Also – when was the last time you analysed the site for technical issues? Over time, sites tend to become unruly (especially larger sites that have constant changes) so it’s important to ensure that your website is technically sound.
This includes factors such as page speed, mobile-friendliness, and security. Ensuring that your website is technically sound can help to improve your search rankings and provide a better user experience for your audience.
Remember, ranking changes are a natural part of SEO, and there’s no need to panic if your website is affected by a broad core update. We find that the majority of websites remain largely unaffected by algorithmic changes if they’re following the principles above and continuing to deliver quality. Remember that Google wants to provide the very best content to its users to keep them coming back – and that your users want to see quality too!
If you’re looking for more information about Bard, get in touch with the experts at Sixtwo today by filling out a contact form, or give us a call on 01233 333824.
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