Google November 2024 Core Update Rolling Out Now

On November 11, 2024, Google made a revolutionary change by releasing a brand new search ranking core update, famously known as the November 2024 core update. 

This showcases the popular browser’s efforts to maintain top-notch quality in terms of the content it serves while surfing the internet by generating useful, people-centric content and pushing aside unnecessary and unwanted content. 

Like its previous updates, this one is expected to go full swing in around a fortnight. We will explore everything one needs to know about this fresh update, its impact on users, and what actions users can take if a site they own is affected by it.

What Are Core Updates?

When we talk about Core updates, these changes are reflected in Google’s search ranking algorithm, which changes many times throughout the year.

These changes filter out how Google views, assesses and ranks content in the search engine result pages (SERPs). 

When we talk about giant search engines like Google, changes like these lead to noticeable shifts in search rankings, which affects many websites, some positively while some bear the negative effect of the change- rankings, with some websites seeing gains and others experiencing drops.

The November 2024 core update coincides with Google’s overall goal of delivering better search experiences by showcasing the latest, appropriate, high-quality content to its users. 

Along with this, they recognized that websites obstructing affected by the September 2023 helpful content update should not look forward to seeing crucial changes and gains with this update on the way.

While Google hasn’t taken any particular steps to recover from a fall in potential ranking, they made it abundantly clear in their past advice via guidelines. The primary aim remains to create high-quality content that keeps the user’s needs and satisfaction as a priority, not a search engine algorithm.

In a nutshell, the company gave away the purpose of core updates as follows:

“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.”

Google November 2024 Core Update: What’s New?

Core updates can have far-reaching implications for website owners, marketers, and businesses. These updates affect how Google evaluates and ranks content, which can lead to significant changes in website traffic.

• Opportunities for Growth: Websites that produce content in line with Google’s guidelines and generate user-engaging and valuable content can visibly see a boost in rankings and user traffic.
• A hurdle for Low-Quality Sites: Pages that fail to meet Google’s set guidelines may have to bear the brunt of the changes the search engine is bringing to see their rankings drop, leading to reduced traffic.

What Makes the November 2024 Core Update a Watershed Event?

The November update is closely related to the August 2024 core update, which aligns with Google’s focus on filtering the evaluation of content it shows in its search algorithm. 

While Google has not opened up about the changes we will see after this particular update, one thing is crystal clear: a note that has always been given to the content creators to create useful, helpful, trustable, and people-first content.

Google broke the November core update on its Search Central blog and LinkedIn, announcing that they will include more details and precision in their Search Status Report and Ranking Release History Page once the update is in full swing. 

For now, the company has put the word on the street that website owners should not look forward to drastic recoveries from earlier updates, like the September 2023 helpful content update, unless significant improvements have been made to their respective content going on the search engine.

A Glance at Former Core Updates

To have an idea about the potential impact of the November 2024 core update, let’s take a look at some of the key details of recent core updates:

1. March 2024 Core Update:
   • This was the biggest core update ever released, as per Google.
   • The rollout started on March 5, 2024, and extended over 45 days, concluding on April 19.
2. August 2024 Core Update:
   • It started on August 15 and was completed on September 3.
   • The target was to filter rankings based on content quality and relevance.
3. November 2023 Core Update:
   • Spanned November 2 to November 28, 2023.
   • Focused on demoting spammy and thin content in favor of authoritative and useful material.
4. September 2023 Helpful Content Update:
   • Targeted websites that put search engine rankings first rather than user satisfaction.

Every core update builds added to the last, showcasing an in-tune trajectory in which Google advances towards rewarding genuine, user-focused content.

What To Do If You’re Affected By the Update?

If you see a fall in rankings or traffic following the November 2024 core update, Google stresses the fact that the changes one sees in the website don’t necessarily mean your website has a specific issue. 

Core updates assess websites as a whole, meaning changes in ranking could result from fellow users performing better than you or a change in Google’s understanding of search intent.

1. Don’t Be Afraid 

Google recently confirmed that there’s no particular action to take to go back to square one from a core update. A fall in rankings does not mean bad content or fluctuations on your website. 

Often, the ranking fall is an outcome of a wider change in how Google evaluates content. The website makes core updates to showcase changes made in search quality, and rankings can shift as a result of the update.

2. Review Google’s Content Guidelines

Website owners must follow the search engine’s guidelines to benefit the most. Google has continuously stressed the importance of creating helpful, reliable, people-first content.

The core update is likely to follow in similar footsteps, so websites that provide quality content that makes a difference in people’s lives will likely flourish with this update. 

Note Google’s content quality guidelines and evaluate whether your content aligns with these principles.

A few essential questions to consider if your site was impacted include:

• Does your content stand out and provide valuable and authentic information, or is it necessarily written for SEO purposes?
• Is your content written by specialists or learned people with a deep, thorough understanding of the topic?
• Is your content easy to read, catchy, and user-friendly? Does it give internet users a good experience?

3. Recover Between Core Updates

While most path-breaking changes in rankings are mostly seen after a core update is put into place, Google has mentioned that sites can see some recovery between updates if they make some changes in their content. 

They need to pay more attention to strategies that will work out in the long run, such as improving content quality and user experience and updating outdated content.

4. Avoid Quick Fixes

Google lays down guidelines that advise not to use shortcuts or ways to manipulate search rankings. 

For example, using an excessive number of pages with keywords or employing suspicious SEO practices can result in penalties. 

Google prioritizes content that carries some value and content that is useful in some way, and it will continue to prioritize sites in the future that add some real value to users.

What To Do If You’re Negatively Impacted By The Update

Focus on People-Centric Content

• Make sure your content is written for users who consume content, not search engines.
• Give value by answering user queries extensively and correctly.

Refer to Google’s Guidelines

Review Google’s advice for creating helpful and authentic content. Answer these essential questions:

• • Does your content demonstrate exclusivity and authenticity?
  • Is it free of factual inaccuracies?
  • Does it stand out when compared to competitors?

Assess Your Site’s Overall Quality

Google advises conducting a holistic evaluation of your website’s content, structure, and user experience.

Be Patient

Recovery from a core update may take some time. In some cases, visible improvement is only seen after another core update.

How to Evaluate Your Content? 

Google has provided a structure with a set of questions to help website owners evaluate their content quality. These include:

• Content Value: Is your content authentic, memorable, and informative?
• Expertise: Does your site have clear knowledge of the topic?
• Trustworthiness: Is your content rooted in credible sources and free from factual fallacies?
• User Experience: Does your site provide an uninterrupted and engaging browsing experience?

By paying attention to these particular questions, you can identify areas that need more attention and how to make your content more engaging and stand out. 

Do Core Updates Make a Difference?

Core updates like the November 2024 update play an essential role in ensuring users find content that meets their requirements. For website owners and SEO professionals, these updates can be opportunities to:

• Gain more recognition by improving content quality.
• Understand user intent more effectively.
• Build authority in a particular niche through impactful and authentic content.

However, this also presents challenges, especially for websites that depend on outdated SEO practices or lack substantial content.

Beat the Core Updates: Stay Ahead of the Changes

Success in core updates should be taken up with an enterprising approach rather than adjustments after its implications. Here’s how to be future-ready with your website in the wake of ranking fluctuations:

Create long-lasting Content: Focus on producing high-quality, engaging, and evergreen content that stays relevant to your audience over a long time.

Optimize User Experience:

• Ensure fast loading speeds, user-friendliness, and intuitive navigation.
• Minimize manipulative ads and attention-diverting content.

Take advantage of Analytics: Use tools like Google Analytics and Search Console to track performance metrics and know about weak spots in your content.

Alter and Increase Your Traffic Sources: Relying solely on organic search traffic can be risky for your website. Explore other sources, such as social media, email marketing, and paid ads, to attract users to your site.

Google Updates Till Now: A Timeline 

To have a better understanding of the context in which Google functions regarding its updates, let us know what has taken place till now: –

1. August 2024 Core Update:
   • Announced: August 15, 2024
   • Completed: September 3, 2024
2. March 2024 Core Update:
   • Announced: March 5, 2024
   • Completed: April 19, 2024
3. November 2023 Core Update:
   • Announced: November 2, 2023
   • Completed: November 28, 2023
4. October 2023 Core Update:
   • Announced: October 5, 2023
   • Completed: October 19, 2023
5. August 2023 Core Update:
   • Announced: August 22, 2023
   • Completed: September 7, 2023
6. Helpful Content Updates (2023): Prioritized content that served genuine user needs, penalizing low-value and overly optimized pages.
7. March 2024 Core Update: Touted as the largest core update to date, it took 45 days to complete and caused widespread ranking shifts.
8. August 2024 Core Update: Focused on refining search quality but was more moderate in impact compared to earlier updates.

What Does Google Recommend? 

Google has shared a list of questions beforehand to extend a helping hand to the owners of the website to assess their content accordingly: 

1. Standard of Content:
   • Does the content serve as information gathered from sources, analysis, or understanding?
   • Is the content written by someone who has deep insights about the particular topic?
2. Presentation and User Experience:
   • Is the content free from inaccuracies and showcased professionally?
   • Does the content load promptly and display well on all sorts of devices?
3. Value to Users:
   • Does the content meet the requirements of the target audience?
   • Is it more engaging or stands out from similar content created by competitors?
4. Trustworthiness and Expertise:
   • Does the content come from a trustworthy source?
   • Are claims backed by evidence or citations?

Make Your Website Better: Take Practical Steps 

Focus on User-Centric Content

• Prioritize content that is useful, consistent, and written for the audience—not just a particular search engine.
• Use Google’s helpful content guidelines as a roadmap for creating user-focused material.

Perform a Cumulative Site Audit

• Assess your website’s performance, content quality, and SEO used.
• Identify and look into areas where user experience could be made better.

Attend to the Audience More

• Seek user feedback to understand what visitors value most about your site.
• Engage with users more to keep the website active.

Stay in Touch With The Updates

• Regularly stay in touch with Google’s documentation and announcements about core updates and search guidelines.
• Follow popular SEO blogs and platforms for deeper insights from industry experts.

FAQs

What steps should one take if there is a significant fall in the ranking? 

Start by reviewing your content’s quality and relevance. Use Google’s checklist to create helpful, reliable content. Focus on providing value to users rather than chasing ranking metrics.

How much time will it take to go back to normal?

The time it takes for each website to bounce back may vary. Small changes might happen between core updates, but major recovery after an update does need some time to return to its previous state.

Is The November Update correlated to the Helpful Content Update?

While not directly linked, the core values of the updates do coincide. Both target bringing better content to internet users.

What tells me that a site is affected by the November change?

Monitor your rankings and traffic data. If you notice sudden drops in key metrics coinciding with the update, your site may have been impacted.

Should SEP be the major point of focus of the website? 

No, but you should prioritize user-centric SEO while creating content. SEO is essential for Optimizing content for search engines without periling content standards.