Google is always releasing new updates to help make the experience better for users. In this blog, we’re answering the question, how should businesses react to Google algorithm updates?
Hearing about new Google updates when you are a business owner can be quite nerve-wracking. You work hard to get your website right, just for the search engines to change things up. Working closely with a great digital marketing agency can be extremely useful, as they can keep up with algorithm updates, so you don’t need to.
Plus, an algorithm update doesn’t always mean that it’ll be bad news for your ranking position. In some cases, your business might be one of the industries that experience the positive sides of it. Many businesses actually notice their websites ranking higher after an update.
Why are algorithm updates important?
Whether you love the updates or you’re not so keen, they are very important! Most of the updates are centred around improving the browsing experience for users.
Better search results
Algorithm updates can be used to refine the results on the search engine results pages. This means that the websites sharing valuable and credible information are likely to experience a boost in their ranking positions. It also makes browsing much more enjoyable for users as they can find accurate information quickly without needing to scroll through pages and pages of websites.
This highlights the importance of regularly updating your website with relevant content, such as blogs.
Reducing spam websites
Even if your website is filled with useful content, many others are not. Many websites that are listed on the search engines are full of spam information, which is not useful for users. If these spam sites appear on the search engines, they could be impacting your ability to reach potential customers, which is not what you want.
Staying up to date with user behaviour
You’ll know from experience that user behaviour changes over time. This means the search engines must adapt to remain ahead of the changes and ensure the highest quality websites are appearing first on the search engine results page (SERP). There are also many search engines available for people to use, and they will all be in competition with each other to gain the most users.
SEO purposes
Even though a Google algorithm update can fill many website owners with worry, they are necessary to help you remain competitive when it comes to SEO. These updates allow you to make continuous improvements to maintain a high-performing website.
SEO is a long-term strategy that can be highly effective when it is completed correctly. Read our blog on: how long does it take for SEO to work?
How many updates does Google make each year?
Google is always refining its service, but it tends to make three to four core algorithm updates per year. These are larger updates that can have a more significant impact. Google usually announces these core updates and gives an idea of when they should be completely rolled out. Google also releases many smaller updates throughout the year.
When was the last Google update?
Google began rolling out its latest update on the 13th of March, and it was expected to take two weeks to be completely rolled out. We’re nearly one week after the rollout should have been completed, so let’s take a look at what this one was targeting.
“This is a regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites. We also continue our work to surface more content from creators through a series of improvements throughout this year. Some have already happened; additional ones will come later.”
As with past Google updates, they are highlighting the importance of creating relevant, credible content for your website. Not only can this help to improve your ranking position, but it can also help to position you as an industry expert.
What should you do about Google algorithm updates?
It’s good to be aware of the updates, but often there’s no need to panic. Here are some tips on what you can do.
Take a look at your rankings
Some people might have been lucky enough to have experienced a boost in rankings. If this happens, we’d recommend keeping an eye on it until the update has finished rolling out. Then, keep doing what you’re doing and stay ahead of future updates!
Unfortunately, some websites may experience a drop in ranking position. While it might be tempting to log in to your website and start making changes, this is not the best thing to do. Instead, you should continue monitoring your site until the update is complete. You might find that your website ends up exactly where it started by the time the update is done. Or, you might even experience a positive shift!
You can use Google Analytics and Google Search Console to check your rankings and website traffic over time. Google Search Console can also provide you with a report based on Google’s Core Web Vitals. These combine page speed, user experience and website responsiveness.
In 2022, Google released its E-E-A-T update, which comprises Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. This highlights the need for relevant and authoritative content.
Do some research
In some Google algorithm updates, certain industries might be affected more than others. This means that your site might be at an increased risk of changes. Look into which industries have been affected the most. Sometimes you might find communities where you can share tips and get a bit of peace of mind.
Look into your content strategy
Your content strategy plays a huge role in how your website succeeds on the search results. Therefore, you should regularly take time to assess your content strategy. Ensure that all of the content on your website pages aligns with the rest of your brand.
Additionally, ensure that your blog content is optimised for the search engines. You’ll need to include relevant keywords and ensure that you follow SEO best practices when adding new, quality content. Ensure that you avoid keyword stuffing at all costs.
Make sure your high-quality content follows guidelines on natural language processing and always complete SEO information on site, such as meta descriptions. Content quality is just one of Google’s ranking factors, but it features heavily in Google search algorithms and updates. Find out more about SEO ranking factors.
Find a reliable digital marketing agency
Not only will a digital agency already be aware of the most important details of the updates, but they’ll also be able to give you peace of mind. If your website ranking falls, an agency will be able to complete an in-depth audit and help get your site back on track.
At Complete Dubai, we offer a specialist SEO service, which focuses on both on-page and off-page SEO, to help you achieve the best results possible.
When a new algorithm update is released, it’s a good idea to take a step back and monitor the results. It’s best to make any conclusions when the update is complete, as there can be fluctuations in the beginning. The most important thing is not to panic. Remember that SEO is not an overnight fix; it takes time to see meaningful results from your strategy.
We work closely with clients to identify ways to improve their SEO and help them reach their desired position on the search engines.
So, if you’ve been affected by the latest update, don’t panic! Google continues refining the algorithm updates for a while after they have been rolled out. We hope this blog has been helpful on how should businesses react to Google algorithm updates.
If you need expert SEO support, contact our friendly team. We’ll be more than happy to help.