Google has officially launched the November 2024 core algorithm update, which started rolling out on November 11 and is expected to take roughly two weeks to complete. This latest update is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of its search results, aiming to highlight content that is genuinely useful to users while de-emphasizing content created solely to rank well in search results. Here’s a summary of what this update entails, its impact, and steps site owners should consider if their rankings are affected.
Today we released the November 2024 core update. We'll add it to our ranking release history page in the near future and update when the rollout is complete. For more on core updates: https://t.co/43pVoYH8k7
— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) November 11, 2024
Core updates are large-scale changes to Google’s search algorithms and systems that occur several times per year. Unlike more specific updates targeting particular issues or types of content, core updates impact search results globally and across all languages. They adjust how Google evaluates and ranks web content, potentially affecting the visibility of websites in search results.
Google’s aim with these updates is to refine its search systems so that high-quality, valuable content is ranked higher, offering a better user experience. The November 2024 core update follows previous updates in March and August 2024, which also introduced broad changes across search rankings.
Each core update tends to cause some level of volatility in search results. For many site owners, these changes can result in significant shifts in traffic and conversions. While there are no guaranteed methods to regain rankings lost from a core update, following Google’s guidelines for quality content can improve the chances of recovery in future updates.
As always, site owners should monitor Google’s Search Status Dashboard for updates on when the rollout has been completed. Google’s documentation and guidelines on creating helpful, reliable content remain valuable resources for those looking to improve their site’s search performance over time.
A core update is a broad update to Google’s search algorithms that impacts how pages are evaluated and ranked. These updates typically focus on improving search result quality and can cause significant fluctuations in rankings.
The update is expected to take about two weeks to complete. Google will notify when the rollout is finished via its Search Status Dashboard.
It’s possible that your site may experience ranking changes, but not all sites will be impacted. Some may see positive shifts, while others could experience drops. The best approach is to focus on content quality and user experience.
If you notice a significant drop in traffic or rankings, especially on pages that have fallen by more than 20 positions, it could be an effect of the core update. Use Google Search Console to compare your traffic data before and after the update
Google advises that there are no quick fixes. The key is to assess and improve the quality of your content based on Google’s quality guidelines. Focus on making content that is helpful, original, and meets user needs. Recovery can take several months.
No, recovery from ranking drops due to core updates can take time, potentially months. Google’s search systems continually evolve, and recovery depends on the long-term improvements you make to your site.
You can track the update’s rollout progress on Google’s Search Status Dashboard, where Google will post updates and confirm when the rollout is complete.