August 2024 Algorithm Updates: Have They Affected Your Website?

Key takeaways:

• A core algorithm update was rolled out in August 2024, lasting 19 days, one of the longest core updates to be released.
• Many websites are reporting usual fluctuations, while others are seeing huge drops in keyword performance and traffic.
• Google has provided support to those sites that aren’t improving as a result of the update.

In September 2024, Google completed the rollout of its August 2024 Core Update, a significant algorithm change aimed at enhancing the quality of search results. This update was designed to reward content that is genuinely helpful and reduce the visibility of content created primarily for search engine rankings.

Were you affected by the update? Did you report keyword ranking drops and changes to performance? You aren’t alone, as we take a deep dive into what could have happened.

August’s 2024 Algorithm Update

One of the main goals of the update was to elevate smaller, independent websites that produce original, valuable content, which has led to notable fluctuations in search rankings. Many websites that were affected by previous updates, like the September 2023 Helpful Content Update, have seen some improvement in their rankings, but full recoveries are still rare. In contrast, some sites experienced further drops in visibility, suggesting that the update’s focus on content quality is stricter than ever​.

According to Search Engine Roundtable, websites were reporting more drops and continuing to drop as a result of the algorithm update.

The poll results showed:

• 44% had rankings/traffic drops
• 27% had rankings/traffic increases
• 29% had no change

As a result, Google have provided more support and guidance on what sites can do if they believe their site should be improving as a result of the algorithm update.

Google Ranking Issues

In August 2024, shortly after Google began rolling out its core update, a ranking bug was reported. This issue affected Google Search’s ranking system, causing irregularities in search result visibility and performance. The bug introduced volatility in rankings, which made it difficult for SEOs and website owners to accurately assess the update’s impact on their traffic.

Google acknowledged the bug and confirmed that it was ongoing during the rollout, which added to the usual fluctuations expected with a core update. The bug made it hard to differentiate between algorithmic changes and anomalies caused by this issue​

This ranking bug underscores the importance of waiting until after the update and any related technical issues are fully resolved before evaluating website performance.

SEO for Businesses

For businesses and website owners, this update reinforces the importance of producing content that prioritises user needs over SEO manipulation. To adapt, webmasters should focus on improving content quality and user experience, according to Search Engine Journal. Those experiencing drops in rankings are encouraged to wait a week post-rollout before analysing traffic, as volatility is expected during this period​.

However, ranking drops are still being reported, so it can take a lot longer for these results to improve for certain websites.

What Should I Be Focusing On?

Content Quality

• High-quality, relevant content is at the heart of on-page SEO. Your content should provide value, answer user queries, and be well-researched.

Keyword Optimisation

• Include target keywords naturally in critical areas such as the title tag, headings (H1, H2), and body content.
• Use LSI keywords (Latent Semantic Indexing), which are related terms that help search engines understand the content’s context.

Title Tags

• The title tag is one of the most important on-page SEO elements. It appears as the clickable headline in search results. Keep it concise (50-60 characters), relevant, and include your primary keyword.

Meta Descriptions

• While meta descriptions don’t directly affect rankings, they influence click-through rates. Write engaging, accurate meta descriptions that include keywords and are around 150-160 characters long.

Header Tags (H1-H6)

• Properly structure your content using header tags. Use the H1 tag for the main title and H2-H6 tags for subheadings. This helps organise the content and signals relevance to search engines.

URL Structure

• Create clean, descriptive URLs that reflect the content of the page. Short URLs with keywords rank better and are more user-friendly. Avoid using long strings of numbers or unnecessary characters.

Internal Linking

• Internal links help spread link equity throughout your site and allow search engines to better crawl your content. They also guide users to related articles or pages, improving the user experience.

Image Optimisation

• Optimise images by using descriptive filenames and adding alt text that describes the image and includes relevant keywords. Compress images to improve page load times, which can impact SEO.

Mobile Optimisation

• Ensure your site is mobile-friendly. With the rise of mobile search, Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily uses the mobile version of a page for ranking.

Page Load Speed

• A fast-loading site is critical for both user experience and SEO. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix speed issues, such as large image files, unoptimised scripts, or server response times.

Schema Markup

• Schema markup is a form of microdata that helps search engines understand your content better. It can enhance your appearance in search results with rich snippets, improving your visibility.

User Experience (UX)

• Google values positive user experience. Ensure easy navigation, responsive design, and engaging content that reduces bounce rates. Factors like session duration and page interactions can indirectly influence rankings.

Conclusion

Overall, this core update continues Google’s trend of prioritising helpful content and rewarding sites that align with its E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) principles. Websites with thin or unoriginal content may need to revisit their SEO strategies to recover from any negative impacts.

We are able to provide your site with the right care and attention it needs by running an SEO audit and assessing your keywords to see where ranking drops could have come from. From there, we are able to put together an action plan to hopefully support your website’s continued performance.