Google launched the December 2024 broad core algorithm update on 12th December, exactly a week after the November ‘24 update was completed. As with the previous core updates, this update is expected to take about roughly two weeks to finish rolling out. This marks the fourth algorithm update of 2024, preceded by the March’24, August’24, and November ’24 updates.
As search algorithm updates are sporadic and irregular, site owners can outsource to professional SEO services to maintain website traffic and overall ranking in the search results.
Statement Shared by Google
Google announced the December ’24 update on X, to alert users. They wrote:
“The Dec. 2024 core update is rolling out, and we expect it will complete in two weeks.”
In order to provide additional clarification about the proximity of two algorithm updates, they shared a link to a Q&A post from November ‘23 about search updates. It stated:
“If you’re wondering why there’s a core update this month after one last month, we have different core systems we’re always improving. This past blog post explains more:”
According to the search engine giant, they do try to separate notable updates. However, it’s not always possible due to the vast amount of updates they implement throughout the year. The blog post also further explained about the updates that may happen during the holiday season,
“We do try to avoid having updates during the late-November to mid-December period when possible. But it’s not always possible. If we have updates that can improve Search, that have been developed over the course of several months, we release them when they’re ready.”
Impact of the December ’24 Core Update on Websites
The latest update reinforces Google’s ongoing policy of delivering content that is most helpful and relevant to its users. While no specific websites are being targeted or penalized, sites might experience ranking fluctuations as a result of the update during this period. This is because core updates introduce significant changes to search algorithms and re-evaluate content based on new standards.
For websites noticeably affected by the latest core update, Google has mentioned previously that there are no immediate, specific recovery actions to take. Instead, webmasters and content creators can the follow given past advice that the search engine has emphasized to improve the SERP ranking:
- Focus on content quality – Assess your existing content quality to ensure that your site provides only valuable, informative, and fresh content for users.
- Enhance user experience – Prioritize furnishing superior user experience by analyzing the site speed, responsiveness, and accessibility features of your website.
- Stay informed about search guidelines – Stay up-to-date with the latest guidelines and policies implemented by the search engines to ensure compliance with the best practices.
As businesses are occupied with core competencies, they can hire the services of a reliable search engine optimization company to stay compliant with search policies and rank higher in the SERP.
