Google introduced the November broad core algorithm on 11th November 2024. The algorithm change is expected to take about two weeks to finish rolling out, Google said. This latest iteration denotes the third core algorithm update of this year, followed by the previous August ’24 and March 24’ core updates.
Announcing the rollout of this update on X, Google posted:
“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.”
Modern algorithms are designed to differentiate between user-focused content written for users and content written for search results, so businesses can produce high-quality content by utilizing content writing services for their websites.
Update as on December 5th : Google’s November 2024 Core Update Rollout Is Now Complete
Google’s November 2024 core update, which was completed on December 5th, marking an end to a 23.5 days long rollout. It was initially thought that it will take around two weeks for the total rollout, but it took almost twice as long.
The update has introduced substantial changes, to improve the relevance, usefulness, and quality of content presented in search rankings. This means, Google will prefer well-researched and user-centric content, while content without any genuine value, written to manipulate rankings will lose relevance.
For SEO content writers, they must make sure that their content is in-depth and aligns with user intent. Also, the content layout and readability will contribute to the user experience score.
The rollout has evoked mixed reactions from users so far. According to Search Engine Journal, many have reported a sharp increase in search result volatility, especially in the lower-ranking pages (positions 21–30). A majority have observed a sudden increase in traffic, but an unusual drop in rankings.
The observations noted are early, as the impacts will be prominent only in the coming days. Professionals will monitor the trends closely, as further stabilization in search results will be expected in the coming weeks.
Key Details of the November ’24 Core Update
The November core update is part of Google’s series of broad core algorithm updates designed to refine the quality of the search engine results and evaluate content to ensure that it reflects the user’s intent. Unlike targeted updates, which may be confined to specific regions or language, core updates have a global impact across the entire online platform. It aims to filter out low-quality, unoriginal content and push high-quality, relevant websites to the top of the SERP. Google confirmed on LinkedIn for this to be typical update, stating:
“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.”
As with the previous ones, this recent update may cause fluctuations in website visibility and ranking of search performance during the rollout period. However, these initial changes are temporary as they may not affect the final result due to Google’s ongoing assessment of content relevance. For site owners and SEO experts, delivering helpful, high-quality content that addresses the user’s needs rather than resorting to quick fixes is beneficial for SEO success.
Actionable Steps to Implement for Webmasters
For site owners and businesses that rely on site visibility and traffic, understanding the impact of this announcement is crucial to manage their website and implement the best SEO practices. If you suspect that your website has been impacted due to the core update, Google recommends following these tips:
- Before making any drastic transformation to your website, Google has asked to verify whether the core update has finished rolling out or not. The end date is available to check on the search status dashboard.
- Once the rollout is complete, Google advises waiting at least a week when comparing the results of your site performance pre-update and post-update in the search console. Review the data from the current week to the week before the core update started rolling out.
- If your website is hit by the recent update, Google suggests conducting a self-assessment of your site’s material quality to identify if it is genuinely helpful and reliable to users.
- Analyze the website with an objective point of view as a whole, either yourself or as feedback from unbiased, trusted authorities.
- Identify pages that were most impacted and answer the self-assessment questions provided by Google for valuable insights about content quality.
- Do not resort to quick fixes that may worsen your website’s search performance and instead, develop an effective SEO strategy for sustainable results.
- Invest in enhancing several aspects of your website, such as revamping old site pages with the latest information for enhanced readability and site navigation.
- Consider deleting old, irredeemable content only as a last resort, especially if the content is created with the intention of ranking better on SERP rather than offering genuine help.
Takeaways
The latest update is part of Google’s continuous commitment to improving search results and generates authoritative, reliable, and high-quality content for users. For businesses and webmasters, proactive website management by focusing on delivering user-centric content is key to surviving any algorithm updates. However, administering the various activities for your website is a time-intensive task, so the better option is to seek the help of a third-party company. By utilizing professional SEO services for your company, you can boost site ranking, drive traffic, and increase sales for overall financial growth.
