🤔Has SEO changed forever? Unraveling Google’s latest updates

🤔Has SEO changed forever? Unraveling Google’s latest updates

October 19, 2023

Disclosure: This content may contain few affiliate links, which means if you click on them, I will get a commission (without any extra cost to you).

Read time: 6 minutesHey there,Shane here, and it's time to dive into the latest search ranking algorithm updates by Google. The search engine has just rolled out its October 2023 Spam Update along with a Core Update. And, it comes with some exciting changes that you need to be aware of.

What you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:

  • An in-depth look at Google's latest search engine updates

  • This week’s featured tool

  • This week’s blog updates

Before we jump into the newsletter content, I’d like to take a moment and thank our sponsors who keep this newsletter free. Semrush is my go-to all-in-one SEO tool. I use it daily for keyword research, competitive analysis, rank tracking, and even content quality checking.

Google’s October 2023 Updates: What You Need to Know

This month, Google rolled out two updates.Firstly, the Spam Update, which started rolling out at the beginning of the month, followed by the Core Update on the 16th.These updates have a two-fold mission. First, they aim to enhance Google's ability to identify and eliminate spam from search results. Secondly, they include significant changes to the core algorithm with a focus on improving the overall quality of search results.

Understanding Google’s Spam and Core Updates

Google’s October Spam UpdateWhat is it? A spam update is a specialized tweak to Google's search algorithm, designed to pinpoint and eliminate spam from search results.Who does it target? Spam updates aim at identifying and penalizing pages that use a variety of spam techniques, including cloaking, hacked content, auto-generated spam, and questionable redirects.Google’s Core UpdateWhat is it? A core update is a comprehensive adjustment to Google's search algorithm, primarily aimed at enhancing the overall quality of search results.Who does it target? Core updates have a broad focus. It encompasses factors like content quality, relevance, author expertise, and website usability.Google Search Central (GSC) has released a great, short YouTube video on the search engine’s recent search ranking algorithm updates. Watch it to stay compliant with what Google sees as rank-worthy content.

Worried about the recent updates affecting your search rankings? Fear not, conduct an SEO audit for your website using Semrush’s Site Audit Tool.

Google’s Spam Update: Eliminating Unwanted Elements

What is Google Doing?

  • Google's spam updates are designed to identify and remove spam pages from search results.

  • These updates target a variety of spam techniques, including cloaking, hacked content, auto-generated spam, and sketchy redirects.

  • Google uses advanced algorithms to detect and de-rank sites that employ these spammy tactics.

Tips to Improve Your Rankings Despite of the Spam Updates

  • Follow Webmaster guidelines: Ensure your website strictly adheres to Google's Webmaster guidelines. Avoid spammy techniques such as keyword stuffing, hidden text, and link spam.

  • Use ethical promotion techniques: Promote your website in an ethical and legitimate way. Avoid using black hat SEO techniques like buying links or creating fake social media accounts.

  • Stay cautious: Exercise caution when clicking on links and sharing information online. Beware of phishing emails and malicious websites that might lead to spammy destinations.

  • Enhance security: Use a robust password manager and enable two-factor authentication on your online accounts to safeguard them against potential hacks.

Google’s Core Update: Enhancing Search QualityWhat is Google Doing?

  • Google's core updates aim to improve the overall quality of search results.

  • These updates target a wide range of factors, including content quality, relevance, author expertise, and website usability.

  • Google's algorithms assess all content pieces for these factors to deliver more accurate and valuable results to searchers.

Tips to Improve Your Search Rankings Amid Core Updates

  • Focus on creating high-quality content: Create content that is genuinely relevant to your target audience. Avoid thin content, duplicate content, and content written primarily for search engines.

  • Do a quality check: Ensure your content is well-written and edited. This includes checking it for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

  • Keep a conversational tone: Write in a conversational tone and avoid jargon usage. Make your content easy to understand for your audience.

  • Inform and assist: Provide valuable, informative content that helps your visitors make decisions or take actions.

  • Update your content regularly: Keep your content up-to-date by reviewing and refreshing it regularly to maintain accuracy and relevance.

  • Build authority: Establish authority of your website by creating high-quality content, acquiring backlinks from reputable sites, and actively participating in your industry conversations.

By incorporating these tips, you can not only adapt to Google’s Spam and Core updates but also proactively improve your website's search performance.