Google Broad Core Algorithm Update
It seems like you go to bed one night and wake up to the news that a new Google core update has been rolled out. It is not all bad news for users, but it can be a nightmare for webmasters.
The overall sentiment about Google algorithm updates is that they are intended to improve the accuracy of search results, and ultimately, user experience. The only solace to take away from the latest Google core update is that there is room to improve before it is actually rolled out.
Buckle up, it’s about to be another Final Destination-esque rollercoaster ride. Stick around to discover what to expect from the June 2021 core update.
Everything We Know About Broad Core Algorithm Update
At the crux of the broad core update is Google’s intent to make search results better equipped to provide relevant answers to the queries entered by the users on SERPs.
This means that the focus is on the quality of content, and not the quality of the website.
Broad core updates take place on more than one occasion in a year. Therefore, this can explain the sudden fluctuation in rankings. According to Google, the fluctuations are the result of a few other web pages that were under-appraised, having a higher position after the core update.
The inverse is also true. If your site experienced a drop in rankings, it is likely that the bots determined that there were pages that answered the query better than the current content on your page.
What this means is that your content needs to be contextual in its writing. It needs to answer the query for human use and less for bots.
Google Broad Core Algorithm Update Explained
Unlike the daily core update by Google bots, the broad core update has a lasting impact on your overall site ranking. The fluctuation in ranking positions can be detected for search queries globally.
The update improves contextual results for search queries. Unlike other updates, there is no fix for websites that were previously penalized by Google updates. The only fix is to improve the content quality.
How to Improve After Google Broad Core Algorithm Updates?
If you are affected, the only fix is to reevaluate the content strategy and make content more relevant to the search intent of your target audience.
Earlier in the year, Google had tweeted regarding the broad core update, stating that: “there’s no fix for pages that may perform less, other than to remain focused on building great content. Over time, it may be that your content may rise relative to other pages.”
From the sound of things, Google has shifted the focus from keywords centric results to topic-based results. This way, Google wants to provide users with more contextual content that can answer their search intent accurately.
If the broad core update hurts your overall website, it is recommended that you reconsider the content strategy. We recommend having a cluster topic approach, wherein you can cater to user intent to rank better on Google.
Useful Tips to Improve Content After Google Broad Core Algorithm Update
If your high-ranking pages lost their position, you should work overtime to resuscitate it quickly! The general practice is to compare it with the site that has replaced your position. See how they made the content more relevant to outrank you.
Before making significant changes though, it is prudent to wait for a couple of days after the rollout. Google has a history of rolling back its changes and reinstating the ranking positions. Thus, stay alert of all changes in your webpage position. As a rule of thumb, all your content should be well-written, with extensive research and answer the topic.
To ensure that your page standing remains steady, you should follow the E-A-T guidelines set by Google. EAT is a term that appeared first in the Quality Rater Guidelines of Google, which stands for Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness.
Is the Broad Core Update Good or Bad News for Webmasters
This is definitely good news for webmasters. You may panic if your content needs refining. However, the fluctuation is intended to signal to webmasters to improve the way you write, not to hurt your rankings.
If you experienced an upsurge in rankings or a sharp decline around March 2021, it is because there was a Broad Core Update: “Florida 2”.
It is important to use the results you saw during that term to improve on the overall content strategy and way of writing.
If you fail to adapt, there’s even more bad news for you. Not only did Google release a broad core algorithm update in June, but they will roll out another core update in July 2021.
However, here’s some solace, according to Google’s Danny Sullivan, changes in rankings are not because of anything webmasters done. It is based on the changes in how Google assesses content to meet evolving user expectations.
“Core updates are designed to increase the overall relevancy of our search results. In terms of traffic we send, it’s largely a net exchange. Some content might do less well, but other content gains. In the long term, improving our systems in this way is how we’ve continued to improve Search and send more traffic to sites across the web every year.”
The best approach is that your content is structured to answer the query as best as possible. This will be reflected in how well your pages and overall website are positioned on Google.
