Unexpected Changes: Google’s August 2024 Core Update

Following the September 2023 “helpful content” update, some websites hit with ranking drops are showing tentative signs of recovery. However, recent Google August 2024 core update rollout and an ongoing ranking bug created a volatile search landscape.

Google August Update Key Points to Remember:

• A ranking bug is currently affecting Google Search results.

• The August core update will take a full month to roll out completely.

Early Observations:

While significant changes haven’t emerged for most websites (typical during core updates), a glimmer of hope appears for sites negatively impacted by the September 2023 update. It’s important to clarify: these sites haven’t fully “recovered” and haven’t reached pre-September visibility levels. Yet, some are experiencing positive ranking and visibility shifts.

• Some “helpful content update” impacted sites are seeing minor visibility improvements.

• These improvements wouldn’t be considered full recoveries yet.

• Websites affected by previous core updates (like March 2024) are also experiencing mixed results.

• Even sites with no prior core update history are seeing both positive and negative ranking changes.

Industry Insights:

SEO expert Glenn Gabe has tracked hundreds of websites negatively affected by the September update. He reports that 47 of these sites are experiencing minor visibility gains:

“I’m now seeing more HCU(X) sites surge. Out of the 380+ sites I’m tracking, 47 have surged since the August core update began rolling out. Note: some have low visibility but spiked with the update. Others have greater visibility and are surging back nicely.”

Real-World Examples:

House Fresh and Retro Dodo, two websites that received significant media attention after Google ranking issues, have reported fluctuations – not full recoveries – in recent days.

The Takeaway:

We’re still in the early stages of the August update rollout, which is further complicated by the ongoing ranking bug. It’s too soon to definitively say whether these improvements will continue or if rankings will fluctuate further.

We’ll continue monitoring the situation and report on any significant developments. We hope this update brings positive changes to your website.