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March 15, 2024 | Digital Marketing
Google’s October 2023 Update: Is Your Website at Risk of Vanishing?
Recently, Google rolled out its October 2023 Core Update. This update is a big move from Google to offer its users a better search experience.
But it will have a massive impact on the website’s ranking too. In fact, the reshuffling of the ranking is already visible. A lot of businesses are struggling as their rankings are going haywire. It’s possible that your website’s ranking, will face the heat of Google’s update soon. So what now? How do we tackle this core update? And, more importantly, why does this core update matter?
Let’s dive deeper into the topic to understand the entire scenario. But first, let’s clear some basics.
What is Google's October 2023 Core Update?
The Nature of the Update
As usual, Google’s core updates are always chaotic for website owners. These updates change (say enhance) the way the search engine evaluates and ranks a particular page.
The October 2023 Core Update is a part of Google’s strategy to prioritize high-quality, relevant content in its search results.
How Does It Impact Websites?
The Google October 2023 Core Update is a major upgrade. Google has significantly changed how it evaluates and ranks web content. The update’s broad impact is crucial to understand:
- A Paradigm Shift: the most important thing here is to understand that Google does not release upgrades to penalize any website. Instead, upgrades like this are aimed to encourage webmasters to strive for higher standards in content and user experience.
- Cross-Industry Impact: This is another important point to keep in mind. It doesn’t matter what industry or niche you are in; your website could still witness changes in its search rankings. What does this mean? Well, it means websites from every niche must optimize content to meet Google’s new criteria.
- Long-term Strategy: This update will compel website owners to shift their focus from creating search-engine-friendly content to user-friendly content. Websites should focus on delivering value and quality to maintain their current ranking and boost their ranking in Google’s search results.
What Changed with the October 2023 Update?
Enhanced Focus on Content Quality
Depth and Value: The update strongly emphasises in-depth, well-researched content. Google now rewards content that addresses surface-level queries and provides comprehensive insights, offering real value to the reader. This shift encourages websites to invest in thorough research and nuanced content creation.
E-A-T Principles: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) are more critical than ever. Websites that demonstrate these qualities in their content are likely to see a positive impact on their rankings. This aspect is particularly pivotal for sites in the YMYL (Your Money Your Life) categories, where credible and accurate information is crucial.
User Experience as a Ranking Factor
Site Usability: The update underscores the importance of a seamless, intuitive user experience. This aspect includes easy navigation, clear calls to action, and a layout that enhances content consumption. The ranking algorithm will view websites that provide a frictionless user journey more favourably.
Mobile Optimization: With a significant portion of internet users accessing the web via mobile devices, having a mobile-optimized website is no longer optional. This update further cements the importance of mobile-friendly design, ensuring that sites are accessible, readable, and navigable on smaller screens.
Technical SEO Adjustments
Core Web Vitals: This update makes Google’s focus on loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability (collectively known as Core Web Vitals) more pronounced. Sites that load quickly, respond promptly to user inputs, and maintain visual stability during browsing are likely to rank higher.
Safe Browsing: Ensuring a secure browsing experience is paramount. Websites must be free from deceptive practices, malware, and harmful content. This update aspect aligns with Google’s overarching goal of creating a safer web environment for all users.
Strategic Response to the Update for Businesses
Content Strategy Revamp
Audit Existing Content:
Begin with a thorough examination of your current content. Assess each piece for relevance, accuracy, and alignment with Google’s updated standards.
Refresh outdated articles, deepen shallow pieces with more detailed information, and realign content to meet your audience’s needs better. This process should aim to maintain relevance and elevate the overall quality of your website’s content.
Create Engaging, Informative Content:
Develop content that directly addresses your audience’s questions. Utilize tools like Google’s “People Also Ask” feature to understand common queries in your industry.
Distinguish your content by offering unique perspectives or expert insights that can’t be found elsewhere. This approach engages readers and builds your site’s reputation for thought leadership.
Enhancing Technical Aspects
Optimize for Speed:
Utilize tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze your site’s performance and identify areas for improvement.
Focus on optimizing image sizes, leveraging browser caching, and reducing server response time to enhance website speed. A faster-loading website significantly improves user experience and aligns with Google’s emphasis on efficiency.
Secure Your Site:
Conduct regular security checks to identify vulnerabilities. Use tools like Google Search Console to stay informed about potential security issues.
Ensure your website uses HTTPS encryption, install security plugins using a CMS like WordPress, and keep all software up-to-date to protect against malware and cyber threats.
Building a Strong Online Presence
Authority Building:
Collaborate with industry leaders or contribute guest articles to reputable platforms. This enhances visibility and establishes your business as a knowledgeable authority in your field.
Actively engage in industry-related forums and discussion groups. Share your expertise and provide valuable insights, which can help build a reputation as an industry expert.
Quality Backlinks:
Focus on acquiring backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites to your industry. The quality of backlinks is much more important than quantity in Google’s updated algorithm.
Develop content that naturally attracts backlinks. This includes original research, comprehensive guides, and insightful analysis that other sites want to reference.
How Professional Agencies Can Help?
While understanding and adapting to Google’s Core Updates is vital, it requires expertise and dedicated effort. This is where a professional agency like Web99 becomes an asset. With a deep understanding of SEO and digital marketing trends, Web99 can offer:
- Customized SEO Strategies: Develop bespoke strategies that align with your business goals and the latest SEO trends.
- Continuous Monitoring and Optimization: Keep your website performing at its peak, adapting to ongoing changes in the digital landscape.
Stay Ahead in the Digital Race
Google’s October 2023 Core Update is a reminder that internet evolves constantly. For businesses and website managers, staying adaptable is the key to thrive here. Remember, with the right approach and expert support; these updates can be transformed from challenges into opportunities for growth.
Are you experiencing the impact of the recent core update? Is your website’s ranking plummeting rapidly? Do not waste any more time. Talk to us today and our experts can help you out.
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About Author
Prem Rathod
Director & co-founder
Prem Rathod is a highly skilled professional and co-founder of Web99, a digital marketing and web development agency based in Australia. With expertise in SEO, he is committed to providing innovative solutions to help businesses improve their online presence and visibility. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Prem is passionate about leveraging technology to automate processes and drive innovation in the healthcare sector. His proficiency in SEO, automation, and health tech has helped Web99 stay at the forefront of the industry. His skills in web development, UI/UX design, and project management have also been instrumental in the growth and success of the company.
Excellent website with a wealth of useful information; I’m forwarding it to some friends and also sharing it on Delicious. Obviously, I appreciate your effort.
Customized SEO Strategies: Develop bespoke strategies that align with your business goals and the latest SEO trends. PSE-SoftwareFirewall