Understanding Google's November 2024 Core Update

On November 11, 2024, Google announced the rollout of its latest broad core update. While details are still emerging, this update is part of Google’s ongoing effort to refine how it evaluates and ranks content, aiming to deliver more relevant and high-quality search results. 

Here’s what we know so far about the November 2024 core update, what it might mean for you and how to respond.

Late November Update

As the dust settles following Google’s November 2024 Core Update, its effects are becoming clearer. The update is clearly focusing on user-focused content and aiming to reduce the visibility of content designed to manipulate search rankings. The update did cause significant ranking fluctuations across multiple industries with varying levels of instability. 

Advice From SEO Experts remains similar to other core updates. This includes removing or updating low value content, expanding short, underperforming articles, and ensuring content is properly optimised and indexed. Jack Olrod, Senior SEO & Content Marketing Manager adds, “Don’t be afraid to remove old and outdated content which can’t or won’t be updated – this can actually hinder your site rankings. Just don’t forget to add redirects, no-one likes a 404 error, especially Google.”

“Overall, if you’re creating content focused on solving users’ common problems or queries with well-researched and informative content, your rankings should actually benefit from this update like with other recent core updates. However, rankings can still fluctuate, as is typical with Google’s algorithms.” 

Making sure you are familiar with Google’s helpful content and SEO guidelines to ensure your content aligns with best practices also helps. You should also pay attention to the content which is ranking for each term to assess whether your page is the most relevant for a particular keyword. If not, consider creating a new article or landing page to better target a keyword cluster after conducting keyword research. You can also perform a content gap analysis to discover new relevant topics and keywords to improve coverage, helping to increase visibility and rankings. 

Businesses struggling with ranking drops can seek help from SEO professionals to monitor performance and optimise content for better organic rankings. 

Early November Update

Key Early Information About the Update 

The rollout began on November 11, but updates of this nature typically take several weeks to fully roll out, so changes may continue for the next few weeks. 

This update is predicted to affect rankings across industries and regions, meaning no specific niche is targeted. While some websites may not notice any changes, others might experience shifts – upwards and downwards – in rankings and website traffic. These fluctuations are expected as Google refines its results.

Early Observations from SEO Experts

As the rollout progresses, SEO experts have shared initial observations:

Low Volatility So Far: Many have reported minimal ranking changes, suggesting the update’s impact may be less disruptive than previous core updates – or its effects may still be unfolding.

Mixed Results: While some websites report traffic gains or losses, the majority have seen no significant shifts yet.

Speculation on Pre-Rollout Effects: Some SEO experts believe changes began before the official announcement, though this remains unconfirmed.

Tips for Navigating the Update as it Rolls Out 

If you notice changes in your site’s performance during or after the update, here’s what you should do: 

Wait for the Rollout to Complete

Fluctuations during the rollout are common. Avoid making any significant changes until the update is fully implemented. 

Identify Patterns Early

Although it’s best to wait for the full effects of the rollout before making significant changes, early analysis of performance fluctuations can help identify pages or content areas that are being impacted. This insight can guide your actions and planning to optimise improvements once the rollout is complete.

Compare Pre and Post-Update Data

You can better understand how the update affects your site by establishing a baseline of traffic and rankings before the update is fully rolled out and comparing them to changes during the rollout. This helps you identify which areas of your content or strategy might need attention.

Be Patient and Don’t Overreact

Core updates take time to roll out, and the full effects may not be immediately apparent. Instead of reacting to early fluctuations, focus on sustainable, long-term improvements that align with Google’s focus on quality and relevance. Avoid making hasty adjustments based on incomplete data.

Stay Updated 

Keep up with the latest information about the update as it becomes available. 

Come back to this blog for expert insights, actionable advice, and updates on optimising your SEO strategy as Google’s rollout progresses.