It’s nearly impossible to ignore the hold that Google has on our everyday lives, as it’s essential for education, entertainment and shopping. You can use it to look up everything from candy stores in a town where you’re vacationing to the burning questions that keep you up at night, like how do giraffes sleep. But how much do you know about how those search engine result pages (SERPs) are actually created?
Google SERPs are run by an algorithm, which refers to a system of rules and mechanisms that are used to find people the results they are looking for. The truth is that we’re putting it quite simply. Google’s algorithm is complex and was created by extremely intelligent people who are experts in math and computer programming. But if you’re a business owner, having a basic understanding of the ins and outs of Google’s latest algorithm can be highly beneficial for your web development and search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.
Read on to get a rundown about the latest information we know about Google’s updated algorithm from August and how BURG+CO. can help.
What we know about Google’s algorithm update from August
Google’s algorithm changes way more than you may realize. In fact, it’s updated at least once a day, if not more. It can be updated more than 500 times every year — often minor changes that don’t make a recognizable difference. However, there are core updates several times a year that involve more significant, broader changes. These changes can impact your SEO results.
The latest core update was completed in August, with the previous one taking place just one month earlier. The March 2024 algorithm update was the first of the year.
Here’s what you need to know about Google’s August 2024 core update:
- Focus on helpful content — When a person searches for a question or asks for guidance on Google, they want to have immediate access to content that will genuinely help them, not just provide a jumble of vague information that doesn’t address the topic. The new algorithm is prioritizing high-quality content that is focused on helping the user, as opposed to low-quality content that was specifically made to appeal to the algorithm.
- Targeting user value over SEO — Similar to the previous point, the new Google core update wants to prioritize content that an everyday user actually wants, rather than SEO-driven content that was created simply to rank well on SERPs. This means demoting results that are unoriginal, contain spelling or grammatical errors, are used as clickbait, or have a limited scope.
- Feedback taken into consideration — Content creators and stakeholders seemed to play a role in how the August 2024 Google algorithm was rolled out. Google made a point to say that feedback from both creators and stakeholders was considered during the update. Since Google wants to make sure that it showcases diverse sources, it’s likely that the impact on small, independent sites was considered.
- Website quick fixes not recommended — When there are algorithm changes that impact a business’s site and content SERP positioning, the first thing owners often do is try to make adjustments to align with the new guidelines and objectives. However, Google has noted that making small tweaks likely won’t be enough to improve your website’s SEO performance with the new algorithm. It would be more beneficial to make significant changes that make your website more user value focused.
At BURG+CO., we pride ourselves on staying as up to date as possible on Google’s algorithms. Our team is made up of experts on the subject who can navigate the new rollouts. We’ll ensure that you have all the information and guidance needed to adjust your SEO and content creation efforts to obtain the best SERP rankings you can.
Want to attract new visitors to your website with the Google algorithm update? BURG+CO. can help
Increasing traffic to your website plays a role in increasing conversions and leading to new clients. However, it’s difficult to attract visitors to your site when you don’t know what to do. Fortunately, this is what we specialize in at BURG+CO.
Our team has years of experience in helping businesses improve their digital presence to attract new leads and retain existing ones. If you’re looking to perform better in search engine results and attract more visitors to your site, we’re ready to talk to you to see how we can help. Contact our team today for more information about digital marketing or to schedule a complimentary consultation.
