Overview of the 2023 update compared to past updates: Google Released the August 2023 core update
Google’s August 2023 core update is the second major update of the year, following the March 2023 update. It is designed to improve the quality and relevance of search results and is expected to take several weeks to fully roll out.
The 2023 update is said to focus on improving the relevance of search results, especially for long-tail keywords. It is also said to be more focused on user intent than previous updates.
Impact on test sites, especially with the recent surge of AI-generated content
Some test sites have reported seeing significant changes in their rankings following the August 2023 core update. This is particularly true for sites that rely heavily on AI-generated content.
AI-generated content is often seen as being low-quality, and it is possible that Google is using the August 2023 update to penalize sites that rely too heavily on this type of content.
However, it is important to note that Google has not confirmed that AI-generated content is a factor in the August 2023 update. It is possible that other factors, such as the quality of the content or the user intent, are more important.
The relationship between EEAT (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) and websites with personas
EEAT stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. These are three factors that Google considers when ranking websites in search results.
Websites that are seen as being EEAT are more likely to rank higher in search results. This is because Google believes that these websites are more likely to provide users with accurate and helpful information.
Personas are fictional representations of your target audience. They help you to understand the needs and wants of your customers, and to create content that is relevant to them.
When creating content for your website, it is important to keep your personas in mind. This will help you to create content that is EEAT and that will resonate with your target audience.
Why making hasty changes during an update might not be the best strategy
It is tempting to make hasty changes to your website after a core update. However, this is not always the best strategy.
Core updates can take several weeks to fully roll out. This means that it may be too early to see the full impact of the update.
Making changes to your website too soon could actually hurt your rankings. This is because Google may see these changes as a sign that you are trying to manipulate the algorithm.
It is better to wait a few weeks and see how the update affects your rankings before making any changes.
A look into the concept of correlation vs. causation in the SEO world
Correlation and causation are two important concepts in statistics. Correlation refers to the relationship between two variables, while causation refers to the fact that one variable causes the other.
In the SEO world, it is important to understand the difference between correlation and causation. This is because it is possible for two variables to be correlated without one causing the other.
For example, there may be a correlation between the number of backlinks a website has and its ranking in search results. However, this does not mean that backlinks cause a website to rank higher. It is possible that other factors, such as the quality of the content, are more important.
It is important to be aware of the concept of correlation vs. causation when interpreting SEO data. This will help you to avoid making incorrect assumptions about the factors that are affecting your rankings.
Google’s advice on core updates and how they affect your website
Google has released some advice on how core updates affect websites. Here are some of the key points:
- Core updates are designed to improve the quality of search results.
- They are not intended to target specific websites or pages.
- It may take several weeks for the full impact of a core update to be felt.
- Making hasty changes to your website after a core update is not always the best strategy.
- It is important to focus on creating high-quality content and providing a good user experience.
By following this advice, you can help your website weather the storm of a core update and continue to rank well in search results.
Here are some additional tips for optimizing your website for core updates:
- Create high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience.
- Make sure your content is well-written and easy to read.
- Use keywords throughout your content, but don’t over-optimize.
- Promote your content on social media and other channels.
- Build backlinks to your website from high-quality sources.
- Monitor your website’s rankings and make adjustments as needed.
By following these tips, you can help your website stay ahead of the curve and continue to rank well in search results, even during core updates.
I’m Kunal Guha, a passionate and experienced digital marketer with a career spanning 9 years.
As Experienced Digital Marketing Manager with extensive experience building, maintaining, and running successful digital marketing campaigns.