What are Google Core Updates?

Anders Wiig Letnes • 23 Sep, 2022 • 4 Min. read

Google updates its algorithms daily. These are minor adjustments, and the effect is often difficult to measure – unless Google states what they have actually changed. They rarely do.

Has the latest update caused your site’s results to decrease? Read on to discover why and what you can do.

General improvements to Google’s algorithms

What is the goal of these Google updates? It’s important to remember what the actual goal of Google is:

We, as searchers, should find the best content on the web that matches our search.

Google tries to ensure that when you search for “sneakers”, you’ll find websites that are actually the best in sneakers.

Google ensures that users find quality content

For years, Google has adjusted the algorithms that rank websites. That doesn’t mean that the algorithms are done “learning”. The web and the way we use it are constantly changing. Google continues to make major and minor changes regularly.

A Broad Core Update is an example of such a change. The core updates are usually rolled out a couple of times a year, and are closely linked to the goal of the search engine itself.

Each update must ensure that the websites we find are as good as possible.

What changes are being made?

As mentioned, Google updates its algorithms regularly, but they rarely publish a list of the changes that are made. To find a solution to this, SEO experts at Journey Agency and other agencies follow the results with critical eyes afterward.

Note: Not all Google updates affect all websites. Some updates are linked to different industries, search terms, themes, search intentions, or other.

Although Google does not say exactly what a Core update changes, they are clear about the purpose of the updates: to improve Google search.

Google does this by promoting good content and good websites. High-quality content that answers what people are searching for usually ranks best.

Google has put together a list of questions you should ask yourself if you’ve suddenly lost rankings after an update. Here are some of them:

• Is your content unique?
• Is the content in-depth rather than superficial?
• Is the content free of typographical and factual errors?

If the answer is “no” to the questions above, it probably means that your content isn’t good enough to rank.

How to get better rankings in Google?

Is your website ranking worse after a Core update? Then the solution is simply to write better content.

This is obviously easier said than done, but you can use Google’s questions as a guide when planning and writing your content. The content you should focus on is unique, research-based, high-quality content that answers what people are searching for.

If, for example, you want to rank on “buy sneakers”, it’s important that you also have a good online store in place. Writing the best article about buying sneakers won’tt be enough in this case – it doesn’t match the search intent.

Remember to write content for people, not search engines. The September update came in the wake of a Google update focusing on “helpful content”. The goal is for users to find more original, useful content written for them. The update has several similarities with the Core updates: Better search for those of us who use it.

Do you want to be more visible on Google?

Do you find Google updates and search visibility difficult? Journey Agency can help your company with SEO tactics. Our content advisors and SEO specialists help you write good and useful content for your website.

Get in touch for a chat about how we can make your company visible in searches.