Google’s John Mueller answered a question about recovering from core algorithm updates in the SEO Office-hours Hangouts. His main point is to exclude random spam backlinks or technical issues as the reason why the website loses search visibility after the Google core update.
Then Mueller explained the main content of the core algorithm and where the affected sites should focus their attention in order to better understand what types of changes may be needed.
Website loses ranking core update in July 2021
The person who asked the question stated that they have 3 online pharmacies in Switzerland. One of the sites received a large number of random spam backlinks, and they are not responsible for these backlinks.
He mentioned that in a previous conversation, John Mueller assured him that Google can handle these links.
Despite this, the website lost search ranking and traffic after the core update in July 2021, while the traffic and popularity of the other two websites doubled.
They tried to fix the site by solving technical issues and uploading rejection files, but the site never improved and continued to reduce search volume.
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The person who asked the question asserted that he believed that because of these spam backlinks, they lost their ranking in the core algorithm update.
The core update is more about relevance
Mueller first pointed out that his answer will be general because he cannot talk about it specifically without actually checking the website.
Then he started talking about what is Google’s core update, and what things have nothing to do with the decline in rankings during the core update.
Mueller explained:
“Generally speaking, in core updates, if you see changes there, it is usually more relevant to trying to figure out the overall relevance of the site, and less relevant to content such as spam links.
Therefore, I don’t want any reaction in the core update based on random spam links entering your website. “
Overall website quality
Mueller then began to talk about the overall quality of the website. In a previous Google office hour meeting, he explained that the overall website quality is not just text, it may also include layout and other factors.
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read: Google provides the definition of quality content
The above article is important because it provides a definition of content quality, which is more far-reaching than generally thought.
Therefore, when Mueller starts talking about “overall website quality”, it is important to really understand and consider what he means when he talks about it.
Mueller continued his answer:
“There are also core updates,…for example…as time goes on, you can make incremental changes to improve the overall quality of your website, which will gradually help there.”
A sharp decline in rankings will take longer to recover
The next part of Mueller’s answer is for sites whose rankings have been hit hard. For those types of websites, they may have to wait.
Mueller continued:
“But if this is a strong adjustment of a core update, then you may have to wait until the next core update to see these changes.”
Rejecting the file does not help the core update issue
Mueller then made it clear that uploading the rejection file will not solve the problems encountered in the core update.
Mueller:
“And because I think it has nothing to do with spam backlinks, I think rejecting these backlinks will not change anything there.
This is really an issue where we are trying to figure out the overall relevance of the website.
It almost depends on the quality of the entire website. “
Identify issues related to relevance
Mueller then emphasized the idea of focusing on overall relevance.
Mueller continued his answer:
“And I think it will be tricky if you have multiple stores that are very similar, because it may not be that one of them is really bad and the others are really good.
But it may still be where you can use user research to find differences, and what you can do to make it clear that this site is particularly relevant. “
YMYL website faces more critical algorithms
Mueller next mentioned that websites that deal with sensitive topics, that is, your money, your life (YMYL) website, such as the website of the health department, will face more and more “critical” algorithms.
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Mueller:
“And I think, especially for websites such as pharmacies, our algorithm may try to become more critical, because…there is too much content.
It is not a random website with stories and interesting pictures. It’s like it involves people’s health. “
Technical issues are not the source of core update ranking issues
The person who asked the question mentioned that they are trying to fix 404 and other technical issues.
Mueller followed up with his answer and made it clear that technical issues did not play a role in the ranking of issues related to core algorithm updates.
Mueller said:
“Especially things like 404 pages and technical issues, which have nothing to do with core updates.
Therefore, the core update is actually more about understanding the overall quality of your website and its relevance, rather than technical issues and spam. “
Affected by Google’s core update?
There is a lot of information there to help you determine where you need to focus on improvement after the core update and where you can’t waste time.
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Some key points from Mueller’s answer:
- Uploading the rejection file is futile for fixing the core update related ranking crash
- Fixing technical issues will not solve the core update ranking issue
- Overall quality and relevance to the subject are important areas to check
- Sites that are strongly affected may have to wait for the next core update to see improvements
Google’s stance on core updates is usually nothing that can be fixed.
But Mueller also said that core updates usually focus on relevance and overall quality, which is a good thing.
Citation
Core algorithm updates are usually about relevance and overall quality
Links and technical issues unrelated to core update ranking issues
Watch John Mueller explain the core update at the 45th second of the video:
