Google Rolling Out December 2024 Core Update: What You Need to Know

Overview of the December 2024 Core Update

Google’s December 2024 Core Update is currently being rolled out, impacting how websites are ranked in search results. Core updates are designed to enhance Google’s search algorithms, ensuring users receive the most relevant and high-quality results. These updates can cause fluctuations in website rankings as Google reassesses the content and overall quality of sites across the web.

Key Guidelines for Websites Post-Update

Stay Informed:
- Follow reputable SEO blogs, forums, and industry news sources to stay updated on the latest changes and best practices. This will help you understand common patterns and trends emerging from the update
Analyze Impact:
- Use Google Search Console and analytics tools to identify which areas of your website have been affected. Segment your data by device, location, user behavior, content type, and quality to get a comprehensive understanding of performance changes
Content Quality:
- Evaluate the quality of your content by adhering to Google’s guidelines. Focus on enhancing factors such as Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). Conduct a content audit to identify thin, duplicate, or outdated content and improve or remove it accordingly
Technical SEO:
- Ensure your site is technically sound. Check for issues related to site speed, mobile-friendliness, crawlability, and indexability. Addressing these can help improve your site’s overall performance and user experience
User Experience (UX):
- Assess user engagement metrics such as bounce rate, average session duration, and pages per session. Tools like Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity can provide insights into user behavior, helping you identify and fix usability issues
Review and Adjust Strategy:
- Revisit your SEO strategy based on the findings from your analysis. Focus on areas that need improvement and allocate resources accordingly. If certain sections of your site have gained traction, consider applying successful strategies from these areas to other parts of your site
Communication:
- Keep stakeholders informed about the impact of the core update and your planned actions. Prepare summary reports highlighting key points from your analysis, including charts and visualizations to make the information easy to digest

Best Practices for Future-Proofing

Consistent Quality Improvements: Continuously update and enhance your content to meet high standards of quality and relevance. This proactive approach can help mitigate the effects of future core updates.
Community Engagement: Engage with the SEO community to share insights and learn from others’ experiences. Platforms like forums and social media can provide valuable information and support during and after core updates

By following these guidelines and maintaining a flexible, quality-focused approach, you can better navigate the impacts of Google’s core updates and improve your website’s long-term performance.

Akshat Singh Bisht is an accomplished author and marketing strategist with over 8 years of experience in the industry. He is the author of four influential marketing books:

What Makes the Marketing Campaign Successful: A comprehensive guide to crafting and executing impactful marketing campaigns.
What is FOMO: An exploration of the “Fear of Missing Out” phenomenon and its implications for marketing.
Know Me: Strategies for personal branding and establishing a strong market presence.
Nationalism in Advertising: An analysis of how national identity and sentiments can be leveraged in advertising.

Akshat’s passion for marketing and dedication to helping others has been the driving force behind AkshatSinghBisht.com. Known for his insightful perspectives, practical advice, and unwavering commitment to his audience, Akshat is a trusted voice in the marketing community.