Google’s core algorithm updates often significantly affect website rankings in search engines, and Google’s August 2023 update is living up to this expectation. Today, Semrush Sensor shows SERP volatility in all categories for the last 30 days at a very high range of 9.0/10.

There are typically winners and losers after a Google core algorithm update. And we expect the same with this update.

Understanding the Impact of Past Google Updates

Google‘s algorithm updates have significantly impacted search engine optimization (SEO) and website ranking. Chief among these updates were the Panda, Penguin, Hummingbird, and Pigeon, along with Mobile, RankBrain, Possum, and Fred updates, which determined the fate of websites in terms of their ranking and website traffic.

These updates led to a large-scale fluctuation in website rankings, affecting websites positively or negatively, and in some cases, not at all. Businesses and websites experienced significant shifts in their organic traffic and rankings.

Overall, companies that have been earnestly working on key SEO issues signaled by search engines fair well when Google has a core update, while companies trying to game the SEO “game” are knocked down again.

7 SEO Priorities for Websites Negatively Impacted by Google’s August 2023 Core Update: Quick Overview

We expect Google’s August 2023 broad core algorithm update to reinforce its long-term goal of prioritizing web pages in search rankings with high-quality content and an excellent user experience.

Therefore, we expect E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness ) to continue being an SEO top priority.

If you think Google’s August 2023 core update negatively impacts your website, here are 7 SEO priorities to review.

1. Improve Your Page Quality Score

Use the Google Search Console information to compare your website pages with Google’s guidelines and best SEO practices. Besides the six remaining priorities listed below, ensure you have an About page and use schema markup throughout the site.

2. Publish Fresh Content

Publishing fresh, high-quality content relevant to your audience is vital for SEO.

Businesses impacted negatively by the Google core update should review and possibly revamp their approach to content creation. The primary goal is creating original, helpful content that meets user search intent. A shift toward unique, valuable content is essential in recovering from the August 2023 core update.

3. Showcase User Feedback: Reviews and Testimonials

Showcasing reviews and testimonials is a vital element of SEO since it helps with E-E-A-T. These should be showcased on social media in addition to the website.

4. Optimize for Mobile-Friendliness

Information about a website’s mobile-friendliness is displayed in the Google Search Console. You can also test individual pages with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Testing Tool.

Optimizing for mobile-friendliness is vital for ranking highly in Google SERPs, so fixing mobile visibility issues is imperative.

Related: Mobile Device Usage for Homebuying Increased Significantly

5. Review Your Content for Relevance

Google is in the business of delivering relative content to users when they perform a search. Therefore, to rank high in Google search results, your content must be relevant by meeting the needs of people using Google.

Review your content for relevance by:

  • Researching relevant keywords.
  • Reviewing web pages ranking highest in SERPs and comparing them to your pages.

Then, revise your pages to rank higher in Google SERPs. This can include:

  • Optimizing content for keywords.
  • Beefing up thin content.
  • Adding high-quality images and videos.
  • Adding an FAQ section.
  • Answering questions.

6. Optimize Page Structure

Optimizing page structure is a key component of on-page SEO. A well-structured page provides a better user experience and helps search engine crawlers understand and index your content efficiently. Here are some components to optimize the structure of a webpage for SEO:

  • URL Structure: URLs should be short and descriptive while reflecting the page’s content.
  • Meta Title Tag: Limit to 50-60 characters and incorporate primary keywords toward the beginning.
  • Meta Description Tag: Limit to 150-160 characters. Make it descriptive and enticing to encourage click-throughs from search results.
  • Heading Tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.): Use one H1 tag that clearly defines the page’s main topic. Use H2-H6 tags to define subheadings and break up content.
  • Content Structure: Use short paragraphs for readability. Incorporate bulleted or numbered lists where appropriate. Use bold or italics to emphasize important points. Maintain a logical flow, starting with an introduction, followed by the main content, and concluding with a summary or conclusion.
  • Optimize Images and Videos: Use relevant filenames. Always include alt tags with a brief description of the image. Compress images and videos for faster loading while maintaining quality. Include schema markup with videos.
  • Schema Markup: Utilize schema.org structured data markup to provide search engines with more information about your pages’ content and context.
  • Breadcrumbs: Implement breadcrumb navigation to show users their path from the homepage to the current page. It also helps search engines understand the site hierarchy.

7. Build High-Quality Backlinks

Building high-quality backlinks has been an SEO priority for many years. Consider these actions:

  • Abandon low-quality link-building tactics like PBNs and blog comments, which might adversely impact your SEO.
  • Implement white-hat techniques like blogger outreach and broken link building.
  • Implement regular audits of backlinks for quality using tools like SEO SpyGlass, which enhances adaptability to Google algorithm updates.

Conclusion

Google’s August 2023 core algorithm update is again changing SEO. As with previous updates, it is expected to reward businesses that have been improving their SEO over recent years by adhering to Google policies while using information in the Google Search Console.

Watch your performance in Google Search Console over the next several weeks to see how the update affects your website. Furthermore, use this to review your SEO and make positive changes to rank higher in search results.

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