On January 13, Google announced that it will be releasing a core update:
Later today, we are releasing a broad core algorithm update, as we do several times per year. It is called the January 2020 Core Update. Our guidance about such updates remains as we’ve covered before. Please see this blog post for more about that:https://t.co/e5ZQUA3RC6
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) January 13, 2020
Unlike core updates in the past, such as the speed update, Google did not warn webmasters, marketers, and business owners that they were going to be releasing a new update.
What’s Being Changed
This is still unknown for the most part right now, but like every core update, you should expect that your rankings may change as the algorithm populates across the various data centers.
So keep an eye on your keyword rankings and the indexing of your website.
However, here are some visual changes Google has formally announced:
Last year, our search results on mobile gained a new look. That’s now rolling out to desktop results this week, presenting site domain names and brand icons prominently, along with a bolded “Ad” label for ads. Here’s a mockup: pic.twitter.com/aM9UAbSKtv
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) January 13, 2020
How to View Core Updates
In this article by Search Engine Journal, the author provides a great analogy that Google has given regarding core updates:
“One way to think of how a core update operates is to imagine you made a list of the top 100 movies in 2015. A few years later in 2019, you refresh the list. It’s going to naturally change. Some new and wonderful movies that never existed before will now be candidates for inclusion. You might also reassess some films and realize they deserved a higher place on the list than they had before.”
Google reps go on to explain that while the list will always change that’s not to say that the “movies” that decrease in rank are “bad movies,” but just that some others are now more deserving of a higher rank.
Just like the seasons change, so do trends and important factors in SERP rankings – simply another reason to remember why it’s always important to keep your SEO up to date and in check.
What to Do If You Are Affected
Unless you are practicing various black hat SEO tactics, there isn’t much you will need to do to recover if you are hit hard from a core update. However, you can check out Google’s advice on how to make sure you aren’t affected in the future.
Stay Up to Date on Google Updates
Be sure to follow our blog for news on any Google updates. Here are a few others in recent months you may have missed:
- Google’s Bedlam: Did You Notice a Drop in Rankings?
- What You Need to Know About BERT
- All You Need to Know About the Google Core Update for 2019
- Have You Noticed Changes from Google’s Recent Core Update?
And don’t forget, if you ever need help improving your keyword rankings, trust in our SEO experts to get the job done.
