Google's August 2023 Core Algorithm Update Completed

Google has completed its August 2023 Core Algorithm Update. I explained its implications and offered advice on adapting SEO strategies.

Google announced it completed the second core algorithm update of 2023 in August. This update started on August 22, 2023, and ended 16 days later, on September 7, 2023. So, what does this update mean, and what should we do next?

Importance of Update

Google algorithm updates are critical for all brands, businesses, and organizations. Because these updates directly affect how your site performs in search results. Any ranking change, positive or negative, can impact your organic traffic, conversions, and revenue.

What Was The Reason For The Update?

Since Google has not clearly stated this issue, we can only convey our personal observations. SEO expert Lily Ray, who has been examining the impact of such algorithm updates for years, shared her observations by making a LinkedIn post.

Ray observed that the August 2023 Core Algorithm Update specifically raised the "E" factor, which was newly added to Google's EEAT (Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness, and now Experience) criteria.

The “Experience” Factor

This is unsurprising because Google added the "Experience" factor to their Quality Raters Guideline (or QRG) in December 2022. Since QRG is a document that reflects where Google's algorithms are heading, it makes sense that the “Experience” factor will play a more significant role for many sites this year.

Ray states that since August 2023, he found six sites with more than 90% growth in SEO visibility, and these sites have real experience. For example, they are written in the first person have original photos, and unique content.

This update shows that Google evaluates sites for expertise, authority, credibility, and user experience. If your site meets these criteria, you will most likely see a positive impact on your SEO performance.

Timing of the Update

Knowing when Google makes these types of updates helps you understand whether it's a change you made to your website or a change Google made to its ranking algorithm.

What to Do Now?

This is an excellent time to review your analytics data and determine what improvements you want to make to your pages and content.

What to Do If We Have Been Negatively Affected?

Google has provided a series of questions for those negatively affected by kernel updates in the past. However, according to Google, a negative ranking effect may not necessarily mean something is "wrong" with your pages.

You can find the questions that Google's site owners who are negatively affected by such updates should ask themselves in the article below:

In conclusion, Google's August 2023 Core Algorithm Update is considered a highly effective update in the SEO industry. Now that the update is complete, examining your analytics data closely will be helpful to observe its effects and develop appropriate strategies.

What Content Types Should You Focus on and What to Avoid Before Google SGE?

With Google's new Search Generative Experience (SGE), content strategies are changing. HubSpot's SEO experts explain what types of content you should focus on to continue driving traffic to your website.

With Google's Search Generative Experience, or SGE for short, the types of content that drive traffic to your website will change dramatically. HubSpot's SEO team offers some tips on what types of content you should lean into and what you should avoid to continue driving traffic to your website in 2023.

Focus on Human-Focused, Thought-Provoking Content

Artificial Intelligence has many advantages but cannot fail to have a perspective. That's why you'll want to start leaning into personality-focused leadership content that offers personal lessons, examples, and new concepts.

First-Hand Narratives Will Be Important

AI can list many tools and comprehensively analyze each, but it cannot account for the unique experience of testing the tools themselves. With SGE, content that offers a personalized perspective will become critical.

Include EEAT Signals in Your Content

Google's Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines consider the EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Credibility) critical factors for your content to rank on Google.

Pay Attention to Long Tail Queries

Long tail queries are essential for higher rankings on search engine results pages. Google's artificial intelligence algorithms generally work better on this type of content. Therefore, optimizing content and images around long-tail queries can help you gain more visibility.

Get Ready for Change!

Following the rollout of SGE, it will be critical that your SEO and content strategy teams are ready to test, iterate, and experiment to determine which new content games work best for your business.

Google Now Supports Site Names in All Languages

Google now supports site names in all languages. This critical update could affect how your brand appears in search results. You can provide a more practical view with structured data and favicon updates.

Google now supports the site names feature in all languages, initially only available for English, French, German, and Japanese. This goes for mobile and desktop searches. Google explains that site names are the title of the site and pages shown in the search results.

Google states that you can use structured data to determine how your site name is displayed. He also recommends updating your favicon and providing an icon at least 48px in size.

You can access the Google help document regarding structured data called Website via the link below:

You can review Google's relevant help document on Favicon:

Why is it important?

This update directly affects how your brand appears in Google Search results. If Google still shows it incorrectly, you can try the new solutions offered by Google.

Google Confirms Google Sites “Not Ideal for SEO”

Google's John Mueller stated that Google Sites is not suitable for SEO. If SEO is important to you, it is recommended that you consider other options.

Google's senior web manager, John Mueller, made critical statements about how suitable Google Sites is for SEO.

Google Sites is a platform where you can create a website for free with your Google account. However, Mueller emphasized that this platform is “not ideal” for SEO.

Mueller made these statements at SEO Office Hours:

Pages Not Indexed

A user stated that Google did not index the web pages he created on Google Sites. URLs created on Google Sites can technically be indexed, but tracking those URLs can be complicated, Mueller said.

Not Ideal for SEO

Mueller stated that Google Sites is not suitable for SEO and other options should be considered for such a purpose.

Popular for SPAMers

Google Sites is popular with backlink SPAMers. Spammers use a tactic called “Google Stacking” by creating links on subdomains of Google. However, Mueller stated that this was a waste of time.

Conclusion

If SEO is an essential factor for you, it is recommended that you consider more suitable platforms instead of Google Sites. Google gives clear advice on this issue and essential information for SEO strategies.

Find Out What People Are Asking With PeopleAsked.com

This excellent tool compiles the questions in the “People Also Ask” section on Google after the keyword you searched and helps you create your content template.

I love practical tools like this. When you do a Google search, Peopleasked.com compiles the questions in the "Other Questions" section and brings them to you.

For example, when you search for “SEO” on Google.com.tr, the tool can quickly compile the list in the screenshot below. You can then add this as a visual to your presentation or add it to the content orders you send to your content team:

Book Of The Week: “Multipliers - How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” - Liz Wiseman

Two kinds of leaders touch our lives. The first is the type who tries to be the smartest in the room, stifling the talent around him. The second is Multiplier Leaders, who use their intelligence to empower others.

Liz Wiseman's book "Leadership That Multiplies Potential" discusses these two leadership styles in depth. It showcases how Augmentative Leaders elevate the people around them, exceed expectations, and trigger change.

The book claims that this leadership discipline is not an innate talent and that even Obstructive Leaders can learn it. Enriched with new chapters and examples, this edition guides avoiding inadvertently obstructive leadership. The book is a work that will change your views on being a leader.

I hope you enjoyed this week's SEO insights. I am looking forward to seeing you next Sunday. Have a great week!

Best,

Mert Erkal

Join my free SEO Diners Club network to discuss any SEO-related topic. It is for SEOs who want to leverage the power of networking and common sense to enhance their careers.

How Can I Help You?

Get a quote for SEO Consulting.

Click to organize a one-on-one meeting on Superpeer.

Contact us for the production of English content compatible with Google algorithms.

Click to be informed about our discounted Semrush packages.

21