What to Know About Google’s August Algorithm Update
On the 1st of August 2018, Google introduced a core search algorithm update, which targets broad searches around the world and is now fully rolled out. Despite being the third algorithm update of the year so far, August 1 has been labelled the biggest update since Penguin back in 2012.
Google have not disclosed much helpful information about the algorithm, other than calling it a broad, global, core update. This means it should, theoretically, affect every website across all sectors. However, although Google has not confirmed, a lot of research implies there has been a focus on health and medical sites, leading to the nickname ‘Medic Update’.
What Does This Mean for SEO Professionals?
Google have advised webmasters not to make any technical changes to their websites and said that there is no easy fix for those who do notice a drop in rankings. They have said that there is nothing necessarily wrong with these websites, but that the update is aimed at helping those that have previously been underrated. As a result, Google are simply encouraging us to focus on user experience and continue to produce optimised content.
As an SEO agency, our advice would be to ensure your content is authoritative and trustworthy, particularly if you website focuses on health or medicine. You can do this by carrying out lots of research beforehand, checking and rechecking your facts, and making sure you quote the experts with a link to where you sourced your information.
It’s also worth improving your site speed by compressing your images and including browser caching, amongst other straightforward changes. There are plenty of tools you can use to assess your site speed, such as Google’s PageSpeed Insights.
If you require any support in improving your site rankings and overall SEO, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01707 875 721 and we will happily propose a strategy for you. You can find out more about our approach to SEO here.
