Google & SEO have always been tough nuts to crack.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, search engine giant Google makes it a point to keep up with the changing times by updating its core algorithm. In March 2023, Google released a significant update that caused some ripples in the online community.
But what’s in the March 2023 update has the potential to weigh down your rankings. Especially if you don’t have an expert by your side.
So that’s what we are here for. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the Google core algorithm update of March 2023 and what it means for website owners and SEO practitioners.
What is a Google Core Algorithm Update?
Before diving into the specifics of the March 2023 update, let’s first define what a Google core algorithm update is. Google’s core algorithm is the set of rules and processes that determine how websites are ranked in search engine results pages (SERPs). These algorithms are updated regularly to ensure that the search engine delivers the most relevant and useful results to users.
Core algorithm updates are major changes to Google’s ranking system that can significantly impact website rankings. They can affect how Google crawls and indexes web pages, as well as how it interprets and evaluates content. These updates are usually announced by Google, and website owners and SEO practitioners are advised to pay attention to them to avoid any negative impact on their sites’ rankings.
Google’s Core Algorithm Update (March 2023)
Google’s March 2023 update was a significant one, and it caused quite a stir in the online community. According to Google, the update was focused on improving the quality of search results by prioritizing websites that provide the best user experience. This means that websites that offer a better user experience are more likely to rank higher in search results.
The Google’s core algorithm will vastly impact your website’s search ranks. It is necessary to stay updated with what you should and shouldn’t do in your website.
One of the most notable changes that came with the update was the increased importance of page speed. Google has always emphasized the importance of page speed, but with this update, it became even more critical. Websites that load faster are more likely to rank higher in search results, while slower-loading sites may see a drop in rankings.
Another significant change that came with the March 2023 update was the increased importance of mobile-friendliness. With more and more people using their mobile devices to browse the internet, Google has been pushing for websites to be mobile-friendly for several years now. With this update, mobile-friendliness became even more critical, and websites that are not optimized for mobile devices may see a significant drop in rankings.
The update also placed more emphasis on the quality of content. Websites that provide high-quality, informative, and engaging content are more likely to rank higher in search results. Google has always prioritized content quality, but with this update, it became even more critical.
What Does the March 2023 Update Mean for Website Owners and SEO Practitioners?
The March 2023 update means that website owners and SEO practitioners need to focus more on providing the best possible user experience. This includes optimizing for page speed, ensuring that websites are mobile-friendly, and providing high-quality content. Websites that do not prioritize these factors may see a significant drop in rankings.
Website owners and SEO practitioners should also pay attention to Google’s guidelines and best practices. Google regularly updates its guidelines to ensure that website owners and SEO practitioners are following best practices. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in penalties that can negatively impact a site’s rankings.
The March 2023 Google core algorithm update was a significant one that placed more emphasis on providing the best possible user experience. Website owners and SEO practitioners need to pay attention to these changes and prioritize factors such as page speed, mobile-friendliness, and content quality. By doing so, they can ensure that their websites continue to rank well in search results and provide a great user experience to their visitors.
With the new update, it may take days or weeks for Google’s crawlers to index and review the web, and core algorithm improvements may not be immediately noticeable. If a core upgrade badly impacts your pages and there are no explicit steps to recover, negative rankings may not necessarily indicate a problem with your pages.
So if you don’t have an SEO expert to keep you afloat, now is the right time to reach out to us. Our SEO team will track your previous rankings to understand what part of the algorithm has affected your website, conduct a site crawl to identify the areas that have a negative impact, optimize your website for quality user experience to support the right speed and mobile friendliness, and make sure the site is updated and is consistent with the search engine requirements. Contact us to schedule a call with our team to learn how we can make it easy for your customers to reach you online.