Google Finally Boosts Small Publishers?!

Summary

Google's August 2024 core update promises to uplift small and independent publishers by prioritizing quality and original content. The update, a first for Google, acknowledges creators' feedback and aims to better capture site improvements. Meanwhile, Pinterest experiences a traffic slump, possibly due to an algorithm shift favoring content that leads to purchases. As AI overviews in search results become shorter, organic results regain prominence, and SEO strategies must adapt to these evolving landscapes.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Google has released a new core update in August 2024, focusing on helping small and independent publishers rank better, which is a positive shift for those who have been struggling after the previous helpful content update.
• 📉 Many publishers have experienced a significant drop in traffic from Pinterest, particularly newer accounts of small content creators, suggesting a potential end to the 'honeymoon period' for Pinterest traffic growth.
• 🔍 Google's update aims to better capture improvements made by sites, potentially leading to recoveries for those who have been working hard to enhance their content since the last update.
• 📝 Google has updated its core update guidelines, offering more step-by-step information to evaluate drops and advising against quick fix changes, encouraging user-focused content improvements.
• ⏱️ Recovery from significant drops due to updates may take months, possibly until the next core update, which is a change from previous expectations of quicker recoveries.
• 🔗 A new link building study shows a potential rise in paid link acquisition, with 92% of respondents believing competitors are buying links, indicating a shift in SEO practices.
• 💡 The study by Admix Global highlights the risks of buying and selling links, with over 40,000 websites seeing traffic drops after Google updates, suggesting a need for SEOs to move towards more organic strategies.
• 📉 AI overviews in search results are becoming shorter, allowing organic results to occupy more space, and their occurrence has decreased, suggesting a potential positive shift for organic traffic.
• 📈 Google Discover traffic has increased significantly for news sites, making up a larger percentage of total Google traffic, indicating a need for publishers to optimize for Google Discover.
• 🆕 Google Trends has introduced a 'Trending Now' feature, providing real-time data on trending search phrases, which can be valuable for publishers looking to create timely content.
• 💬 The script suggests that SEOs should stay updated with the latest developments in search, hinting at ongoing changes and the need for adaptability in SEO strategies.

Q & A

What significant update did Google announce in the video script?

Google announced a massive core update in August 2024, which specifically focuses on helping small and independent publishers rank better in search results.

How long is the rollout of Google's August 2024 core update expected to take according to the script?

According to Google's status dashboard, the update will take a month to roll out, but based on past experiences, it might extend until the end of September.

What does John Mueller, Google's search advocate, say about the update's potential impact on small publishers?

John Mueller shared that the update takes into account feedback from creators and aims to connect people with a range of high-quality sites, including small or independent sites that create useful, original content.

What is the potential implication of Google's update for sites that have improved their content since the last update?

The update aims to better capture improvements that sites have made, suggesting that there may be a recovery for sites affected by the previous helpful content update (HCU).

What changes has Google made to its core update guidelines?

Google has updated its core update guidelines extensively, providing more step-by-step information to evaluate drops from updates and introducing the concept of big drops and small drops with guidance for assessing them.

What advice does Google give against in terms of quick fixes after an update?

Google advises against quick fix changes and SEO fixes, instead focusing on making changes that make sense for the user, including content pruning as a last resort.

What recent development on Pinterest is affecting small publishers according to the script?

Many Pinterest accounts, particularly newer ones belonging to small content creators, are experiencing a significant drop in clicks and impressions, possibly due to changes in Pinterest's algorithm.

What are the two main reasons suggested by Tony Hill for Pinterest's algorithm change affecting small publishers?

The two main reasons are the flooding of the platform with AI images to quickly produce fresh content and Pinterest's focus on product discovery and purchases, aligning with their new deal with Amazon.

What is the four-step plan suggested by Tony Hill to recover lost traffic from Pinterest?

The plan includes incorporating more purchasable products into pins, pinning regularly especially for newer accounts, being patient as traffic often recovers after algorithm updates, and adjusting expectations as the recent rapid growth may have been unusual.

What surprising revelations does the State of Link Building 2024 survey by Editorial.link reveal?

The survey reveals that 92% of respondents believe their competitors are buying links, and there is a significant difference in the cost of links compared to previous surveys, with respondents typically paying at least $300 per link.

What is the significance of the new AI overviews tracker launched by SE Ranking?

The AI overviews tracker is significant as it aims to plug the analytics gap left by Google's reluctance to provide AI overview data in Search Console, helping SEOs keep track of this aspect of search results.