In the past few months, there’s been a major shift in the way Google ranks websites, and as a result, many businesses are seeing their hard-earned search engine optimization (SEO) efforts go down the drain.
But before you start panicking and frantically trying to figure out what went wrong, it’s important to understand that this is part of Google’s plan. The good news is that there are steps you can take to adapt to the new landscape and ensure your website stays visible in search results.
Read on to find out more about the recent changes to Google’s ranking algorithm and what you can do to keep your website near the top of the list.
What’s Changed?
Google typically makes around 500-600 changes to its ranking algorithm every year, but most of these are small tweaks that don’t have a major impact on how sites are ranked.
However, every once in a while, Google will roll out a “core update” that alters the way its algorithm works in a significant way.
The last time this happened was in August 2018, when Google rolled out what’s come to be known as the “Medic Update.” This update had a profound effect on healthcare-related websites, resulting in major changes in rankings for many sites.
The latest core update—which began rolling out in early September—is similar to the Medic Update in that it seems to be focused on content.
So What Can You Do?
If your website has been affected by the latest core update, don’t despair—there are steps you can take to improve your rankings. Here are a few things you can do:
Take a close look at your website’s content and make sure it meets Google’s new standards for quality. Does your content provide comprehensive coverage of your topic? Is it well researched and accurate? If not, it may be time for an overhaul.
Pay attention to your site’s overall design and user experience. A well-designed site that is easy to navigate and use is more likely to rank higher than a site with poor design or complex navigation.
Make sure your website loads quickly and efficiently on all devices. Slow loading times can negatively impact your ranking, so if your site isn’t up to snuff, now is the time to make some changes.
Check your backlinks and make sure they’re coming from high-quality websites. Backlinks from low-quality or spammy sites can hurt your ranking, so it’s important to monitor where your links are coming from.
If you need help cleaning up your backlink profile, contact Ten Peaks Media — we’re always happy to help!
Regain Your Ranking with Ten Peaks Media
If you’ve noticed a drop in your Google search rankings recently, don’t panic—you’re not alone. The good news is that there are steps you can take to improve your ranking and ensure your website stays visible in search results.
By taking a close look at your content and making sure it meets Google’s new standards for quality, paying attention to your site’s overall design and user experience, and making sure your website loads quickly and efficiently on all devices, you can adapt to the new landscape and keep your business visible online.
Need help getting started? Contact Ten Peaks Media.
