By Google continuously adjusts its algorithm to improve search quality and relevance. According to Danny Sullivan, it makes an average of nine changes to its algorithm daily.
While most of these updates are minor and go unnoticed, others, like the March 2025 Core Update, are more significant and cause noticeable changes in search rankings. This is a step-by-step guide on how to recover from a Google algorithm update.
What exactly are Google algorithm updates, and why do they happen?
Google algorithm updates are the changes Google makes to the system it uses to rank search results. These updates aim to improve the quality, relevance and accuracy of search results so that users find the most helpful and trustworthy information.
For instance, Google says there were more than 4,000 search improvements in 2023. While most are minor, there are also major changes, like core updates, that happen about four to five times yearly.
How do I know if my website traffic drop is due to a Google algorithm update?
One reason your website traffic might go down is because of changes to algorithms, but it’s not the only reason. Next, check the Google Search Console to see if that’s the cause.
Check the success of keywords, impressions, and clicks to find out when the drop happened. Does it happen at the same time as a known Google update? That’s a strong sign if that’s the case. Also, look over your Manual Actions report to make sure there aren’t any fines.
Last, check where you stand for your main keywords. If your ranks drop a lot, it could mean that an algorithm has changed something.
What are some common reasons why a Google update might negatively impact a website?
Here are a few common reasons Google algorithm updates can negatively affect your website.
Thin or low-quality content
Google wants to show websites that have information that matches what people are looking for. For example, if your content is too shallow, doesn’t offer much original insight, or is copied too much, Google will see it as useless and punish it.
Keyword stuffing
Keywords are very important for SEO. Overusing them, on the other hand, hurts the user experience and could make Google think your content is dishonest.
Poor user experience
A big part of rating is how the user feels. Your website will probably get punished if it takes too long to load, has bad navigation, annoying ads, or isn’t mobile-friendly.
Technical SEO problems
Your website may not work well during Google updates if it has crawl errors, broken links, bad site design, or missing metadata. This can cause your rankings to drop.
Unnatural links
Backlinks are a very important part of how Google decides if a web page is relevant. It does, however, think that links from spammy or low-quality sites are not normal.
What are the first steps I should take if I suspect my website has been affected by an update?
If Google updates your website and your search score goes down afterward, the first thing you should do is stay calm and wait for the update to become fully available. The real effect will be easier to see after this. Afterward, know what the fix was meant to do. Utilize this data to evaluate your website’s efficiency using Google Search Console and Google Analytics.
Pay attention to big changes in clicks, impressions, average location, and bounce rate. Did some pages disappear? What happened to the results for important search terms?
Additionally, check for any changes in how engaged users are and how healthy the site’s physical conditions are. Finding out if the effect was felt by many or just on certain pages or types of information will be easier with this analysis. As a result, you can start fixing the problems.
How can I future-proof my website against future Google algorithm updates?
Although no site is immune to Google algorithm updates, you can do the following to reduce a Google update impact.
- Create original, helpful content that addresses user intent. Your content should be actionable and informative.
- Ensure your content demonstrates expertise, experience, authority and trust (E-E-A-T). This is even more important if your site covers Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) topics such as health and finance.
- Follow reputable SEO resources to stay updated on best practices and implement them. Using manipulative tactics will only hurt your site in the long run.
- Make good content that other sites want to link to and you’ll get free links. Look at your backlinks and get rid of any that don’t look natural.
- Regularly audit your website to identify technical issues and areas of improvement.
Should I hire an SEO professional to help me recover from an algorithm update?
If you don’t know how to locate or fix your website after a Google update, you might want to hire an SEO professional. For example, Forthgear’s SEO experts can help with complex content checks, technical SEO issues, SEO recovery, and even long-term SEO plans. The tools and knowledge they have can help speed up recovery.
Conclusion
If your website was affected by a recent Google update, there’s hope, but it’s not a quick fix. Find out why you were affected and rectify the issues.
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