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- Dofollow Digest #5: recent changes in Google's algorithm
Dofollow Digest #5: recent changes in Google's algorithm
Eric Carrell
July 31, 2024
Greetings, compadres -
Eric Carrell here with dofollow.com. This is issue #5 of our newsletter series on SEO for marketing leaders.
There have been many changes in the world of Google in the past few months, and there are still many more changes to come: Google updates, AI overview changes, more core updates, etc.
In this issue, we’ll dissect and update you on the latest changes in search.
Let’s get into it.
What's in the newsletter
🔬June 2024 Google Update Officially Rolled Out
Google wrapped up its June 2024 spam update on June 27, after a week-long rollout that started on June 20. This update is all about improving search quality by cracking down on websites that don’t play by the rules. While we're still waiting on the much-talked-about site reputation abuse algorithm update, this spam update is laser-focused on eliminating various forms of web spam.
Google's latest effort is a part of its ongoing mission to enhance user experience by targeting practices like automatically generated content meant to game the system, buying or selling links, and other low-quality tactics. As with most updates, this one could shake up search rankings, so if your site has been skirting the edges of Google’s spam policies, you might see a dip in visibility.
On the flip side, sites that stick to the rules could benefit from reduced competition in search results. Now is a great time for SEO pros and website owners to review their sites and ensure they’re in line with Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. For more details, keep an eye on Google’s official channels, like the Google Search Central Twitter account and the Search Status Dashboard.
🔬Google AI Overviews Only Showing for 7% of Queries
Google's AI Overviews have significantly dipped in visibility, now appearing in less than 7% of search results - a sharp decline from mid-April, when they appeared in 35% of searches. This drop started after a series of high-profile blunders in which AI-generated answers were not only incorrect but also potentially dangerous. In response, Google promised to make improvements.
According to data from BrightEdge, the presence of AI Overviews continued to shrink in June, dropping from 11% to just 7% of queries. The decline has been especially noticeable in areas like education, entertainment, and e-commerce.
Not only are AI Overviews becoming less common, but they're also taking up less space on the search results page and are less likely to duplicate content from Classic Search. Search intent plays a big role here - queries like "best" and "how to" are more likely to trigger AI Overviews, while product comparisons, user-generated content from sites like Reddit and Quora, and list formats are becoming increasingly rare.
Despite the reduced visibility and some negative feedback, Google is still fine-tuning AI Overviews and has even increased the number of financial warnings included in them. This is a space worth watching closely for SEOs, publishers, and content creators, as AI Overviews could significantly reshape the search landscape.
🔬Google Core Update Expected in Coming Weeks
Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, recently gave us a heads-up that the next core update might be just around the corner, but don’t mark your calendars just yet.
He mentioned that these updates aren’t set to a fixed schedule—they’re rolled out once testing and evaluations are complete. So, while it’s likely to happen in the coming weeks, the exact timing is still up in the air, depending on how the final tweaks go.
Sullivan also touched on Google’s ongoing goal to better reward content creators who genuinely put in the effort. He shared that he recently facilitated a conversation between content creators and Google’s Search Quality team to provide direct feedback.
Whether the update drops in July, August, or later, it’s clear that Google is focused on fine-tuning its algorithms to better highlight quality content. As always, be ready for changes and monitor how this might impact your SEO strategy.
📰 Industry News & Google Updates
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