SEO Vancouver: A Lookback on Google’s 2024 Core Update and Recovery Tips for Tanked Websites

Google performed a core update, creating big waves in the SEO world. The goal, according to Google, was to improve the quality of search results for its customers.

AI and SEO

Google has historically not been fond of AI. Ironic, we know.  As more people use AI to write, ideas are continually rehashed and rephrased. Ai doesn’t learn or think. It pulls from the knowledge base already out there. In other words, articles written solely by AI don’t contain any original ideas or thoughts,

 At least part of Google’s objective in shifting the algorithms was recognizing more content people find genuinely helpful, not just content made for search engines. The result? Businesses that continually publish useful, organic content—the thought leaders—likely saw little to no difference in the core update—they may have even noticed their rankings improve. Google has continually emphasized its policy of good fundamentals.

Many websites saw volatility after the rollout of the update. 44% of websites polled by Search Engine Roundtable reported SEO rankings and traffic decreased. 27% of sites reported improved traffic and rankings, while 29% saw no changes.

The update was completed on September 3, 2024. Here are a few takeaways for businesses trying to optimize budget, efficiency, mindset and more to reach page one of Google.

SEO in Vancouver—Key Takeaways in 2024

As SEO specialists with over 15 years experience, there are a few trends we’ve noted as we continue to help businesses reach page one of Google:

• Domain and site authority are factored into ranking—ask us what this means.
• E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) remains a significant ranking factor for content
• Create a unique title for each page and include target keywords early.
• Short-form content (300 words +) can still rank well if original and informative.
• Publish dates matter –with Google trying to serve the freshest content available—post optimized articles regularly.
• Google analyzes the quality of backlinks and assigns values to them—cheap, mass-produced links from overseas won’t change much. Like everything else, you get what you pay for

First Aid for Impacted Websites

If you’re one of the 44% impacted negatively by the rollout, you must take action. The problem isn’t going to fix itself—it’s up to you to ensure your website meets Google’s best practices if you expect it to bring in leads and business.

There are a few quick fixes that can help improve your rankings. Just remember—Google doesn’t give away page-one placement. Earning a page one standing (and the benefits that come with it) means making SEO part of your long-term marketing strategy. Here are some tips to get started if the last update negatively impacted your rank.

SEO Moving Forward

Dream big, but also make well-informed goals. It’s essential to create a plan with your SEO agency or marketing team to achieve goals. Keep it simple and compare historical  SEO data with current data.

Not sure where to start? Set up tools like Analytics and Search Console. Don’t set it and forget it. You should constantly refresh, refine, and improve your SEO strategy to keep up with competitors and stay on top. Embracing change in SEO will position you for success. Optimize every page for peak performance and look for new keyword opportunities.

These strategies guarantee that every buck spent on SEO will work harder and gear up your website to generate substantial returns.