Google Claims You Can Recover From Core Updates
According to Google, you can recover from core updates without installing a new core update.
Unlike the old Panda and Penguin updates, Google core updates receive regular data refreshes.
In a webmaster hangout video, Google's John Mueller stated that if your site was negatively impacted by a Google core algorithm update, you do not need to wait until the next time Google releases a core update to recover. I asked John numerous questions about that statement in another Google webmaster hangout yesterday, and it turns out that the data and signals that comprise these core updates are updated on a regular basis between Google core updates.
Earlier communication. Google did say a little more than a year ago that "broad core updates tend to happen every few months," and that "content that was impacted by one might not recover - assuming improvements have been made - until the next broad core update is released." In fact, many SEOs agree that it is rare to see a full recovery from a Google core update without Google running another Google core update.
However, the blog post continues to state that some may see incremental improvements. "However, we are constantly updating our search algorithms, including minor core updates." We don't announce all of these because they aren't widely known. "However, if they are released, they may cause content to recover if improvements are warranted," Google wrote. These enhancements could result from a smaller, unannounced core update or other algorithm updates that help the site rank higher overall.
The shift.
So you don't have to wait for a Google core update to see a full recovery, Mueller said in a video at 3:35.
Mueller said “it’s not something that requires a site to kind of wait for the next update to have a chance to be seen differently. They can continue working on things and things can improve over time.” Mueller said that it is “possible that our next core update will make a bigger change in the same direction that you’ve been working, and you’ll see a bigger change in your site’s performance as well.”
“But in general, sites don’t have to wait for the next bigger update in order to start seeing changes. So from that point of view, I wouldn’t just, like, stop working on things once you think you’ve done the right thing, but I’d continue working in that direction. You should see at least some incremental improvements over time there,” he added.
Mueller confirmed that you can see a "full recovery" for a Google core update before Google runs it again. He claims that you do not need to wait for a Google core update to see a full recovery.
Refreshed on a regular basis.
Mueller told that the signals and data that these core updates rely on are "regularly" updated in the quarters or so between core updates. He confirmed that, unlike previous Penguin and Panda updates, where you had to wait for Google to release a new update, core updates do not work in this manner. He stated that the scores within the core updates are "regularly updated" all the time. It might not be in real-time or hourly or even daily but they are regularly updated and you do not have to wait, as per Mueller.
Why Do We Care?
This is fantastic news for sites that have been negatively impacted by Google's core updates. While Google releases a broad core update every three months or so, if your site loses 50% of its Google organic traffic, you do not have to wait an entire business quarter to recover. You can try to follow Google's recommendations for core updates and hopefully see improvements before the next core update is released.
Have Further Questions?
Don’t hesitate to