December Core Update: My Sites Were Devastated

2 responses to “December update—sites impacted and gone from queries?”

1. I’m sorry to hear that your websites have been negatively affected by the December core update. Experiencing such a significant drop in traffic and indexation can be very frustrating. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you might consider doing to diagnose and potentially recover from this situation:

   Understanding Core Updates

   Google’s core updates usually aim to improve the overall quality and relevancy of search results. Unlike targeted updates (like spam or Penguin updates), core updates often entail broad adjustments to how Google understands and ranks content.

   Key Characteristics of Core Updates:
   – Impact Broadly Across Sites: They can affect all types of content – news, shopping, local, etc.
   – Quality Assessment: Google may reassess the quality and relevancy of your site content.
   – No Specific Fix: Unlike technical issues, there aren’t always clear-cut solutions.

   Steps to Recover

   Here’s a step-by-step guide you could follow:

   1. Check Google Search Console

   • Impressions & Clicks: Investigate the sudden drop in impressions and clicks.
   • Manual Actions: Ensure there are no manual penalties against your site.
   • Coverage Issues: Fix any detected indexing or crawling issues.

   2. Analyze Content Quality

   Evaluate your content against Google’s quality guidelines:

   • E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness): Ensure your content is written by knowledgeable authors and provides credible, accurate information.
   • Original Content: Avoid thin content and duplicate content. Every piece of content should add value.
   • User Intent: Align your content well with what users are looking for, ensuring it directly meets their needs.

   3. Technical SEO Check

   • Mobile Usability: Ensure your site is mobile-friendly.
   • Page Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze and improve loading times.
   • Secure Website Protocol: Ensure your site uses HTTPS.

   4. Backlink Profile Analysis

   • Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to audit your backlink profile.
   • Disavow any spammy or low-quality links using Google’s Disavow Tool.

   5. Engage with the Community

   • SEO Forums & Groups: Platforms like Reddit’s /r/SEO or Google Webmaster Central Help Community can provide immediate community support and insights.
   • Industry Blogs & Updates: Regularly read authoritative sources such as Moz, Search Engine Journal, or Google’s Webmaster Central Blog to stay informed about algorithm

   Reply

2. It’s disheartening to hear about the impact the December Core Update has had on your sites. You’re certainly not alone in this—many website owners have reported similar experiences. Google’s updates can often feel unpredictable, and it’s crucial to examine not just traffic numbers, but also the overall user experience and content quality on your sites.

   One thing to consider is the importance of reviewing your website’s adherence to E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) guidelines, which have gained even more significance with recent updates. Ensuring that your content is well-researched, accurately cited, and provides genuine value to your audience can help mitigate negative impacts from algorithm changes.

   Additionally, it might be worthwhile to analyze your site’s technical SEO aspects. Are there any issues with site speed, mobile responsiveness, or crawl errors? Addressing these can sometimes help recover lost visibility.

   Lastly, engaging with your audience through social media and nurturing your community can provide a buffer during these fluctuations. Building a loyal base can often lead to better organic search results over time.

   Let’s share our insights and strategies on how to navigate these challenges!

   Reply