Few things make a website owner or digital marketer’s heart sink faster than noticing a sudden drop in traffic – and realizing a Google algorithm update is likely to blame. Google updates are rolled out regularly to improve the quality of search results, and while some websites benefit from these changes, others can see rankings plummet overnight.
If your site has taken a hit, don’t panic – there are steps you can take to diagnose the issue, recover lost ground, and come back stronger. In this post, we’ll walk you through what to do if your website was impacted by a Google update, with practical, proactive strategies to today’s SEO landscape.
Step 1 – Confirm It Was an Algorithm Update
Before making any changes, it’s important to confirm that the drop in traffic or rankings is actually due to a Google update. Other factors, such as website downtime, manual penalties or technical SEO issues can also cause performance dips.
Here’s how to check:
- Visit SEO news sources like Search Engine Journal, Search Engine Roundtable, or Moz to see if there’s chatter about a new update.
- Check Google’s official announcements via the Google Search Central Blog.
- Review analytics and Google Search Console data to identify when the drop occurred and whether it aligns with known update timelines.
Look for patterns: was the traffic loss site-wide or limited to specific pages or keywords? This information will help you understand what kind of update may have affected your site (e.g. core update, spam update, product review update, etc.).
Step 2 – Identify What Changed
Once you’ve established that a Google update is likely the culprit, it’s time to dig into what might have changed. Google’s updates typically target quality issues, content relevance, user experience, or spammy SEO practices.
Here are some areas to evaluate:
- Content Quality: Google’s core updates often focus on rewarding content that is helpful, reliable, and people-first. Ask yourself:
- Is the content well-written, accurate, and up-to-date?
- Does it demonstrate first-hand expertise or deep knowledge of the topic?
- Is it substantially more helpful than what’s offered by competitors?
- Site Structure and UX: Updates increasingly favour sites that offer a smooth, accessible user experience.
- Is your site mobile-friendly?
- Are your pages loading quickly?
- Is your navigation intuitive and easy to use?
- E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness): Google values content that comes from experienced and reputable sources.
- Is your author information transparent and credible?
- Are you linking to reputable external sources?
- Do you have customer reviews, testimonials or case studies supporting your authority?
Step 3 – Improve What Matters
If you’ve identified content or structural issues on your site, now’s the time to address them. Here’s how:
- Refresh Existing Content
- Update outdated posts and pages with current information.
- Add new insights, statistics, and examples.
- Improve readability with clearer formatting, bullet points, and headings.
- Consolidate Thin or Duplicate Pages
- Merge similar content into one stronger, more comprehensive page.
- Use 301 redirects to guide users and search engines to the new URL.
- Enhance Your On-Page SEO
- Use relevant keywords naturally and avoid keyword stuffing.Optimize title tags, meta descriptions, and internal links.
- Make sure schema markup is implemented correctly where appropriate.
- Prioritize User Experience
- Compress images and enable caching to improve load times.Ensure clear calls-to-action and minimize intrusive pop-ups.
- Run mobile usability tests to ensure full responsiveness.
Step 4 – Strengthen Your Off-Page Signals
It’s not just what’s on your site that matters – your external reputation plays a role too.
- Build high-quality backlinks from relevant and authoritative sources.
- Encourage customer reviews on Google and third-party platforms.
- Engage in PR and content marketing to increase visibility and credibility.
Avoid link schemes or buying backlinks – these tactics may work short-term, but they can leave your site vulnerable to future updates or manual penalties.
Step 5 – Monitor Progress and Be Patient
Try to keep in mind that recovery from a Google update doesn’t happen overnight. Even after making the right changes, it can take weeks – or even months – to see improvement. Google’s core updates often require the next update cycle before significant ranking recovery occurs.
Thankfully though, you can use tools like Google Search Console, GA4, and third-party platforms like Ahrefs or SEMrush to monitor:
- Organic traffic trends
- Keyword ranking changes
- Click-through rates
- Crawling and indexing errors
Stay consistent with your content and SEO efforts during this period. Resist the urge to chase the algorithm – focus on building a site that genuinely serves your users.
Step 6 – Partner with SEO Experts
If you’re unsure where to begin or if your recovery efforts aren’t working, it might be time to bring in professional help. An experienced SEO partner can:
- Conduct a comprehensive SEO audit
- Identify content and technical gaps
- Develop a tailored recovery strategy
- Provide ongoing optimisation and support
If you’re seeking guidance from a trusted SEO agency on the Sunshine Coast, consider working with a team that understands not only the technical intricacies of SEO, but also how to create a strategy that aligns with your business goals.
Being Hit by a Google Update can Feel Like a Major Setback – But It’s Also an Opportunity
These updates push website owners to focus on quality, relevance, and user experience. By reviewing your site with fresh eyes and committing to best-practice SEO, you can future-proof your digital presence and climb back up the rankings.
Stay proactive, be patient, and remember: SEO is a long-term game. The websites that thrive after algorithm updates are the ones that treat it as a journey, not a quick fix.
