December 2020 Broad Core Update

If you’re wondering what is Broad Core Update and why is it important for SEO? Every once in a while, Google updates its algorithm to give a better search experience to their users by providing them with the most relevant search results. This impacts the search visibility of a large number of websites as Google reconsiders SERP ranking based on E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).

Although Google continually keeps updating it’s algorithm everyday– so much so that Google is estimated to make 500-600 core algorithm changes– but it doesn’t have a very serious impact on search visibility. Given so, Google doesn’t go public about its everyday algorithm changes. However, Google Broad Core Updates are rolled out only a few times in a year and have a far reaching impact on search results.

Thus, staying informed about the Broad Core Updates is crucial for search engine optimization so that you can take the necessary course of action if your site is affected.

Google’s Broad Core Update- December 2020

Google has rolled out another Broad Core Update after a wait of seven months on 3rd December, 2020. This is the third core update for the year and has taken way longer than usual.

This is the time before Christmas holidays which is usually the most undesired time for rolling out of Google’s Broad Core Update for all the anxiety and panic it brings for webmasters. Many people have shown their disdain for the same on Twitter and various other social media websites.

What impact has Google’s Broad Core Update for December 2020 has made?

As it goes with Broad Core Updates, some sites are benefited and some are penalized. The same is so for December 2020 Broad Core Update. Some sites have experienced an increased traffic and a higher Google SERP ranking while some are receiving a reduced number of traffic and lower SERP ranking. For the sites struck by the March 2020 Broad Core Update, the new update had been eagerly awaited and for many has come as good news. But there are also those adversely affected by it.

What does Google have to say to those struck by the new Update?

As is revealed in Google’s tweet about the December 2020 Broad Core Update, the guidance for webmasters remains more or less the same as it has been for last updates.

According to Google, if you are receiving less traffic on your website and a lower ranking on Google SERP, this doesn’t necessarily indicate that something is wrong with your website. This is done only to improve how their systems access content overall. Moreover, sites getting penalized isn’t the only outcome of Broad Core Updates. Many under-rewarded pages also end up doing better because of these updates.

Google further advises webmasters to focus on the content as to get rewarded by the algorithm.

What should you do if your website is negatively affected by a Broad Core Update?

There aren’t any specific actions you can take in this case. However, if your site’s traffic and Google ranking has been hurt by Broad Core Update, this is how to deal with it-

# Don’t panic

Okay, it’s easier said than done. But how can panicking even help? You might end up making rushed changes to your website which you might regret later. And you definitely don’t want that! It’s like ups and downs of the SEO life. Drink a glass of water, take a deep breath and read the next point.

# Don’t be too quick to react

Once you have managed to calm down, the next thing is to observe and see if your website has even been affected by the update. Give it some time- a few days or even a few weeks for that matter. Track your performance for some time before jumping on conclusions.

# Take it in a constructive way

Although Google has made it clear that the site penalized due to such updates aren’t doing anything wrong specifically, you might still feel like making some changes. Work on making your website’s content better. Ask yourself if your website is top-notch with regards to Google’s E-A-T. The best would be to follow Google’s own blog at www.webmasters.googleblog.com where you can find what Google says about it.

Keep in mind that when you research the ways to cope with Broad Core Update, rely only on credible sources.

Summing up

Staying informed about Google’s Broad Core Updates is crucial for SEO as it impacts Google SERP ranking for at least a few months. It basically works how see-saw works. If one goes up, another must go down. If this update has affected you adversely, sit tight and you may be on the upper side next time. But remember to keep yourself from making impulsive decisions that you may regret later. Take it constructively as those sites who do generally see positive results in the next update.

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Somya Sharma : Regardless of being a Delhi University graduate with a major in English Literature, Somya's interests are not limited to poetry and drama. As a person who loves researching, discussing and writing about topics rooted in various disciplines, the list of subjects that tickle her fancy is ever-growing. She finds the power of psychology in marketing particularly intriguing and has set out writing blogs with the aim of helping budding marketers polish-up.