Google rolls out August 2024 Core Update with focus on small publishers

On August 15, 2024, Google began rolling out its August 2024 core update, which is expected to take about a month to fully deploy. This update is notable for its aim to showcase more useful content from small and independent websites in search results.

According to John Mueller, Search Advocate at Google, this update takes into account feedback the search giant received following the September 2023 helpful content update, which negatively impacted many smaller publishers. The goal is to continue improving search result quality by surfacing genuinely helpful content while reducing the visibility of content created solely to rank well.

For Shopify merchants and SEO professionals, this update underscores the importance of creating original, relevant, and high-quality content tailored to user needs. Sites that have made improvements since the last core update may see a positive impact on their rankings as Google strives to “surface the best of the web.”

If your site is adversely affected by this update, Google advises focusing on crafting helpful, reliable, people-first content rather than attempting specific technical fixes. Negatively impacted rankings don’t necessarily indicate anything wrong with your pages, and some recovery may occur between core updates.

As always, closely monitor your site’s performance over the coming weeks to assess the impact of the August 2024 core update. By prioritizing user experience and valuable content, you’ll be well-positioned to benefit from Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance search result quality.

About the author

Daniel Lee

I am a Shopify SEO expert with 15 years of experience, specializing in custom SEO and content marketing strategies for Shopify stores of all sizes—from startups to industry giants. With a Master's degree in International Marketing and business coaching training from Cambridge University's Møller Institute, I bring a unique blend of expertise that helps clients achieve significant growth. I am on a mission to grow Emiquent into the best Shopify SEO agency, and I am committed to driving traffic, increasing sales, and delivering a competitive edge through proven SEO strategies.

Table of Contents

Boost your ecommerce success with the Ecom SEO Insider newsletter!

Enjoyed this article? Get more like it – plus exclusive Shopify SEO and content marketing strategies – direct to your inbox bi-weekly. Click the button to subscribe to Ecom SEO Insider now!

Boost your ecommerce success with the Ecom SEO Insider newsletter!

Enjoyed this article? Get more like it – plus exclusive Shopify SEO and content marketing strategies – direct to your inbox bi-weekly. Click the button to subscribe to Ecom SEO Insider now!