Google has launched its December 2024 core update today, marking the fourth core update of the year. This update follows closely after the November 2024 core update, which was completed just a week ago. Google has stated that the rollout of this new update will span approximately two weeks.
Core updates are a regular part of Google’s process, occurring multiple times a year. These updates often bring broad and significant changes to Google’s search algorithms and systems, which is why Google typically announces them. This marks the fourth core update for 2024.
The December 2024 core update comes just one week after the completion of the November 2024 core update, which began on November 11, 2024, and finished on December 5, 2024. Now, Google is rolling out another update.
Google has communicated that the December 2024 core update is in progress and is expected to be fully deployed within two weeks. The company mentioned, “If you’re wondering why we’re releasing another core update so soon after the last one, we have ongoing improvements across different core systems. For more details, this blog post explains further:”
In previous communications, Google had indicated weeks in advance that an update was imminent, but sites affected by the September 2023 helpful content update should not expect major recoveries yet. It’s still unclear how the November 2024 core update will impact search results.
What to Do if Your Site is Affected
If your website is impacted by this or any other core update, Google offers general advice for recovery. While there are no specific steps guaranteed to restore rankings, the company has provided a list of questions to consider if your site experiences a drop in rankings. Google clarified that negative impacts may not necessarily indicate a problem with your content.
Here’s a recap of Google’s advice:
- There are no targeted actions to take for recovery. A decline in rankings doesn’t automatically suggest there’s something wrong with your pages.
- Google recommends reviewing your content to ensure it serves the needs of users.
- Although some recovery might be seen between updates, more significant changes tend to occur after another core update is released.
In essence, the key is to create helpful, user-focused content, rather than content solely aimed at improving rankings.
Google has previously emphasized, “There’s nothing new for creators to do for this update, as long as they’ve been consistently producing satisfying content designed for people. If your rankings aren’t where you’d like them to be, we recommend reading our guidelines on creating helpful, reliable, people-first content.”
For more information on Google’s core updates, you can refer to the company’s official documentation.
Past Core Updates
The first core update of 2024—the March 2024 core update—was the largest Google had ever implemented, starting on March 5 and concluding 45 days later on April 19.
Here’s a timeline of recent core updates:
- December 2024 core update: December 2024 (ongoing rollout)
- November 2024 core update: November 11 – December 5, 2024
- August 2024 core update: August 15 – September 3, 2024
- March 2024 core update: March 5 – April 19, 2024
- November 2023 core update: November 2 – November 28, 2023
- October 2023 core update: October 5 – October 19, 2023
- August 2023 core update: August 22 – September 7, 2023
- March 2023 core update: March 15 – March 28, 2023
Why This Matters
Core updates typically lead to significant fluctuations in Google search rankings. While these updates are designed to improve search result quality, some websites may experience drops in rankings or organic traffic. However, for others, these updates could result in higher rankings and increased visibility.
We hope that this update brings positive outcomes for your site, driving more traffic and conversions.
It will be interesting to see if this update benefits creators who Google met with earlier this year.
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