Sitewide

October 2023 Google Algorithm Update

Completed
December 7, 2023
Started
October 5, 2023

Current status of the ranking update

Status:
Completed
Announced by Google:
October 5, 2023
Update started:
October 5, 2023
Update completed:
December 7, 2023

Types of websites affected:

The October 2023 Core Update primarily impacted websites that:

  • Depend heavily on search engine rankings rather than delivering user-focused content.
  • Experienced benefits from previous algorithm updates but may now be challenged by the latest changes.
  • Belong to verticals like Finance, Shopping, and Arts and Entertainment, which saw specific impacts during this update.

What to Expect:

Websites affected by these updates may experience:

  • Significant ranking fluctuations as the update causes shifts in search visibility, with some sites gaining and others losing rankings.
  • A need for ongoing monitoring as the update has introduced volatility, particularly between October 10 and October 12, and around the weekend following.
  • A period of adjustment, with potential further changes as Google's algorithms continue to process and settle after the update.

What to Address / How to Approach:

To adapt to these updates, website owners should:

  • Enhance content quality by ensuring it is user-focused, comprehensive, and valuable, avoiding thin or outdated content.
  • Optimize user experience through improvements in website speed, mobile-friendliness, and overall design to keep users engaged.
  • Strengthen authority and trust by focusing on high-quality backlinks, accurate information, and establishing expertise in the relevant field.
  • Conduct technical SEO audits to resolve any underlying issues that could be affecting search engine indexing or user accessibility.

Interesting Fact 💡: 

The October 2023 Core Update saw an unusual spike in rank volatility within the Arts and Entertainment vertical, which had been relatively stable in previous updates.