“Unveiling the Impact of Google’s October 2023 Core and Spam Updates: Key Insights on Data Providers”

Understanding the Impact of Google’s October 2023 Core and Spam Update

A Deeper Insight into Google’s October 2023 Updates

The October 2023 Google core and spam updates are all set and we took the opportunity to dig deeper to understand how these core updates differ from previous ones. It is crucial to remember that these updates were rolled out simultaneously, resulting in the analysis becoming somewhat skewed. Google affirmed that spam websites were impacted by the spam update, and traffic drops experienced by non-spamming sites is likely due to the core update.

The Timeline for the Two Updates:

The Spam update that commenced on October 4, 2023, ended on October 10, 2023, while the core update that began on October 5, 2023, concluded on October 20, 2023. Like most Google updates, these caused a significant amount of ranking volatility across numerous verticals in the Google search results throughout this period.

Breakdown from Data Providers on the Google Updates

Semrush’s sensor data showcased peak volatility of 7.9 on October 10, 2023. However, relative to the baseline, the impact of the October update seems less potent overall, with the average number of positions URLs gained and lost standing at around two and a half, lower than the August 2023 core update. This trend was also reflected in the top ten position rankings, with similar volatility levels for both the October and August 2023 updates.

seoClarity shared its rank fluctuation tracker, emphasizing significant traffic gainers from nine different industries. Steve Paine from Sistrix noted that reference sites were among the most affected by these updates.

Further Observations on the October 2023 Core Update

We noticed significant community movement around October 9th/10th, with even more volatility on October 13th and 14th. According to community insights, this update was considerably significant, leading to substantial buzz within the SEO industry.

What If Your Site is Impacted?

Google has provided advice for those affected negatively by a core update. Although there are no specific recovery actions, Google urges webmasters to examine their site using a list of questions if a core update hits. A slight recovery may occur between core updates, with the most considerable change likely after another core update.

What We’ve Learned

Isolating the exact remedy to an algorithmic hit on your website can be quite challenging, especially concerning Google core updates. This data, as well as previous experience and advice, indicates that these core updates are extensive and cover a broad range of quality issues. If your website was impacted by a core update, it is often suggested to take a broader perspective of your website and look for ways to improve it overall. 

Read More on Google Updates

You can find more detailed information about previous updates in Search Engine Land’s Google Algorithm Updates history.

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