Google August Core Update Is Complete To See Effects

Google released its August 2024 core update on August 15th, which was quickly followed by a significant search ranking bug just hours later. This situation has left many SEOs and site owners wondering how to distinguish between the effects of the core update and the bug. According to Google's John Mueller, it's important not to draw conclusions about the core update's impact until it has fully rolled out.

Currently, as many assess the effects of the August 2024 core update, there's noticeable fluctuation in search rankings. The question on many minds is whether these changes are due to the ranking bug or the core update. While the ranking bug was resolved yesterday, it's advisable to give it some time to see how things settle. It's best to wait until the end of this week before making any judgments.

The core update is expected to take several weeks to complete, with Google indicating that the rollout could last about a month. Given the recent ranking bug, it's wise to wait another week or so to determine whether your site was affected by the core update, the ranking bug, or both. Also, remember that changes can still occur as the update continues to roll out.

John Mueller reiterated on LinkedIn that it's crucial to wait until the core update is fully rolled out before assessing its impact. However, he also emphasized that this doesn’t mean you should hold off on improving your website. If you're comparing performance before and after the update, waiting for the rollout to finish is essential.

He also mentioned that social posts from SEOs tracking these changes indicate fluctuations during the rollout, and it's not always productive to try and separate the effects of the ranking issue from the core update. Most sites won't see significant changes from this core update, although some may experience noticeable shifts.

Summary:

The ranking bug has complicated things, but you can compare your site's performance from the week or two before the core update to the week or two after it completes. If you're anxious about your site's performance, it's best to wait until next week before making any comparisons.