Meeting user expectations is an important

A website losing its position in Google search results after another algorithm update is a common, albeit unpleasant, phenomenon. There are many factors that affect the ranking of websites in one way or another, and each update affects them to one degree or another. Some drop in the search results and then return their positions, others never return to their previous places, and still others, even after the update, remain in the lines they previously occupied in the search results, practically without feeling any fluctuations. Why does this happen and what should you know about losing positions after updating Google algorithms? We will talk about this today.

Losing positions is not forever

The rollout of Google updates is not an instantaneous process. It can last for weeks. And the more global the update, the longer it takes to roll out. During this time, your site may lose positions due to some kind of “turbulence”, but after some time they are often restored without any involvement from the optimizer.

The problem is that the process of restoring positions can be quite long – from several weeks to several months. Some optimizers begin to believe that their sites have been subject to some filters, and regardless of their actions, it will be impossible to rise in the search results. This idea was debunked by Google employee John Mueller:

“Sites can grow again after being impacted by a Google core update. It’s not permanent. Yes, it may take time and even several update cycles, but rankings will eventually gradually recover.”

Of course, it is important to add here that if some elements of the site do not comply with the new Google rules, it is unlikely to recover without appropriate measures and additional optimization. But in other cases, the optimal strategy is often to wait.

Why ‘Recovery’ Isn’t Quite the Right Term

John Mueller emphasized that “recovery” means returning to what was before. Because ultimately, not all sites are restored. If a web resource meets Google’s requirements after another update, its positions will start to grow after a temporary drop. If it does not meet them, there will be no growth.

Optimizers in any case need to study the new requirements and, if necessary, take measures to ensure that the site meets them as much as possible. In this case, we can talk about restoration.

Müller gave the example of a “medical” update that was deployed a few years ago. After that, the difference was very noticeable:

• Sites that used a scientific and serious approach to creating medical content not only quickly regained their previous rankings, but also rose higher.
• Web resources describing folk and non-scientific methods of treatment did not meet the updated requirements and therefore could not return to their previous places.

If you see a dip, it’s important to next-gen mobile app determine what exactly is causing it and whether you can fix it. In some cases, getting back to where you were before requires major changes to your website.

Not all changes occur within one update

The mistake some optimizers make is to treat each kernel update as self-sufficient. But in reality, modern updates are very closely related to each other. Many changes require several update cycles, so their effect is often stretched out over time. Mueller says:

“For example, you can update the ranking formula and some thresholds. The effect of the updated formula is preserved, and changes to thresholds often require another update to sort of adjust.”

Thus, Müller identifies two components of the ranking formula:

1. So-called rolling updates. They warranty, canned and bottled quickly evaluate a site, raising or lowering its rating depending on the results obtained.
2. Algorithmic updates. They involve more complex calculations and work much slower. Therefore, the effect of their work does not appear immediately.

And at the same time, both elements work in pairs, one way or another influencing the ratings of web resources in Google search results.

ranking factor

It is very important to monitor and understand exactly what users expect. John Mueller emphasized:

“There is no secret to long-term success on the internet. Even if you find something that works now, the internet, what users want, and how thekind of usa lists guaranteey interact with websites are constantly changing. It is very difficult to make good, popular, and sustainable things.”

And while none of this is actually a ranking factor or part of how algorithms work, it is important to understand what users expect to see when they enter a search query. And this is not always related to “semantic relevance.” Mueller argues that the relevance of search rankings largely depends on users, their actions, and the mechanisms of interaction with sites.

Page level signals

There is a lot of debate among SEOs about whether the Helpful Content ranking component works on a page or site-wide level. But that debate can now be put to rest. The Helpful Content Update FAQ clearly states:

“Our core ranking systems are primarily designed to work at the page level, using various signals and systems to understand its usefulness, while only taking into account some site-wide signals.”

Thus, we can come to the conclusion that more attention should be paid to pages, since they have a stronger influence on ranking and, accordingly, positions in Google search results.