Google’s August 1, 2018 Algorithm Update: Everything You Need to Know, and Who did it Impact The Most

Every time Google comes up with a major update, there has always been series of mixed reactions on the usefulness, or demerits of the supposed improvements. While a number of people can only see the disadvantages of the package for them, another set of website owners would come out to talk about how ingenious and profitable, the update has been. As far as the public is concerned, the usefulness of the developments as presented by the technology company is not particularly determined, until the concerned individuals and other stakeholders have been able to come up with their own individual assessments. This is what subsequently forms a pool of opinions from which necessary feedback is derived. If a lot more people think it is favorable, then the company is lauded on the overall. Otherwise, people can only complain and resent the decisions.

The most recent Google update was released on August 1 and has been implemented in continuous phases. Although details were not made too explicit, website users and SEO analysts have continued to highlight the impacts of the update- both in the short term, as well as in the long run.

But then, it is important for every website manager who finds a unique use of the Google search engine, to know and understand the details of this update. This would help them know the best actions to take, to build or maintain search engine results relevance.
 

Google’s August 1, 2018 update “Medic”

The newest Google update- just like the major ones before it, is also a full core algorithm update that would perform some similar fundamental functions. However, it is mentioned to be one of the most critical updates to shape the way Google search operations work, with a massive impact on the platform’s robust community of users. Following seeming tradition, SEO players and stakeholder on this front have referred mainly to the update as “The medic updates,” with widespread skepticism about reasons for the update action.

According to analysts and SEO professionals, the medic core algorithm update design has had effects on both of the organic and local search result tendencies. Google had earlier made announcements on its intention to release an update, after observation and calls from various quarters on the inconsistencies experienced with website rankings and traffic. This update comes as the third major broad core algorithm update that would be implemented this year. It should be noted, however, that the broad core algorithm updates are different from the other preliminary minor updates that are being implemented from time to time.

Consequent to the rollout of the medic algorithm updates, certain websites seem to have been the targets and have fallen heavily under the hammer. While some websites seem to be beaming with increased SEO advantages and traffic, others have fallen below their initial standards.

The impact of the update, and the main partakers of it

Although Google has continually insisted that the recent core algorithm update would cut across all engine search- especially as the implementation takes full force, the immediate impacts as we can see, have dealt a blow on a specific type of sites. Meanwhile, Google has mentioned in a number of instances, that the updates were intended to perform a holistic function that updates all of the company’s search events. This explanation comes after speculators have continued to mention that the update was specifically targeted at health-related sites. In fact, this is the reason why people have christened the update by its nickname.

However, further findings have shown that a reasonable number of other “your money or your life (YMYL) websites have also been affected by the update. With these occurrences, the update is now being considered to be more of a “directed broad core algorithm update attack.”
 

How the YMYL sites have become affected

YMYL sites as defined by Google are the websites that publish contents that are important, and likely to affect how a person’s disposition and way of life turns out. They include sites that publish articles on health and fitness, finance and spending, legal advisory content, DIY instructive articles, amongst other. Google has placed emphasis on the importance of displaying original and valid content, that are incapable of misinforming or educating article consumers, wrongly. In view of this, the core algorithm update has been designed to carry a framework that prunes out unreliable or unverified information sites. By this, YMYL sites content are expected to be published by experts who have an understanding of the particular niche. Hence, sites with levels of questionable expertise would definitely be closed to traffic.

 

Google company’s advice to users on the update

 While Google has not stated in fresh details what approach it is using to prune down on websites, the company’s representatives have only emphasized on the need for website owners to “continually create good content.” However, feelers think this suggestion is too generalized, without specific details that could help website owners fix their properties.

In addition to this, the cooperation has mentioned that no reactive “fix” action was required by website owners, especially by reason of possible drop in SEO traffic. It explained that traffic drop for certain websites was likely due to the fact that some under ranked website had rightly taken their place, and hence displacing the others.

Although there is no other information as to the working modalities of the new core algorithm update, stakeholders on the SEO market, have emphasized further on the importance of the E-A-T google guidelines, in its activities.

 

The E-A-T google search guidelines

E-A-T is an acronym that symbolizes the outlined requirements pointed out by Google, as a basis for meeting up with quality traffic and online engagement. The acronym stands for ‘expertise,’ ‘authoritativeness,’ and ‘trustworthiness.’ The Google SEO guidelines were first introduced in 2014 and has since then served as some form of a determinant in whatever SEO results a running website is able to get. Now, every page quality assessment made by Google makes use of these parameters, and they have become the basic guideline for every updated web content developer.

Since the importance of these elements in achieving search relevance cannot be overemphasized, it is important for users to sufficiently understood what is meant and required in each of the terms.

•    Expertise

Many website owners may have thought that having a website that dishes out important and insightful information, is that easy to build. If it used to be, then the recent Google update may soon be changing the trends, and in an enormous way. In order to enforce its stand on propelling authentic information, content that would top the results on the search must have been put up by people with the corresponding qualifications to do so. What this means in essence, is that you must be an expert in your field before you can get the traffic.

Carefully considering this factor, we may be able to explain a reason why medic and YMYL sites seem to be more affected by the recent update. Consequently, the implementation of this action could considerably limit the number of website and blog owners who would just open a health or professional service blog, without the real technical know how.

•    Authoritativeness

Now, another important ingredient to the mixture is how much authoritativeness is being portrayed in displayed content. It doesn’t seem enough just to have the expertise, but also have the perfect delivery methods of the subject. Google takes consideration of how much relevance you’re able to bring to the table. Websites and blog pages with user engagement should now see more reasons to interact meaningfully with their user base.

 Besides the type of relevant content solutions coming from your organized site, an added advantage comes from how much overall internet user recognition you’re able to gather for your site. Websites with the influx of comments and good reviews may have just set it’s steps on the path to google search optimization.

With the ever changing dynamic world that we’re in, people everywhere are more likely to pay attention to solution providers who are well grounded in what they know and are able to pass the necessary information across in the most impressive manner.

•    Trustworthiness

This is another factor that needs to be evaluated by the web content owner. Start with considering how much people are able to rely on the information you provide, as well as the offers you make. Google considers it germane, that website owners are mandatorily able to build high levels of trust between themselves and the several internet users who would be visiting the sites on a daily basis. As a website or blog owner, one of the ways to evaluate your trustworthiness is by the amount of response you get from such things as your call to action.

Trustworthiness for your website could also come from when you’ve adopted online security measures for the site. This would assure your visitors of more hacker proof functions, and would then be able to trust your site enough to carry out some functions like credit card purchase.

In all essence, these three broad factors have become the known basic driving force for whatever results are obtained, each time a Google searcher punches in their search words.

Merits of the August 1 broad core algorithm update

Even if the larger populace of internet content providers has not reckoned so much with the importance of the Google algorithm updates, it still does not remove the fact that this move may have been geared towards providing more value for Google search engine users.

For instance, since the E-A-T guideline is now wholly implemented, internet users seeking information via the Google search engine are assured of obtaining more authentic content. The search results would now carry more reliable results, with less contrasting story occurrences.

If this is well pulled through, then the algorithm update could then be termed as a perfect regulating tool, especially against unverified content providers.

Your call to action

In order to pick up and get back on course, there are certain inputs that must be effected on your website content, and as soon as all the google resetting has been concluded with. This would help bring your site to the stipulated conditions while helping it rise amongst the ranks.

Firstly and depending on the type of content service you’re offering- whether news and updates or YMYL content, ensure that all published articles are accompanied by an author with a profile. Also, note that it is not just about fixing an author, but ensuring that the authors have traceable online profiles, where the validation of claims can be made.

Other ways to show the relevance of your website content is to give correct descriptive details about the purpose of the site, and the team behind it. This talks about the importance of the “about us” page, and other information that can serve as some pointer to the type of activities you specialize in.

In conclusion:

Website owners and online content providers must be able to provide proactive solutions to the ever-changing internet use peculiarities. By this, they wouldn’t be caught unaware by sudden updates, and change in operation protocols. The truth is, getting back up after a decline in situations like this, requires apt decisions and methods that would allow the website owners to regain or retain their online relevance. It is even better if a roadmap has been prepared beforehand. This is why website owners have continually been encouraged to make use of professional SEO service providers. These service providers are consequently expected to stay up to date with event tendencies in the SEO business front.

Now, considering the fact that Google’s broad core algorithm update would be a continuous activity, we may not have seen the end to major modifications like this. Thus, it may be advisable that the SEO experts begin the preparations from now on.