The Google November 2023 reviews update, the last one Google will confirm, finished rolling out yesterday afternoon on December 7, 2023. It took 29 days to roll out, which initially kicked off on November 8, 2023.

Again, this was the last time Google confirmed a reviews update because it is now more of a regular update, compared to past reviews updates.

Here is the post announcing this update was complete:

The roll-out of the November reviews update is now complete. https://t.co/OKDL1M3DDQ

— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) December 7, 2023

Google November 2023 Reviews Update Quick Facts

Here are the most important things that we know right now in short form:

• Name: Google November 2023 Reviews Update
• Launched: November 8, 2023 at around 12 pm ET
• Rollout: Completed December 7, 2022 at around 12pm ET (29 days)
• Targets: It looks at all review content, including products, services, destinations, games, movies, or other topics
• Penalty: It is not a penalty, it promotes or rewards “insightful analysis and original research.”
• Not a core update: Many are going to say this is a core update, it is not.
• Several languages: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish.
• Impact: Google would not tell me what percentage of queries or searches were impacted by this update.
• Discover: This update can impact your performance in Google Discover, Google previously said.
• Recover: If you were hit by this, then you will need to look at your content and see if you can do better with Google’s advice below
• Refreshes: Google said this update is now regular and they won’t confirm future refreshes or updates.

Overlapping Updates

As you know, this Reviews update overlapped with the November 2023 core update that started on November 2nd and completed on November 28th.

We think the reviews update had an impact around November 13th but as it went on, it was hard to say if the core update caused volatility or if the reviews update caused volatility. We did see big swings all week, I called it the winter blast update.

Documentation Updates

Google also tweaked some of its reviews system documentation page for this update. The changes include:

• Adding: “The reviews system is improved at a regular and ongoing pace.”
• Removed the words “and updates to it” from this line, “What does this system and updates to it mean for my site?”
• Removed this line: “Periodically, we improve how the reviews system works. When we do this in a notable way, we share this as a “reviews update” on our Google Search Status Dashboard.”
• Updating this line: “Content impacted by the reviews system may recover over time, if you’ve made improvements to your content. However, note that our automated assessment of review content is only one of many factors used in ranking content, so changes can happen at any time for various reasons.”

Google Tracking Tools On The November 2023 Reviews Update

Here is how volatile Google was over the past month based on the tracking tools. It is not specific to the reviews or core update, but just in general:

Semrush:

SERPmetrics:

Advanced Web Rankings:

Cognitive SEO:

Accuranker:

Mozcast:

Algoroo:

SimilarWeb:

SERPstat:

Wincher:

Mangools:

Previous product Reviews Updates:

• November 8, 2023 – November 2023 Reviews Update, and finished 29 days later on December 7, 2023
• April 15, 2023 – April 2023 Reviews Update and finished 13 days later on April 25, 2023
• February 21, 2023 – February 2023 Product Reviews Update and finished two weeks later on March 7 2023.
• Septmeber 20, 2022 -
  September 2022 Google Product Reviews Update and completed September 26th.
• July 27, 2022 – July 2022 Google Product Reviews Update and ended on August 2nd
• March 23, 2022 – March 2022 Google Product Reviews Update and ended on April 11th.
• December 1, 2021 – December 2021 Google Product Reviews Update and ended on December 21st
• April 8, 2021 – April 2021 Product Reviews Update and ended on April 22nd.

Google’s Review Update Advice

Google has revised its advice on how to write review content that Google Search rewards. You can review that advice over here. “Publishing high quality reviews can help people learn more about things they are considering, such as products, services, destinations, games, movies or other topics,” Google wrote. Here is Google’s best practices on this topic now:

• Evaluate from a user’s perspective.
• Demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about what you are reviewing—show you are an expert.
• Provide evidence such as visuals, audio, or other links of your own experience with what you are reviewing, to support your expertise and reinforce the authenticity of your review.
• Share quantitative measurements about how something measures up in various categories of performance.
• Explain what sets something apart from its competitors.
• Cover comparable things to consider, or explain which might be best for certain uses or circumstances.
• Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of something, based on your own original research.
• Describe how a product has evolved from previous models or releases to provide improvements, address issues, or otherwise help users in making a purchase decision.
• Focus on the most important decision-making factors, based on your experience or expertise (for example, a car review might determine that fuel economy and safety are key decision-making factors and rate performance in those areas).
• Describe key choices in how a product has been designed and their effect on the users beyond what the manufacturer says.
• Include links to other useful resources (your own or from other sites) to help a reader make a decision.
• Consider including links to multiple sellers to give the reader the option to purchase from their merchant of choice.
• When recommending something as the best overall or the best for a certain purpose, include why you consider it the best, with first-hand supporting evidence.
• Ensure there is enough useful content in your ranked lists for them to stand on their own, even if you choose to write separate in-depth single reviews.

Forum discussion at X and WebmasterWorld.

Software systems are integral to the operations of modern businesses, but they also pose significant risks.

Recent statistics highlight the growing challenge of software vulnerabilities; ISACA’s report indicates that 48% of organizations have seen an increase in cyberattacks, with an alarming 13% rise in critical vulnerabilities. Even more concerning is the fact that a third of these vulnerabilities are of high or critical severity. 

These figures demonstrate the crucial need for businesses to proactively identify and address software vulnerabilities to safeguard their data, finances, and reputation.

Identifying Software Vulnerabilities

The first step in addressing software vulnerabilities is their identification. This involves a combination of automated tools and manual techniques. Automated vulnerability scanners can detect known vulnerabilities in software systems, while manual testing, such as penetration testing, identifies more complex security issues. Regular vulnerability assessments are essential for staying ahead of potential threats.

Exploring the Role of Patch and Vulnerability Management in Business Security

To enhance the security of a business, IT sectors must remain vigilant about the latest software updates and implement proactive management strategies. This is where the concepts of patch and vulnerability management come into play. But first, it’s important to compare patch management vs vulnerability management to understand the process.

Patch management is a critical but reactive part of business security. It involves regularly updating and patching software to address known vulnerabilities. This approach helps prevent attackers from exploiting these vulnerabilities, safeguarding the system against known threats.

Vulnerability management, on the other hand, adopts a comprehensive and proactive stance. It transcends the scope of patch management by including the identification, classification, prioritization, and remediation of software vulnerabilities. 

This comparison underscores the significance of adopting a holistic cybersecurity approach, where patch management is an essential, yet smaller, part of the broader vulnerability management process.

Implementing Vulnerability Management

Implementing an effective vulnerability management program involves several key steps. It starts with vulnerability identification, followed by risk assessment to prioritize vulnerabilities based on their potential impact. 

Remediation plans are then developed, which could involve patching, configuration changes, or other mitigating controls. Continuous monitoring is vital to ensure new vulnerabilities are detected and addressed promptly.

Best Practices in Patch Management

Effective patch management is a critical component of cybersecurity. Best practices include establishing a structured process for timely patch deployment, prioritizing patches based on severity and impact, and testing patches in a controlled environment before widespread rollout. This helps minimize the risks of introducing new vulnerabilities or system instability.

Integrating Patch and Vulnerability Management

Although they have different functions, bringing these two solutions together is crucial for creating a solid security system.

With a combined strategy, applying patches, often called software band-aids, is not an isolated activity. It is integrated into a broader scheme aimed at identifying and rectifying vulnerabilities in the system before they become targets for hackers or malware. This approach ensures that each time a patch is implemented, it is done with a comprehensive understanding of its role in the overarching goal of ensuring the system’s overall security.

By merging these two processes, the overall strength of the security measures increases. It’s like having a team where each player has a different role, but together they make the team stronger. In the same way, patch and vulnerability management support each other, making the whole security system more effective in protecting against threats.

This integrated approach also means that security efforts are more coordinated and efficient. Instead of patching software as a reaction to a problem, the patches are part of a strategic approach that anticipates and prevents security issues. This proactive stance helps keep the system safe and secure in a more reliable way.

Challenges and Solutions

One of the main challenges in managing software vulnerabilities is the sheer volume and complexity of potential security issues. Keeping up with the latest vulnerabilities and patches can be overwhelming. Solutions include leveraging automated tools for vulnerability scanning and patch deployment, as well as adopting a risk-based approach to prioritize actions.

Organizations should also invest in training and awareness programs for their IT staff to ensure they are equipped to identify and address vulnerabilities effectively. Additionally, engaging external experts for periodic audits can provide an objective view of the security posture and recommendations for improvement.

Conclusion

Recognizing and tackling software vulnerabilities is essential for cybersecurity. Patch management plays a vital role, but it needs to fit into a wider strategy for managing vulnerabilities. 

When patch management is combined with thorough vulnerability management methods, companies can greatly improve their security defenses. This is crucial for guarding against the constantly changing nature of cyber threats. Looking ahead, managing vulnerabilities will probably involve more automated processes, the use of AI for analysis, and a persistent focus on taking preventive security actions.

For the original iTunes version, click here.

Google confirmed the last reviews update finished rolling out yesterday after 29 days. Google Search ranking volatility continues throughout the whole week, I called it the Google Winter Blast update but it might be the reviews update that is ongoing. Google Groups has seen a massive ranking and visibility boost in Google Search but why and it is concerning. Google announced Gemini, its next-level AI, and it is already in Bard and being tested in SGE. Bing announced Deep Search, it is like hidden gems, but slow and powerful; they also announced a bunch of Copilot features. I noticed that John Mueller deleted some helpful content tweets and that Danny Sullivan auto-deletes tweets. Google updated its local ranking to look at business operating hours, it seems. Google has a Local Service Ads has a reviews hijacking problem. Google expands its video policy to video mode, it must be the main content. Google Search Console dropped the mobile usability report and the mobile-friendly test. Google added new vacation rental rich results and structured data. Google Search Console will drop the product results search appearance filter. Google seems to be showing how-to rich results again. Google has a lot of complaints about invalid sitemap errors. Google’s “you visit often” label is live now for some. Google is treating a knowledge panel snippet. Google Site names have an issue for some internal pages. Glenn Gabe wrote a piece on the tracking challenges with all these new alternative fees and secondary SERPs. Google allows some advertisers to opt out of the Search Partner Network for PMAX. Google Merchant Center next will support rules and supplemental feeds. Google SGE is testing search by image and the ability to export to Gmail or Docs. Google launched the full-width image pack. I posted the big December Google webmaster report. And the Chanukah decorations are live on Google Search – Happy Hanukkah! And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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