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No Site Impacted By The September Helpful Content Update Recovered Yet

Published

7 months ago

March 25, 2024

As you know, the September 2023 helpful content update was brutal to many small site owners, bloggers, SEOs and others. Some of these folks were desperately waiting for a recovery and were hopeful that this March 2024 core update (which is still rolling out) would result in a recovery. But it does not appear that any site has yet recovered from the ranking declines they saw in September 2023.

I have personally not heard of anyone say they recovered from that September 2023 helpful content update and I track a ton of chatter across many forums and social media platforms. Heck, most of the comments left on this site are from site owners and SEOs who have been dealing with the outcome of the September helpful content update and no one has commented they recovered. In fact, many of them said they are seeing even less visibility from Google Search since the March core update.

But the data that Glenn Gabe posted on X yesterday says that of the over 200 sites he tracked that got hit with the helpful content update, zero – I repeat – zero have recovered. Glenn wrote, “Now that we are two weeks into the March core update, I ran the visibility numbers for several hundred sites impacted the September HCU(X). I haven’t see one that recovered yet. Actually, most were down even more (see screenshots below of March impact and then overall impact since the September HCU).”

He shared some charts of random sites that were hit by the helpful content update in September 2023 and how their visibility was throughout yesterday:

Now, as Glenn said in his post, “Remember, the helpful content system has been baked into Google’s core ranking systems now. Google explained that instead of one classifier and system, there are now multiple systems assessing the helpfulness of content.” We covered this in our previous stories. And we know the core update still has a couple of weeks left to roll out. So maybe (but I am doubtful) the helpful content components of this core update will roll out at the tail end of this core update and we will see some recoveries?

I mean, Google said wait for the update to be over to see what needs to be done. But Google also said these updates are not perfect and they will collect feedback when it is over. The core update is still rolling out, the spam update is done and those manual actions were very painful.

Glenn added these important points:

Based on the first two weeks of the rollout, it seems the new approach is impacting those sites *more* than the original HCU classifier. But… there are probably more systems that need to be updated with the March core update (and Google said those systems would reinforce each other). So, there is a possibility that the multiple systems assessing helpfulness of content will get updated and things might change for some of those sites over the next two weeks. Time will tell, but for now, all are still down that I checked (and many are down more since the core update started rolling out). Stay tuned.

My gut feeling is that we won’t see many recoveries but I’ve been wrong a lot in my life. I mean, Google did say a reduction of 40% of unhelpful content. But Google never really mentioned that sites would recover. But we will see, the update is not done yet.

Yesterday, Danny Sullivan, the Google Search Liaison responded to a site’s decline on X implying that he and Google is aware of some expert sites not ranking well and that he hopes to see changes in the future for those sites. He wrote, “I know your site. It’s on a list of sites I spent time exploring recently, where people have said they are experts, small sites that deserve better visibility. On our end, there are definitely things I hope we’ll improve on.”

Here is that post:

Arnaud, I know your site. It’s on a list of sites I spent time exploring recently, where people have said they are experts, small sites that deserve better visibility. On our end, there are definitely things I hope we’ll improve on. On your end, I would detail some of the things…

— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) March 21, 2024

I am hopeful but not expecting to see recoveries with this March update. I do hope that we will see another update from Google very soon that may give some of these site owners some relief…

Here is Glenn’s post:

Quick update about sites impacted by the September HCU(X): Now that we are two weeks into the March core update, I ran the visibility numbers for several hundred sites impacted the September HCU(X). I haven’t see one that recovered yet. Actually, most were down even more (see… pic.twitter.com/Ph9RePr1LO

— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) March 21, 2024

Note – I spoke to Glenn to get more clarity on the data before writing this story.

Forum discussion at X.

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SEARCHENGINES

Daily Search Forum Recap: October 11, 2024

Published

10 hours ago

October 12, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

We are seeing more signs of intense Google Search ranking volatility. Google is now showing sites hit by HCU or core updates in the AI Overview links/citations. Google Search is missing the video tab in search for some users. Google spoke about when your robots.txt is unavailable. Google added edit and delete buttons next to your reviews. Bing is testing “best list of” carousels in search. And I posted the SEO video recap this morning.

Tonight is Yom Kippur – which those who observe the holiday an easy and meaningful fast. Also, if I have upset anyone in any way with something I’ve posted here or said or written, I hope you can accept my apology. I will try to do better next year.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

Google Search Ranking Volatility Rumbling Again October 10th

Can you believe it, it has been over a week since I reported on any Google Search ranking algorithm updates or volatility. Over the past 24-hours or so, the level of chatter have spiked, along with many of the third-party Google Search ranking tracking tools.

Google AI Overviews Not Linking To Sites Hit By Helpful Content Update

Google’s AI Overviews seem to not show citations or link to sites that were hit by the helpful content update (and probably core updates), even when you ask the AI Overview directly about that site and even if that site is ranking well for that query in the traditional Google search results.

Google Search Missing Video Tab For Some Users – Bug?

Google Search seems to be missing the video tab under the search bar for some searchers. I suspect this is some sort of weird bug, there is no way in my mind that Google will do away with the ability to search for videos.

Google: Robots.txt Is Unreachable, Other Pages Reachability Matter

There is this interesting conversation on LinkedIn around a robots.txt serves a 503 for two months and the rest of the site is available. Gary Illyes from Google said that when other pages on the site are reachable and available, that makes a big difference, but when those other pages are not, then “you’re out of luck,” he wrote.

Bing Tests Best List Of Carousel

Microsoft is testing a new Bing Search carousel titled “Best list of X.” It can be the best list of PPC agencies or other queries that Bing wants to show you the best list of.

Google Adds Edit & Delete Button Links To Your Reviews

Google has added an edit and delete button link next to the reviews you added to a Google Business Profile listing. This gives the reviewer a quicker method to modify or remove the review they left for a business.

Google 5k Run

Here is a video I found on Instagram of a 5k run at Google. This is called the Global Google 5k Run. I embed the video below.

Search News Buzz Video Recap: DOJ May Breakup Google, Ranking Volatility, Quick View Theft, Google Web Creator Event, Google Ads & More Search News

Google may be forced to breakup, the DOJ is leaning towards forcing that and more as a remedy to its monopoly ruling. This morning we are seeing a spike in Google Search ranking volatility. Google is testing quick view, where….

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.

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Daily Search Forum Recap: October 10, 2024

Published

2 days ago

October 10, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Google Local Service Ads will require advertisers to have a Google Business Profile next month. Google is testing a Quick view button in search that gives searchers no reason to look at your site. Google may have 9,000 ad campaigns created every second. Google is testing verified labels for retailers in the product search results. Google is expanding store ratings to more countries.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

Google Tests Quick View Button For Recipes That Keep You On Google

Google is testing placing a “quick view” button overlayed on the images on recipes within Google Search. The crazy part is that clicking on “Quick view” keeps you on Google while giving you a snapshot of the content from the publisher, without sending that traffic to the publisher.

Google Local Service Ads To Soon Require Google Business Profile

Google will soon require businesses who want to advertise using Google Local Service Ads to also have a Google Business Profile. Google posted a notice that reads, “By Thursday, November 21, 2024, your Local Services ad will need a matching Google Business Profile to continue appearing in search results and to display your customer reviews.”

9,000 Google Ads Campaigns Created Every Second???

Thomas Eccel posted a guess, trying to figure out how many Google Ads campaigns are created in a timeframe. He said if the ad campaigns are issued in sequential order, based on his calculations, 9,000 ad campaigns are created on Google Ads every second.

Google Search Tests Verified Labels For Product Results

Back in August we reported that Google was testing showing verified badges, verification labels, in the organic search results. Well, now Google is testing the verified label on the detailed product results overlay, on retailer listings.

Google Store Ratings Now Available In India, Australia, Canada & UK

Google is rolling out the Store ratings feature beyond US Search. It is rolling out to searchers in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. Although, we’ve seen examples of Google showing them in Australia and other countries over the years, I guess as a test.

Google Noogler Bison Again

We have a photo of this Google Bison from 2018. It looks to be in the same condition but moved from its previous location. It also looks angry…

Other Great Search Threads:

We’re now seeing AI Overviews appearing for non signed-in users in the UK, ZA, NZ, SG, KE – well countries where English is commonly spoken., Authoritas on X

I’m sure it’ll be a great event! Unfortunately, I’m only able to make it virtually this time :-/. Martin’s there though, he’s pretty cool too!, John Mueller on LinkedIn

That’s a fantastic question and right upfront: I don’t have an answer, but I have an idea., Martin Splitt on LinkedIn

You know how sometimes you’re certain you had a good reason to do something, later on forget why, but continue doing it just in case there’s still a good reason? That’s why. 🙂, John Mueller on Mastodon

Search Engine Land Stories:

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SEARCHENGINES

Daily Search Forum Recap: October 9, 2024

Published

3 days ago

October 9, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

DOJ may breakup Google and worse, but the ruling won’t happen officially until next year. Google is testing what people are saying short videos. Google is testing card style knowledge panels on desktop. Google is testing most mentioned places. Google Ads cleaned up its side bar navigation. Google Business Profiles lets you reorder your menu items for your restaurant.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

DOJ May Breakup Google As Remedy To Monopoly Ruling

Late last night, the Department of Justice indicated that it was considering a possible breakup of Google as an antitrust remedy to its monopoly ruling. Of course, Google will appeal this decision, which will have this stuck in courts for years. A breakup is probably the most strict outcomes of this ruling that anyone expected.

Google Tests What People Are Saying Short Video Search Results

Google had this feature titled “What people are saying” that led to forums, in a list and text format. Now, Google is testing this same thing but it leads to short videos on TikTok and other platforms.

Google Tests Card Style Knowledge Panel Desktop Design

Google is testing its mobile design for knowledge panels on desktop. You can see the card formatted design for these knowledge panels on the desktop interface.

Google Search Tests Most Mentioned Places Carousel

Google is testing a new local search carousel named “Most Mentioned Places.” It seems to bring up local retail stores that have the product you are searching for. It shows local Google Business Profile listings, with the photo, and review summaries.

Google Drag & Drop Reorder Your Restaurant Menu Items

Google Business Profiles now lets you quickly reorder your menu items on your restaurant’s menu with drag-and-drop menus. This allows you to move menu items from section to section much faster and easier.

Google Ads Improved Console Sidebar Navigation

Google has made a small but useful change to the Google Ads sidebar navigation. It made the background white on sub-navigational elements, which helps differentiate between main menu options and sub-menu options.

Google Bike Window Stickup Sign

Here is a large window stick up sign or decal I found on Instagram. It looks a bit over the top but hey, that is why I am sharing it with you.