Google continuously adjusts its algorithm to improve search quality and relevance. According to Danny Sullivan, it makes an average of nine changes to its algorithm daily.
While most of these updates are minor and go unnoticed, others, like the March 2025 Core Update, are more significant and cause noticeable changes in search rankings. This is a step-by-step guide on how to recover from a Google algorithm update.
What exactly are Google algorithm updates, and why do they happen?
Google algorithm updates are the changes Google makes to the system it uses to rank search results. These updates aim to improve the quality, relevance and accuracy of search results so that users find the most helpful and trustworthy information.
For instance, Google says there were more than 4,000 search improvements in 2023. While most are minor, there are also major changes, like core updates, that happen about four to five times yearly.
How do I know if my website traffic drop is due to a Google algorithm update?
Algorithm updates are one of the reasons you may experience a website traffic drop, but it’s not the only cause. To find out whether it’s the reason, start by checking the Google Search Console.
Look at impressions, clicks and keyword performance to pinpoint when the drop happened. Does the timing line up with a known Google update? If so, that’s a strong indicator. In addition, review your Manual Actions report to rule out any penalties.
Finally, look at your rankings for core keywords. Significant drops in your rankings could signal an algorithmic impact.
What are some common reasons why a Google update might negatively impact a website?
Here are a few common reasons Google algorithm updates can negatively affect your website.
Thin or low-quality content
Google wants to display content that fulfills its users’ intent. If your content lacks depth (thin content), offers little original insight or is overly duplicated, Google will consider it unhelpful and will penalize it.
Keyword stuffing
Keywords are essential for SEO. However, unnaturally overusing them harms user experience and may cause Google to view your content as manipulative.
Poor user experience
User experience is a key ranking signal. If your website loads slowly, has confusing navigation, intrusive ads or lacks a mobile-friendly layout, it will likely be penalized.
Technical SEO problems
Crawl errors, broken links, poor site architecture and missing metadata can negatively impact your website’s performance during Google updates, leading to lower rankings.
Unnatural links
Backlinks are an essential factor when Google determines a web page’s relevancy. However, it considers links from spammy or low-quality sites unnatural.
What are the first steps I should take if I suspect my website has been affected by an update?
If your website experiences a search ranking decline after a Google update, the first step is to stay calm and wait for the update to roll out fully. This will give you a better picture of the actual impact. Then, understand what the update targeted. With this information, analyze your website’s performance using Google Search Console and Google Analytics.
Look for major changes in impressions, clicks, average position and bounce rate. Did specific pages drop? Were there shifts in rankings for key search terms?
Furthermore, assess any changes in user engagement and technical site health. This analysis will help you zero in on whether the impact was widespread or limited to specific pages or types of content. From there, you can begin taking action to fix the issues.
How can I future-proof my website against future Google algorithm updates?
Although no site is immune to Google algorithm updates, you can do the following to reduce a Google update impact.
- Create original, helpful content that addresses user intent. Your content should be actionable and informative.
- Ensure your content demonstrates expertise, experience, authority and trust (E-E-A-T). This is even more important if your site covers Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) topics such as health and finance.
- Follow reputable SEO resources to stay updated on best practices and implement them. Using manipulative tactics will only hurt your site in the long run.
- Build natural links by creating quality content that other sites want to link to. Perform backlink analysis and remove all unnatural links.
- Regularly audit your website to identify technical issues and areas of improvement.
Should I hire an SEO professional to help me recover from an algorithm update?
If you’re unsure how to diagnose or fix your site after a Google update, you should consider hiring an SEO expert. For instance, SEO experts at Forthgear can help with deep content audits, technical SEO troubleshooting, SEO recovery and even long-term SEO strategies. They have experience and tools that can speed up recovery.
Conclusion
If your website was affected by a recent Google update, there’s hope, but it’s not a quick fix. Find out why you were affected and rectify the issues.
