Google’s Mueller offers guidance on how to regain visibility after algorithm updates, but the timeline for recovery remains uncertain.
It’s possible to recover from algorithm-induced ranking drops, but it often requires waiting for future core updates. Implementing changes only sometimes ensures a partial restoration of lost rankings and visibility. Google’s communications on the recovery process offer limited transparency.
John Mueller, a Google Search Advocate, shared insights this week on how websites affected by recent search algorithm updates can move forward.
The conversation began on X (formerly known as Twitter) with SEO expert Thomas Jepsen.
Jepsen tagged Mueller with this question:
“Google has said before that it doesn’t hold grudges and that sites can recover once issues are addressed. Is that still true after the HCU?” Mueller’s response encouraged site owners while acknowledging the hurdles they may face.
Addressing Recovery Timelines
Mueller confirmed Google’s policy on not holding grudges, asserting, “That’s still the case.”
However, he noted the complexity involved in recovering rankings, explaining that:
“…some things take much longer to be reassessed (sometimes months, at the moment), and some bigger changes may require another update cycle.” Mueller referenced a Google help document that sheds light on the recovery process to offer more context. The document states:
“Broad core updates generally occur every few months. Content impacted by one core update in Search or Discover might not recover—even after improvements—until the next core update is released. Keep in mind that improvements made by site owners do not guarantee recovery, nor does any page have a fixed or guaranteed position in our search results. If there’s more deserving content, it will continue to rank well with our systems.”
The Comments Sparking Debate
Jepsen continued the discussion by asking, “Does a core update need to happen for HCU-affected sites to recover, assuming they’ve addressed their issues?”
Mueller’s answer indicated that the answer could vary depending on the specifics of the situation:
“It depends on the context… I know a broad range of scenarios, but generalizations aren’t always helpful. Sometimes, it requires a lot of site work, time, and an update to see changes.” The thread grew as user @selectgame expressed concerns about Google Discover traffic, to which Mueller replied:
“Google Discover is influenced by core updates as well as other aspects of Search (and additional policies apply to Discover).”
Growing Frustrations
Lily Ray, a well-known industry expert, shared her increasing frustrations, noting,
“…many websites affected by the HCU—despite making many improvements over the past seven months—have only experienced further declines following the March Core Update.
I’ve seen some sites lose 90% or more of their SEO visibility since the HCU, with recent weeks feeling like the final blow, even after significant efforts to improve.” Ray added:
“And in my professional opinion, many of these sites shouldn’t have been hit this hard, especially the additional declines over the past month.” Mueller has yet to respond to Ray’s tweet.
Looking Ahead
With the search community watching closely for Google’s next steps, the journey to recovery looks challenging for those hit by recent “Helpful Content” algorithm changes. Despite efforts to improve their sites, publishers should not expect immediate recovery, and they are left to navigate the uncertainty with only Google’s vague public guidance.
How This Can Help You
Mueller’s comments offer some guidance, and here are the key takeaways:
- Recovery Is Possible: You can regain your rankings after an algorithm update, provided you’ve made significant improvements to your content or site quality.
- Timelines Vary: The time it takes to recover can differ widely, and sometimes, changes require a future core algorithm update to take effect.
- No Guarantees: Recovery isn’t guaranteed even with enhancements, as rankings depend on the broader competitive landscape.
Although the path to recovery can be challenging, Mueller’s insights suggest that consistent and meaningful site improvements can increase one’s chances of bouncing back.
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