Google Launches its June 2019 Algorithm Update

Yesterday, June 3rd 2019, Google rolled out a core algorithm update following its announcement on Sunday. But what exactly does the June 2019 algorithm update mean for webmasters?

Google pre-announced the June 2019 algorithm update for one main reason. The major search engine often carries out core updates, with one happening every couple months or so. March 2019 was when the last core update happened, so that just goes to show how regularly the algorithms change (which is why SEOs, webmasters and marketers alike have to be at the top of their game if they want to succeed online). However, when it comes to this kind of update, people have stated that they want Google to be more proactive about it.

Google Search Liaison Danny Sullivan said there is nothing “special” about this update compared to previous changes. Instead, he stated that Google is being proactive about notifying site owners and SEOs so people aren’t left “scratching their heads after-the-fact.”

Why Does Google Do This?

So, you’ve finally got yourself to the top of the search results for a keyword you’ve been trying to rank for for months and now Google changes its algorithm. Again. The search engine is constantly tweaking its core algorithm to ensure that the end user is receiving the best results possible. Although most updates are small, Google expects that this change could see a shake up in SERP’s.

The June 2019 Core Update isn’t specifically targetted towards a particular industry, sector or website type, which is what makes it a broad update. What this means is that it could potentially affect a large portion of the web. Overall, the update itself will change how Google ranks websites, so be sure to keep an eye on your keyword positions.

Google is all about delivering the best possible results to searches, which is why it rewards websites that have great content and an even better user experience with the number one spot. It has previously stated that the purpose of the algorithm updates are to give users what they want quickly, which is why webmasters need to concentrate on “offering the best content you can”.

How to Know if Your Website is Affected by the June 2019 Core Update

All websites should have some form of tracking in place, with Google Analytics and Google Search Console being a must. It’s also worth noting that you should be tracking the keywords you’re using throughout your website. By doing this, you will be able to track the performance of your website.

In most cases, you would expect to see your graphs looking a little like the one above. You can see that things here are steadily increasing, which is what everyone wants to see when it comes to reports day. However, if you notice a huge drop in your charts, then this would suggest that your website has been affected by an update that’s happened.

What You Need to Do About the Update

Want to know what Google advises you to do about the June 2019 Core Update? Well, it says that when it comes to broad changes to the core algorithm, “there is nothing in particular to fix” and that it doesn’t want “content owners to mistakenly try to change things that aren’t issues”.

If you’re regularly updating your website with well-written, optimised content while also having a platform that delivers an outstanding user experience, you probably don’t have too much to worry about. Just continue with what you are doing and you’re sure to see your hard work pay off. However, if you think that your website has been affected, there are a couple of things you can do to try and prevent any loss in rankings or traffic.

First and foremost, check what pages don’t seem to be responding well to the update. Once you’ve discovered the pages that are being affected, you want to act like the customer and use your website as though it’s the first time you have visited it. As a user, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions:

• Does this page provide you with all of the information you’d expect to see?
• Are you easily able to navigate the website and find what it is you want?

If the answer is no, then you have some work to do. By updating the content and enhancing the user experience, you’re sure to reap the rewards. After all, Google wants to rank websites that are giving the user what they want.

Before you jump into making any big changes, it may be worth you carrying out some competitor analysis. Are they ranking higher than you for a specific search term? What are they doing differently? If you’re able to identify areas in which your competitors are doing better than you, then take this into consideration.

Property Webmasters Pro Tip: Don’t copy off your competitors! Simply see what they’re doing and create your own unique spin on this. Remember, Google doesn’t like duplicate content.

I’ve Made the Changes but I’m Not Seeing Improvements, Help!

As with any SEO changes to your website, it can take a little while for you to see any sort of improvement with regards to rankings and traffic. If you’ve tried to improve your website but can’t seem to make any more progress, then it may be time to enlist the help of some experts. Property Webmasters specialise in designing and developing estate agency websites and offering digital marketing services to property professionals.