December 2024 Core Update: What To Expect?

Google is here with yet another core update, and to be precise, this is the 4th one for the year. This new Google core update came very close to the last one. The last update just finished rolling out last week, and Google released the December 2024 core update on the 12th of December.

Core updates come multiple times a year, and they can have major significant changes in the Google systems and search algorithms. This is the fourth one Google has released, and people are still trying to figure out what it is going to roll out this time.

The news of this update just two weeks after the November core update finished rolling. The new one is also expected to roll out over the period of the coming two weeks.

Google’s Announcement About December 2024 Core Update

Google posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that they are rolling out the new update. They stated, “The Dec. 2024 core update is rolling out, and we expect it will be completed in two weeks.

If you’re wondering why there’s a core update this month after one last month, we have different core systems we’re always improving. This past blog post explains more.” The post included their link to a blog named “A Q&A on Google Search updates” from November 2023.

The blog post gives content to all the algorithm updates Google did throughout the year. So, what is Google aiming for in this core December 2024 core update?

Multiple Ranking Systems

The announcement says that Google uses “multiple ranking systems that do different things” and is “always looking at ways to improve these systems to show better results.”

The company also mentioned that it mostly shares information about “notable” updates, which they believe might make a noticeable change in the search results.

Moreover, about the closeness of November and December updates, Google said that they are trying to differentiate the important updates, as “it’s not always possible” because of the huge number of updates the company is implementing.

The post mentioned, “If we have updates that can improve Search, that has been developed over the course of several months, we release them when they’re ready.”

Advice for Websites

The specific changes that are coming in the December 2024 core update are still unknown. However, Google has mentioned several times that the best way to survive through these updates is to create people-first, reliable, and helpful content.

Site owners who are finding a change in traffic after the update are advised to check the update-specific guidance of Google which you will find in the Google Search Status Dashboard. The dashboard lets the users check all the status updates of the rollout.

What should You Do if The Update Hits You?

There is nothing specific that you can do if the update hits you. However, they have created a specific set of questions for your site if the core update hits you. You might find a bit of recovery in the site between two core updates, but if you are expecting some big changes then you would have to wait for another one.

So, there is nothing that should be worrying creators if they have been creating helpful content for people. Google mentioned previously, as well, that your content has to be helpful, reliable, and people-friendly to make it to the rankings.

In the November core update as well, Google mentioned similar things. Content has to be helpful and authentic.

The entire year has been very busy, algorithm change-wise. Just have a close look at the search engine rankings and the traffic to notice how the December 2024 core update is affecting your site over the upcoming weeks.

Additional Reading:

• How to Get Your Website to the Top of Google
• 7 Ways To Outsmart Instagram Algorithm