Google released the November 2024 Core Update between November 11, 2024, and December 5, 2024. The update took over three weeks, even though Google originally expected to complete it within two weeks.
Google’s Official Announcement
Google announced the release of the November 2024 Core Update in a post published on X (formerly Twitter). The announcement did not include the date the update would be completed.
Today we released the November 2024 core update. We'll add it to our ranking release history page in the near future and update when the rollout is complete. For more on core updates: https://t.co/43pVoYH8k7
— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) November 11, 2024
Google also announced the November 2024 Core Update on its LinkedIn page.
In the post, Google mentioned that the update is intended to show visitors more helpful results, reduce the appearance of search engine-first content, and improve the quality of search results pages. It added that it is expected to be completed within two weeks.
What Are People Saying?
Multiple SEOs and bloggers monitored how the November 2024 Core Update impacted the rankings and traffic of many sites. They had a lot to say about that on X.
Bloggers and SEOs Respond to Google’s Announcement
Google did not include the end date of the update in its X’s post. So, Barry Schwartz replied and speculated that Google would complete the update before the big holiday shopping season. This is likely the post-Thanksgiving shopping season, which includes Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and the New Year holidays.
this should complete before the big holiday shopping season, *should*
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) November 11, 2024
Meanwhile, multiple commenters expressed their displeasure by replying to Google’s announcement on X. Their discontent indicates the frustration of multiple small publishers who repeatedly lose traffic to larger publishers with each core update.
This includes a comment from Mayank Parmar, who mentioned that the August 2024 Core Update did not benefit small publishers and raised doubts over whether the November 2024 Core Update would change anything for them.
is this going to help anyone? The August update was supposed to help smaller publishers, but it did not. pic.twitter.com/m6z2YZjfkL
— Mayank Parmar (@mayank_jee) November 11, 2024
Blaine Smith added that he was not bothered about the update since he no longer receives considerable traffic from Google.
Ah. Years past I would be checking my Search Console and Analytics, terrified and anxious we'd get caught up in yet another core update.
Not much to fret about this time, you can't kill what is already dead 🤣
Eh, what's another 14 years to build a new site?
— Blaine Smith (@GHBSmith) November 11, 2024
Early Volatilities Observed by SEOs
On November 12, 2024, the day after the November 2024 Core Update was released, Barry shared reports from multiple rank-tracking tools. The tools indicated the presence of large fluctuations on search results pages. However, there are no large-scale movements in rankings.
then here are what the volatility tools are showing right now, the chatter is the same – so far not seeing big movement but it is early pic.twitter.com/NSuLeL0Rrk
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) November 12, 2024
Subsequent Volatilities Observed by SEOs
On November 23, 2024, Glenn Gabe shared the analytic reports of multiple sites. The results were mixed, as some sites earned traffic while others lost.
Good Morning Google Land! With all the buzz around the 'Site reputation abuse' manual actions, I haven't shared about the November 2024 core update in a bit. First, I ran the visibility numbers for 1500 ecommerce retailers across verticals this morning. Not as much volatility as… pic.twitter.com/dCKJmAgXCu
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) November 23, 2024
The following day, on November 24, 2024, Barry shared analytics reports indicating the search results page had calmed and the volatility had stopped.
Google is way too calm… or is it? pic.twitter.com/9jROb9hcxD
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) November 24, 2024
However, that was short-lived, as the volatility returned a few days later. On November 26, 2024, Barry shared reports indicating massive volatility on search results pages.
Google November 2024 core update volatility heating up at the tail end of the update… https://t.co/qHaRoOuLnS pic.twitter.com/fe15CM4we3
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) November 26, 2024
In response to Barry’s post, Glenn published reports indicating that some sites that gained traffic in the early days of the November 2024 Core Update were gaining more. He suggested the update would end that day (November 26, 2024) or before Thanksgiving (November 28, 2024).
The final push before it ends. Scanning sites that have been heavily impacted, I'm not seeing a lot of late movement. But, there are some examples. See the screenshot below of the initial surge and then more of a surge recently. I'll check more sites impacted soon, but I think… https://t.co/JlO5RnPGtC pic.twitter.com/GOTBrCM6lE
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) November 26, 2024
But then the update had gone a day over the two weeks Google expected it to be completed.
Final Observations by SEOs
On December 4, 2024, Barry shared more analytics reports indicating massive volatility on search results pages. Google completed the update the following day, December 5, 2024.
A week overdue, the Google November 2024 core update is still causing search ranking volatility 🔥 for many https://t.co/Adz5Q6ygEg pic.twitter.com/mTG2KJM1Zt
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) December 4, 2024
Previous Core Updates
The November 2024 Core Update is one of the multiple core updates we have reported since 2021. Below are the details of the other core updates we have documented so far:
- August 2024 Core Update: August 15 – September 3, 2024
- March 2024 Core Update: March 5 – April 19, 2024
- November 2023 Core Update: November 2 – November 28, 2023
- October 2023 Core Update: October 5 – October 19, 2023
- August 2023 Core Update: August 22 – September 7, 2023
- March 2023 Core Update: March 15 – March 28, 2023
- September 2022 Core Update: September 12 – September 26, 2022
- May 2022 Core Update: May 25 – June 9, 2022
- November 2021 Core Update: November 17 – November 30, 2021
- July 2021 Core Update: July 1 – July 12, 2021
- June 2021 Core Update: June 3 – June 12, 2021
What’s Next – Dealing With This Update
The results of the November 2024 Core Update go both ways. While some sites saw an improvement in their traffic, others lost traffic. So, you should monitor your traffic with Rank Math Analytics to see how it fared. If you lost traffic, watch the video below on recovering from a Google algorithm update.
