What Google’s November 2024 Core Update Means for Small and Medium Businesses

Google has just rolled out its November 2024 core update, which will be gradually implemented over the next two weeks. For those unfamiliar with SEO and Google’s core updates, these periodic updates can significantly impact how your business appears in search results. But don’t worry—this isn’t about complicated algorithms. It’s all about ensuring search results are filled with useful, quality content that genuinely helps people.



What Does This Update Mean for Your Business?

Google makes these updates several times a year to refine how search results are ranked. Barry Schwartz, a well-known expert in the field, explains, “These updates are Google’s way of keeping content relevant and people-first.” In other words, Google’s goal is to reward content that serves the reader—content made for real people, not just for search rankings. This is great news if your website’s content is helpful and genuinely useful.

But for small and medium-sized businesses, these changes can sometimes lead to shifts in search rankings. You might notice a dip (or even an increase) in your search visibility as this update settles in. If your business relies on web traffic, these changes can directly affect how easy it is for customers to find you.

How Can You Make Sure Your Website Isn’t Affected?

The best way to stay on top of core updates is to focus on quality content that genuinely helps your customers. Google advises against making “quick fix” changes after a core update. Instead, they recommend a long-term approach: create content that answers questions, solves problems, and helps your audience. Check your Google Search Console to see if there have been major shifts in your page rankings, and give it a few weeks for the effects to settle in before you make any adjustments.

At Elyrium, we believe in creating content that serves people first. For us, SEO isn’t about chasing algorithms but building meaningful connections through content that resonates. We understand that as a small or medium-sized business, you might not have a dedicated SEO team. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have content that works for your business and your customers.

Simple Steps You Can Take Right Now

  1. Review your top pages: Look at which pages were performing well and see if there’s been any change.
  2. Evaluate content quality: Ask yourself if your content answers common questions your audience might have.
  3. Be patient: The effects of these updates can take time to reveal themselves. Give it at least a couple of weeks before making major changes.

Need Help Navigating SEO?

If all this talk of algorithms and updates seems overwhelming, don’t worry, we’re here to help! Our web design and SEO content writing services are crafted with small and medium-sized businesses in mind, ensuring your online presence is set up for genuine, sustainable growth. If you already have a website, but it’s not bringing you in business, let us take a look at it with a free audit. We can help you create content that doesn’t just rank but resonates.

Let’s work together to make sure your website is ready for whatever changes come next. Reach out today to see how we can help!