Google’s June 2021 Core Update Was Slow to Roll Out; Here’s What the Data Providers Saw

On June 2nd, Google began rolling out the June 2021 core update. Early data indicates that the rollout was significantly felt a few days later, but as Google has indicated, it can take up to two weeks to fully roll out. This update appears to have taken longer to deploy compared to previous updates, spreading out more when compared to the December 2020 core update, which was a significant one. For those affected by this update, the impact was likely significant.

We consulted several data companies that track Google’s search results to understand the impact of this update. The results were mixed regarding when the update hit the hardest, who it affected the most, and the magnitude of its impact.

The Facts

Google began the rollout of the June 2021 core update at around 6:30 PM ET on June 2nd. As with all core updates, this was a global update not specific to any region, language, or category of websites. It’s a classic “broad core update” released by Google every few months. The previous core update occurred on December 3rd, 2020, just shy of a six-month interval.

As a reminder, this update is just about a week old and there might still be ranking fluctuations. Significant signs of impact were observed from June 5th and June 6th.

Another Core Update Coming Soon

Google has announced another core update slated for July 2021. Some planned improvements for the June update were not fully ready, so Google decided to implement parts that were ready and defer the rest to July. Updates on this will follow.

Reversals May Occur

With a second core update rolling out next month, the gains or losses experienced from the June 2021 update might reverse. Google emphasized that it is normal for core updates to produce drops or gains for some content. Due to the two-part nature, some June changes might see reversals in July.

Additional Updates

Apart from the upcoming July core update, Google expects to roll out the page experience update in mid-June. This update is not expected to have a significant impact on search rankings but may cause confusion about attribution for ranking changes, as it targets different signals than the core updates.

Previous Updates

The most recent core update before June 2021 was the December 2020 core update, which was larger than the May 2020 core update. Previous updates include the January 2020 core update and the September 2019 core update.

Data Providers on the June 2021 Core Update

Semrush
Semrush observed the update effects primarily on June 4th and 5th, indicating similar changes in both desktop and mobile search results. Categories most affected included health, autos, pets and animals, science, and travel. Here is a list of winners and losers based on Semrush data:

• Winners: loc8nearme.com, foursquare.com, moovitapp.com, businessyab.com, alamy.com, craft.co, manta.com, surecutsalot.com, brandilaw.com, and news9.com.
• Losers: fresno-airport.com, okc-airport.com, quora.com, anthem.com, livescore.cz, niche.com, lagrange.edu, loginask.com, and tripadvisor.com.

RankRanger
RankRanger reported that the June 2021 update was more substantial than the December 2020 update, with higher volatility, particularly in the top five search positions.

Searchmetrics
According to Marcus Tober from Searchmetrics, the peak impact was observed on June 6th, with notable losses for directory pages such as zoominfo.com and fake airport pages. Early data highlighted domains like okc-airport.com and zoominfo.com as top losers.

Sistrix
Sistrix identified that the fluctuations with the June 2021 update were somewhat lower than past updates. It indicated that fewer domains were impacted this time and new methodologies might be in use. Top 10 domains that lost significant visibility included stocktwits.com, smartertravel.com, mentalfloss.com, vanityfair.com, and huffpost.com. Winners included imdb.com, cambridge.org, amazon.com, wikipedia.org, and twitter.com.

SEO Community

Initially, the SEO community was slow to react to the announcement of the update. However, significant ranking changes were noted by June 7th. Some sites experienced substantial changes, while others saw minimal impact.

What to Do if You are Hit

Google has previously provided advice on considerations if negatively impacted by a core update. There aren’t specific actions to take for recovery since a negative ranking does not necessarily indicate issues with your pages. However, Google suggests evaluating your site’s overall quality. Recovery might only be noticeable after another core update.

Why We Care

Reversing the impact of an algorithmic hit, particularly from core updates, can be challenging. A new core update next month might reverse the changes seen this month. This reinforces that core updates involve broad and comprehensive quality assessments. It is recommended to review and improve the overall quality of your web site.