On July 1, Google started rolling out the July 2021 core update, following closely after the June 2021 core update. Unlike the June update, which took some time to be felt, the July update had an immediate and significant impact. Determining which update was more substantial is challenging since both could dramatically affect a site’s Google organic traffic.
Feedback from various data companies confirmed the quick impact of the July update, although they generally viewed the June update as being more significant.
The facts: Google began rolling out the July 2021 core update around noon on July 1, 2021, and it’s still in the process of being fully implemented. The June 2021 core update started on June 2nd. Similar to other core updates, this one was global and not specific to any region, language, or category. The previous core update before this back-to-back release was the December 2020 core update on December 3rd.
The expectation is for the July 2021 core update to complete its rollout in less than a week.
Ongoing updates: In the past month, there have been about ten updates from Google, with only three being unconfirmed. The sequence included the July 2021 core update, Google MUM update, June 28 spam update, June 23rd spam update, Google Page Experience update, Google Predator Algorithm update, June 2021 core update, and a few unconfirmed updates.
Previous core updates: The June 2021 core update was significant but slow to roll out. The December 2020 core update was very impactful, more so than the May 2020 core update. Other past core updates include January 2020 and September 2019, with varying levels of impact.
Data providers on the July 2021 core update:
Semrush: The July update was noted for its lack of prolonged rank fluctuations. Unlike the June update, the July update’s impact on rankings was quickly evident. Semrush’s sensor tool showed a significant spike the day after the announcement, with the June update displaying sharper rank volatility. Only 15 of the most impacted sites overlapped between the June and July updates, with some seeing ranking reversals.
RankRanger: Similarly, RankRanger found the June update to be more substantial than the July update. The largest shifts were observed in the top five results, indicating a stronger impact.
Sistrix: Steve Paine noted that many list and reference sites, including entertainment and travel sites, were affected. Major changes were detected starting on July 3rd, with the update rollout appearing complete now.
The SEO community: The July 2021 core update generated immediate feedback within 12-24 hours, contrasting with the June update’s slower pace. Glenn Gabe provided detailed site impact insights via Twitter.
Advice for affected sites: Google has previously shared advice for those negatively impacted by core updates. There aren’t specific actions to guarantee recovery, but they suggest evaluating the overall site quality. Improvement might come after another core update.
Why it matters: Understanding and responding to these core updates can be challenging. These updates often address broad, overall quality issues. It’s recommended to take a step back and consider improving the overall quality of the site if impacted.
Best of luck to you, your company, and your clients with this update.
