Google’s John Mueller was recently questioned about the March core algorithm update and whether it reduced the effects of previous updates.
Many sites that experienced a drop in rankings after last year’s algorithm updates are now seeing improvements following this month’s core update.
In fact, data reveals that most of the “winners” from this month’s update had previously been “losers” in earlier updates.
Is the March core algorithm update actually just a rollback?
### The Question:
During a webmaster hangout, a question was directed to Mueller regarding the connection between the March core update and earlier updates.
> “With the March 12th core algorithm update, many sites that saw positive movement had previously dropped heavily during the last update. Was there a softening of whatever rolled out in August?”
### The Answer:
With each update, Google makes incremental changes to aspects of previous updates.
Mueller couldn’t specifically address the August 2018 core update, but it is possible that Google made some adjustments.
Google strives to improve things, but occasionally algorithm updates may go too far in one direction or not far enough in another.
When Google identifies these imbalances, it will make necessary tweaks in the next update rollout.
It’s not that Google will change something and maintain that change regardless of the outcome.
Mueller indicates it’s typical for an algorithm update to build on changes made by a previous update.
Hear the full question and answer below, starting at the 20-minute mark:
> “I don’t know how this would relate to the updates in August. In general, when we make algorithm updates, we work from one state and move toward a new state. Sometimes we improve areas where we see the algorithm went too far, and other times we enhance areas where it didn’t go far enough. These kinds of incremental changes are completely normal with algorithm updates in general.”
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