Reaction and Feedback to Google’s March 2019 Core Update
The response to Google’s March 2019 Core Update, also known as Florida 2, has been more positive than negative. Within the SEO community, many feel that this update is acting like a rollback of previous changes.
Some publishers have noticed connections between links and their rankings. Prior to this update, there were numerous reports of GoogleBot engaging in aggressive spidering activity. Although it’s unclear if there’s a definitive link between this behavior, links, and the update, it was a noteworthy observation leading up to the announcement.
UPDATE: Naming of the Update
A considerable amount of discussion surrounded the naming of this update, but Google has officially designated it as the "March 2019 Core Update." Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, noted that naming the update helps reduce confusion by specifying its type and timing.
Brett Tabke on the Update
Brett Tabke, founder of WebmasterWorld and Pubcon, is a respected figure in modern SEO. Many SEO practices originated from ideas he proposed through WebmasterWorld. Tabke was informed in advance about this update at a recent conference and shared his thoughts:
He mentioned that Google’s guidance suggested this would be one of the largest updates in a long time, but so far, it doesn’t seem to be the case. He speculates that the update might be a rollback of previous updates, a sentiment echoed by many publishers whose sites are recovering from earlier algorithm impacts.
SEMrush’s Insight
SEMrush provided data indicating that overall volatility levels were not significantly different from usual unannounced Google Updates. Patterns remained consistent between desktop and mobile, and all observed countries were affected. Germany, France, and Italy seemed to experience delays. Most affected categories included Autos & Vehicles, Health, and Pets & Animals.
WebmasterWorld Discussions
Members of WebmasterWorld reported more gains than losses following the update. Some noted significant traffic rebounds for sites previously impacted by Penguin, alongside other recently penalized sites returning to the rankings.
Black Hat Community Reactions
Within the black hat community, some noted a downturn in sites relying on automated link building. There were observations that sites with heavy anchor text optimization are experiencing ranking decreases. It’s crucial to interpret correlations with caution, as ranking shifts could be tied to the quality of the site from which the links originated.
Summary of the March 2019 Core Update
As Brett Tabke observed, it’s early to draw firm conclusions about the update. However, it’s beneficial to consider the current sentiment within the digital publishing community. Historically, Google reveals details about major algorithm changes, and if this update is as significant as initially suggested, further insights are expected in the future.
Additional Insights
More data supports the notion that this update feels like a rollback. Further discussion highlights the significance of the Google March 2019 Core Update.
Note
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