Google December 2020 Core Update – What You Need to Know
On December 3, 2020, Google rolled out a core algorithm update, known as the Google December 2020 Core Update. As with all core updates, this brought significant changes to how Google ranks websites, leaving many webmasters scrambling to understand how their sites were affected. In this article, we’ll explore the details of this update, what it includes, how it might impact your site, and what you can do to adapt.
A Brief History of the December 2020 Core Update
Google releases core updates multiple times a year, and each one aims to improve the overall relevance of search results by adjusting how various signals are weighted in its algorithm. The December 2020 Core Update came just seven months after the May 2020 Core Update, which had already caused shifts in rankings across many industries.
The December 2020 update, like its predecessors, was global in nature, meaning it affected all types of content in every language and location. Google stated that these updates are meant to improve search quality by promoting high-quality, authoritative, and relevant content.
What Does the December 2020 Core Update Include and Affect?
While Google typically doesn’t provide specifics about the changes made during core updates, we do know that they often target content quality, relevance, user experience, and site performance. Here are some of the key areas impacted by the December 2020 Core Update:
1. Content Quality and Relevance
As with previous updates, Google focused on rewarding websites with high-quality content that is well-researched, in-depth, and relevant to user queries. Thin, poorly written, or overly promotional content likely saw declines in rankings.
2. E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
E-A-T continues to be a central focus for Google. Websites that display strong expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (especially in areas like YMYL—Your Money, Your Life categories such as health and finance) were rewarded. Pages without credible sources, author details, or reliable information may have lost ranking positions.
3. User Experience (UX) and Mobile Usability
The update also placed greater emphasis on user experience. Websites that offered a seamless, intuitive, and mobile-friendly experience likely saw ranking improvements, while those with poor mobile usability, slow loading times, or disruptive pop-ups may have been penalized.
4. Industry-Specific Impacts
Different industries experienced varying degrees of impact. The health, finance, real estate, and e-commerce sectors, in particular, saw noticeable ranking fluctuations. These sectors tend to have a heavy reliance on trust and expertise, which were key focal points in the update.
How Might Your Site Be Affected?
If you noticed a sudden change in your rankings or traffic around early December 2020, your website may have been impacted by the core update. Websites that experienced ranking drops typically had one or more of the following issues:
- Outdated or Low-Quality Content: Pages with thin content, keyword stuffing, or information that was no longer relevant may have dropped in rankings. Google is increasingly prioritizing fresh, relevant, and useful content.
- Weak E-A-T Signals: If your site doesn’t demonstrate expertise, authority, or trustworthiness, particularly in sectors like health and finance, you may have seen a decline in rankings. It’s important to have qualified authors, cite authoritative sources, and offer transparent information.
- Poor Mobile Performance: Google has been transitioning to mobile-first indexing, meaning that the mobile version of your site is what determines its ranking. Websites with slow loading speeds or poor mobile usability may have lost ranking positions.
- Inadequate User Experience: Websites that offer poor navigation, excessive ads, or a confusing user experience may have been affected. Google wants to promote sites that offer a seamless experience to users.
How to Improve the Quality of Your Site Post-Update
If your site was negatively impacted by the Google December 2020 Core Update, don’t panic. Here are several steps you can take to improve your site and recover lost rankings:
1. Improve Content Quality
Start by conducting a content audit to identify pages that need improvement. Focus on:
- Updating outdated content with fresh and relevant information.
- Expanding thin content to provide more value and depth.
- Ensuring that all content is aligned with user intent—that it answers the questions users are asking.
High-quality content is always the key to long-term SEO success. Ensure that your content is well-researched, well-written, and provides a comprehensive answer to the user’s query.
2. Enhance Your Site’s E-A-T
To improve your site’s E-A-T, consider the following:
- Cite authoritative sources and make sure your information is accurate.
- Ensure your authors have clear bylines and bios to establish their expertise.
- Build backlinks from authoritative sites to enhance your site’s authority.
If your site operates in a YMYL space, extra care should be taken to ensure that the information you provide is credible and trustworthy.
3. Optimize for Mobile and User Experience
A poor mobile experience can hurt your rankings. Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and PageSpeed Insights to identify issues with your mobile usability. Make sure your site:
- Loads quickly on mobile devices.
- Has intuitive navigation.
- Avoids intrusive interstitials and pop-ups that frustrate users.
4. Focus on Core Web Vitals
With Google’s Core Web Vitals metrics gaining importance, focus on improving page speed, interactivity, and layout stability. These elements play a significant role in user experience, which Google increasingly values.
Navigating Core Updates Like December 2020
The Google December 2020 Core Update reinforced the importance of content quality, user experience, and trustworthiness in achieving and maintaining strong rankings. If your website was negatively affected, it’s important to take proactive steps to improve your site based on these factors.
Conduct a thorough analysis of your website’s content, E-A-T signals, mobile performance, and overall user experience. By focusing on creating high-quality, relevant content, optimizing for mobile and user experience, and ensuring strong E-A-T signals, you can recover from the update and strengthen your site for future core updates.
Google’s algorithm is constantly evolving, and staying informed about these changes will help you adjust your strategy and continue to deliver value to your users while maintaining strong SEO performance.