Google's latest December 2024 update is in full swing and is already causing significant changes in search results. Announced on December 12, this update follows the November update and, according to Google itself, will be completed within two weeks.
With sweeping and profound changes to the algorithm, businesses are facing questions about how their websites will be impacted in search . This article looks at the initial effects of this update and provides essential information to understand what is happening.
What is the Google December 2024 update?
Algorithm updates are part of Google's ongoing effort to improve the relevance and quality of search results. The December 2024 update is the fourth major change of the year. This sequence of changes includes the November update , which ended just days before the new one began.
According to Google , the proximity between updates is not common, but necessary to implement improvements in ranking systems. The changes aim to refine the presentation of more useful and relevant results , aligning with the company's principles of putting the user first.
Main impacts observed in the Google update
Since the December 2024 update began, monitoring tools like bitcoin data Mozcast , Semrush , and Sistrix have reported significant volatility in search results. Compared to the November update, this one appears to have even broader impacts.
Observations made by the SEO community and website owners include:
sharp drops in traffic : many sites report drops of up to 75% in the number of organic visits in just a few days;
changes in rankings : terms previously positioned on the first page were moved to lower positions, significantly affecting visibility;
hardest hit sectors : local businesses, e-commerce (particularly in Europe), and specialized content sites have been the most affected.
While these downtimes are common after major updates, this one seems to have an especially strong impact. According to reports from WebmasterWorld , even sites with a history of good SEO practices and high-quality content have been penalized.
Why is the December update relevant?
The December update reflects an effort by Google to refine its multiple ranking systems. The company uses different algorithms to accomplish specific goals, such as ranking pages more relevantly and combating spam. While it did not disclose technical details, Google emphasized that the updates are designed to benefit useful and trustworthy content.