Google Algorithm Updates 2024: Explained w/ Examples

Think about it… 2024 has been INSANE for SEO.

From a massive algorithm leak that exposed Google’s secrets to game-changing AI features, to core updates that turned rankings upside down – this year changed EVERYTHING about how search works.

Right now, websites are struggling to keep up with these changes. Reddit’s dominating search results, AI spam flooding the SERPs, and even major sites are taking huge traffic hits.

But here’s the thing – while others panic, I’ll show you exactly how to thrive in this new SEO landscape. With knowledge comes power, and this is the year of Google in recap, setting you up for next year and beyond.

These are the biggest Google changes of 2024. Let’s go.

Google Algorithm Documents Leak (June 2024)

Google has locked its algorithm secrets tighter than Fort Knox for DECADES, but everything changed in June 2024. This was the month of Google’s internal leak and was by far the most disruptive change to SEO this year.

The leak comprised 2,500 pages and 14,000 lines of code, which accidentally dropped right into our laps via a GitHub API mishap.

Yes, Google tried to scrub it from the internet faster than you can say “algorithm update.” But it was already too late. The SEO world got its hands on Google’s secret playbook, and now we know EXACTLY what makes their algorithm tick.

Let’s get right into what this means for your website. The five major revelations were:

1. Domain Authority IS Everything (Despite What Google Said)

Google finally confirmed what SEOs suspected all along. They said domain authority wasn’t a massive factor, but it absolutely is. That’s why you see Forbes topping the list of everything, even air conditioner reviews, instead of specialist blogs and news outlets.

E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) matters MORE than ever, especially for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) content, so authoritative content coming from an authoritative website is number one. Backlinks too.

2. The Truth About Content Quality

Fresh content gets priority ranking (more than we thought), even if this means going back to your old posts and refreshing the publishing date to a more modern time.

What’s more, unique titles with natural keywords are CRUCIAL, and user intent matching is non-negotiable

3. Link Building Secrets Revealed

We kinda knew this already, but spammy backlink tactics are a no-go, and the leaks proved it. Data showed that sudden backlink surges trigger penalties, and strategic timing matters more than volume.

4. AI’s Growing Influence

Google is using AI more than it has admitted to managing and controlling the rankings significantly. This means adapting to AI is crucial for future SEO. For example, make sure your content is optimized for AI Overviews, but more on this later.

5. Brand Signals Matter

The higher the number of impressions your brand has across the internet, the better your rankings will be. This means having a growing, impactful multi-channel presence is a must and will count against your authority (see point one).

We all knew social media was important, but SM and SEO were never really connected to how they are now. The links have an impact. More followers and engagement on Instagram will raise the credibility of your website.

10 Actionable Steps to Take Right Now

1. Boost your brand presence across ALL channels
2. Audit your site navigation (top menu links are gold)
3. Add table of contents to EVERY blog post
4. Include author credentials on all content
5. Update old content regularly (with new, updated publish dates)
6. Launch strategic PR campaigns
7. Implement tiered link-building
8. Add interactive elements to your content
9. Increase branded search signals
10. Build out your topic authority

Google Releases Core Search Update (March 2024)

Google releases several core updates every single year to keep up with the trends, to counter spammy, shady SEO tactics, and to keep the search results doing what they do best – giving their users the exact content they want as fast and as accurately as possible.

The first update of 2024 dropped in March, but it was different from previous updates. Usually, website traffic is affected for a bit before leveling out, with the higher-quality websites ranking higher after a few weeks or months.

This year, a bit different.

Websites across the globe, both big and small, saw MASSIVE ranking shifts, sometimes from tens of thousands of impressions to merely a hundred or so. HouseFresh wrote an incredible article from the perspective of a site that’s negatively affected by these changes.

So, what happened? 

Well, Google is trying to go all in on three major areas:

• Content quality (and they mean REAL quality)
• User experience (no more shortcuts)
• Spam fighting (with new weapons)

However, as of November 2024, things are still settling. Again, high-quality websites are taking hits, and sites like Reddit and big publishers are rising to the top, even if the quality isn’t great.

You’ve probably noticed this is your own search experience. Some results are absolutely gold, while others are seriously debatable. These things take time, and the takeaway here is to focus on quality and hold out.

Actionably, this looks like:

• Focusing on producing truly unique and informative content that takes a new angle, is fit for purpose, and is as helpful as it can be.
• Avoid spam at all costs. If you’re using any kind of domain abuse or scaled content abuse, you’ll get penalized, and it’s possible you can’t bring it back. Site reputation (as authority) is everything now.
• The results are happening now. There’s already been a reported 40% reduction in low-quality content in the search results. If you have low-quality content on your site, your entire website can suffer from it. Therefore, remove or update it. Either way, it needs to reach a high standard.

Action Steps to Take RIGHT NOW

1. Content Audit

• Review ALL your content for uniqueness
• Update or remove thin content
• Add real value to every page

2. User Experience Check

• Test your mobile experience
• Speed up your loading times
• Simplify your site structure

3. Spam Prevention

• Audit your backlink profile
• Review domain history
• Check for content duplication

This isn’t just another update – it’s Google’s way of saying, “play by our rules or get out of the game.” 2025 will surely bring more updates in this same fashion, so start the work now to get ahead and minimize the risk of authority damage.

Google Rolls Out AI Overviews (June 2024)

We can’t not talk about AI Overviews – the change is massive.

Think about it…Google is now showing AI-generated summaries right at the top of search results. We’re talking instant answers without even clicking through to a website. This launched in May 2024, and it’s already completely reshaping how users interact with search results.

Get this – only 8% of searches show these Overviews right now, but here’s what’s REALLY interesting: nearly half the content sources aren’t even ranking in the top 10! This is huge because it means the traditional SEO playbook is getting a major update.

Let’s be real – this will impact your click-through rates big time. Users are getting their answers directly from these Overviews and bouncing. No clicks. No website visits. Just search, read, done. 

While it’s only affecting 8% of searches right now, this is clearly Google’s vision for the future.

But here’s the opportunity (and it’s a big one)…

If your content gets picked for these AI Overviews, you’re sitting on a traffic goldmine. You’re the first thing users see, and if they want more info? You’re their natural first click. The algorithms pick Overview sources based on quality and authority, and this can change search by search. 

But guess what? 

The fundamentals haven’t changed – build trust, show expertise, create value. That’s still your winning strategy.

The future of search is here, and AI Overviews are just the beginning…

How to Win With AI Overviews

First things first: Create content that SCREAMS authority. We’re talking crystal-clear information, backed by hard data, structured so clean an AI could read it in its sleep. 

And those meta descriptions? They better make users click faster than a cat video goes viral.

But here’s the real secret sauce…

You need to become the source that even AI can’t ignore. That means unique insights, expert analysis, and content so good Google’s AI practically begs to feature it. Track every Overview appearance like a hawk watching its prey, and adjust your strategy on the fly.

Here’s what you need to do RIGHT NOW:

1. Tear apart your top content – make it Overview-ready
2. Rewrite those meta descriptions (because basic won’t cut it anymore)
3. Structure your content like you’re feeding it to a robot (because you are)
4. Build authority like your traffic depends on it (because it does)
5. Watch those Overview appearances like a hawk

Look, while your competitors run around like headless chickens, you’ve got the blueprint right here. The sites that adapt NOW will own the search results tomorrow.

This isn’t the death of SEO (regardless of what the headlines say – it’s a unique chance to dominate it. 

Google Removes Infinite Scroll (June 2024)

Google just quietly killed one of its most subtle features, and most SEOs haven’t even noticed yet. But trust me – this is BIGGER than you think.

In June 2024, Infinite Scroll got the ax. No warning, no announcement – Google just replaced endless scrolling with a simple “See more results” button. And while most SEOs are sleeping on this change, again, there’s stuff to be learned here.

For desktop search for now, anyway.

Think about it – when’s the last time YOU clicked “See more results”? Exactly. First-page rankings aren’t just important anymore – they’re EVERYTHING.

This is because users are completely changing how they search. Instead of endless scrolling, they’re refining searches and making lightning-fast decisions. If you’re not on page one, you might as well be invisible. 

And this desktop change? It’s just an appetizer. Mobile infinite scroll is next on Google’s chopping block.

Now, here’s the JUICY part nobody’s talking about…

This change is actually FANTASTIC for well-optimized websites. Why? 

Three reasons that’ll make you smile:

• User experience just got WAY better. Pages load faster than a caffeinated cheetah, navigation is smoother than butter, and accessibility is through the roof.
• Your performance metrics are about to get crystal clear. We’re talking accurate click data, Search Console reports that actually make sense and ROI tracking that shows you exactly where your money’s going.
• Your competition just got CRUSHED. Those low-quality pages cluttering up positions 50-whatever? GONE. Those top positions you’ve been fighting for? They’re now worth their weight in gold. CTRs are about to skyrocket for page-one rankings.

While other SEOs are crying about this change their Facebook groups, embrace the change and get busy.

Your action plan for a limited scroll experience

First, audit those rankings as if your business depends on them (because they do). 

Check every single page-one position and identify those golden opportunities sitting just below page one. These are your new prime targets.

Next, it’s time to make your titles and meta descriptions so irresistible, users can’t help but click. I’m talking better than your favorite Netflix show description. Better than that clickbait article that got you last week. BETTER.

But here’s the SECRET SAUCE most SEOs are missing…

You need to be targeting featured snippets like a heat-seeking missile. Just for the mindset, if something appears at the top of Google, this is where most people go and get their info, find their websites of choice and so on.

It’s no accident what appears there. It’s entirely by design. It’s the hottest real estate on the internet. So, get your pages there. 

That’s the work you need to do.

A Google Search Ranking Bug is Found (August 2024)

Even the mighty Google can fall to problems like bugs and errors.

While it’s resolved and no longer an issue, it’s worth pointing out that these things happen and can affect your business.

Lasting five days, the rankings went AWOL, with many websites experiencing seriously volatile changes in their traffic and impressions. This meant no solid way to see how websites were doing or what positions websites were ranking.

Google officially recognized the bug and worked hard to get it resolved. Five days might not seem like a lot (although it could be hundreds of thousands of dollars to larger businesses), but there’s a lesson to be learned.

When Google changes its system (this bug came right off the back of the core update release), it’s always worth waiting a few weeks for things to settle down, the bugs to fix, and your website to find its rank.

I dread how many businesses saw their traffic, didn’t know about the bug, and drastically changed so much of their work in response, only for the bug to fix and their rankings to change again.

Being reactive in this way could be so destructive, especially if you undo all the hard work you’ve put in.

Just remember, in times of change like this, your competitors are in the same boat, and their rankings are affected, too.

While everyone else is running around like their hair’s on fire, you’re reading this and knowing exactly what’s up. This bug isn’t the end of SEO – it’s proof that even Google isn’t perfect (and that’s actually GOOD news for us).

Remember: Rankings are temporary, but solid SEO is forever. That’s something you can take to the bank.

Google Launches Core Algorithm Update (August 2024)

So, bug aside, the actual algorithm update at the same time left us with even more opportunities to see what Google wants.

However, it’s pretty much just a refined update of everything I think most people in SEO already know.

Google wants to give its users the best experience possible. If it can provide people with good websites and businesses that aim to give a good, positive experience, everyone wins, especially when you’re the business of choice.

This particular update amplified this, and highlighted three main areas of concern:

• First up: SPEED. We’re not just talking fast – we’re talking speed-of-light fast. If your site loads slower than a snail in molasses, it’s getting buried deeper than last year’s New Year’s resolutions. Every. Millisecond. Counts.
• Next: Mobile experience is no longer just important – it’s do-or-die. We’re talking mobile-first indexing on steroids. If your site isn’t more mobile-friendly than a teenager’s smartphone addiction, you’re in trouble.
• And finally: Site structure is the new SEO royalty. Your navigation needs to be clearer than a mountain spring. Internal linking needs to be tighter than a drum. User journey? Smoother than a jazz saxophone solo.

The proof? Look at the data:

• Sites that load like lightning are shooting up faster than a SpaceX rocket
• Mobile-optimized sites are winning bigger (58% of all internet traffic is now mobile)
• Complex navigation is killing rankings deader than dial-up internet

Get these things sorted, and Google will put you front and center.

SEO Advice: Adjusting to the 2024 Updates

So, bringing all this together, what does it mean for your websites? 

First up: Content is still king, but this king hits the gym HARD. We’re talking:

• Match search intent so perfectly it’s like you’re reading users’ minds
• Go deeper than a submarine with expert insights and unique data
• Write punchier than a heavyweight champion with strategic formatting

But here’s the game-changer…

Google’s AI is watching your every move. Want to win those AI Overviews? Structure your content cleaner than Marie Kondo’s closet:

• Crystal-clear headers that even a robot can’t misunderstand
• Key information front-and-center
• Bullet points that are informative and can rank in the overviews and search summaries with ease.

Now, let’s talk technical because after that August update, this is your money maker:

• Speed faster than a caffeinated cheetah (making sure your Core Web Vitals are perfect)
• Mobile experience smoother than butter on a hot pancake (perfectly responsive)
• Navigation clearer than a mountain spring

And here’s the cherry on top…

User experience isn’t just important anymore – it’s everything. We’re talking:

• Sub-2-second loading times (yes, THAT fast)
• Mobile-first design that makes smartphones sing
• Navigation so intuitive a goldfish could use it

Here’s the truth bomb: While everyone else is trying to game the system, you need to be BUILDING it. Create content that’s so good Google has no choice but to rank it, make it faster than your competitors can blink, and structure it so clean it sparkles.

What to Expect in 2025 from Google?

I’m no oracle, and we never really know what Google’s planning to release, but we do know that the focus will be on AI and, in other ways improving the user experience in whatever way Google finds users want improvements.

Let me break it down: 

• More AI Integration: AI plays an increasingly important role in Google Search. We can expect to see even more AI-powered features in 2025, perhaps even more sophisticated AI Overviews or personalized search results based on our individual preferences.
• Focus on User Experience: Google’s removal of infinite scroll and emphasis on technical SEO suggests that user experience will remain a top priority. We can expect Google to further refine the search experience, making it faster, smoother, and more intuitive for users.
• Emphasis on Content Quality: The core updates of 2024 reinforced the importance of high-quality content. This trend is likely to continue in 2025, with Google rewarding websites that provide valuable, informative, and engaging content.
• Increased Transparency (Maybe?): While Google has traditionally been tight-lipped about its algorithms, the 2024 leak might push them toward greater transparency. Perhaps we’ll see more detailed explanations of algorithm updates or even more insights into how Google’s AI systems work.

Of course, these are just educated guesses. Google could throw us a curveball and introduce something completely unexpected. But by staying informed about the latest trends and focusing on the fundamentals of SEO, we can be prepared for whatever Google throws our way in 2025.

Alright, let’s wrap this up with a few final thoughts.

It’s been a wild ride exploring the twists and turns of Google’s 2024 algorithm updates! From core updates that shook the SEO landscape to AI overviews that changed how we see search results, we’ve covered a lot of ground. 

But here’s the key takeaway: Google is constantly evolving, and as SEOs and website owners, we need to evolve with it.

So, keep creating awesome content, stay informed about the latest updates, and never stop learning. 

And hey, if you need more help or someone to handle your SEO for you, reach out to me and the team at TrioSEO. 

This is what we do every day and we’re more than happy to help where we can.

All my best,

Connor

 

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