The November 2024 core update for Google Search has just wrapped up, and Google isn’t giving us a moment to catch our breath. The December 2024 core update is already rolling out, introducing changes to the search engine and, presumably, to Google Discover—though once again, we have very little information to work with.
On one hand, it’s great that Google is offering more transparency about its updates (they’ve always mentioned there are many updates every year, though not all are announced), but on the other hand, so much activity can cause a bit of fatigue and confusion in the industry. This is particularly true when there’s barely any detail about what exactly is being updated.
Another key issue is that such overlapping updates don’t give SEO professionals enough time to properly assess the impact of each one. It’s unclear whether the measures they take are effective or if traffic fluctuations—whether increases or drops—are merely due to algorithmic changes.
Perhaps the smartest move is to somewhat ignore these updates and continue focusing on creating the best content possible, hoping that Google recognizes its value—something that doesn’t always happen.
This update is expected to be completed in about two weeks, though anything is possible.
Google explains in its documentation that it uses several different systems in Search, which is why some updates overlap or occur close together.
As for launching updates during this time—around Black Friday and right in the middle of the holiday season, when a significant number of purchases take place—Google states: “We try to avoid updates between late November and mid-December whenever possible. But this isn’t always feasible. If we have updates that can improve Search and that have been in development for several months, we launch them when they’re ready.”
Note: Article originally written in Spanish, translated with ChatGPT, and reviewed in english by Jorge Mediavilla.
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