Google Core Updates 2023: 5 Strategies to Hold Rankings

By Clint Sanchez · Published September 5, 2023 · Updated September 4, 2026 · 4 min read

Quick answer

Google core updates are broad changes to the search algorithm that re-evaluate content quality and relevance, and rankings often fluctuate afterward. Five strategies protect a site: publish content written for user intent, build backlinks from credible sites in your industry, deliver a fast and mobile-friendly experience, use natural conversational keywords instead of stuffing, and keep the technical side clean with sound structure, schema markup, working links, and fast load times.

Key takeaways

A Google core update refines the algorithm so searchers see relevant, timely, useful content, and the exact changes are never fully disclosed.
After a core update, rankings across many industries fluctuate temporarily in what SEOs call the Google dance.
Exceptional, user-focused content that matches search intent is the foundation of rankings that survive updates.
Google favors authoritative sources, so backlinks from respected sites in your industry, guest posts, and thought leadership build credibility.
A responsive, fast site that works on mobile keeps bounce rates down and earns favor from both users and Google.
Core updates reward natural, conversational keyword use that mirrors how people search, not keyword cramming.
Clean code, a clear site structure, schema markup, working links, accurate metadata, and fast load times all influence rankings.

In the dynamic area of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is imperative to get noticed amidst the competition. As the Google Core Updates for 2023 come into play, businesses and website owners face the challenge of adapting their strategies to align with the evolving search landscape. At BlakSheep Creative, our profound understanding of these updates empowers us to guide you through strategic maneuvers that will help you maintain your online visibility and surge ahead.

Decoding Google Core Updates: Unraveling the Essence

At the heart of Google’s commitment to delivering exceptional search experiences lies the concept of Google Core Updates. These updates embody Google’s relentless pursuit of refining algorithms to make sure users are presented with relevant, timely, and enriching content. Although the specifics of these updates may remain shrouded, their reverberations across search rankings are palpable.

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Riding the Waves of Change: Navigating Core Updates’ Influence

As Google unveils Core Updates, websites spanning various industries often witness a phenomenon known as the “Google dance,” where rankings experience temporary fluctuations. This dance symbolizes the search engine’s recalibration of its understanding of content quality and user relevance. To make sure your website emerges victorious from this dance, we advocate a multi-faceted approach that hinges on the following strategies:

1. Content Mastery: The Cornerstone of Triumph

At BlakSheep Creative, we firmly believe that extraordinary rankings are built upon a foundation of exceptional, user-focused content. Core Updates underscore the importance of delivering content that resonates with users’ intents, offering profound value and engagement. By curating immersive blog posts, illuminating articles, and magnetic product descriptions, you retain your existing audience and beckon new visitors to your digital area.

2. Authority Amplification: Constructing Digital Eminence

As Google exalts authoritative and credible sources, the significance of nurturing a solid backlink profile is undeniable. Our strategies encompass securing premium backlinks from esteemed websites within your industry. Collaborating with influencers, contributing insightful guest posts to esteemed publications, and partaking in visionary thought leadership activities are all strategies that fortify your website’s credibility.

3. Elevating User Experience: Pinnacle of Accessibility

User experience (UX) isn’t merely a buzzword. It’s a pivotal facet of Google’s assessment of websites. A sleek, user-friendly interface that seamlessly adapts to desktop and mobile platforms garners favor from search engines and users. By implementing responsive design, optimizing images, and prioritizing mobile-responsive layouts, you amplify browsing experiences and quell bounce rates.

4. Evolved Keyword Mastery: Beyond the Basics

While keywords remain the backbone of SEO, Core Updates herald a transition from keyword cramming to the organic integration of language. Capitalize on extended, contextually conversational keywords that mirror user search patterns. The objective is to holistically resonate with user intent, adeptly addressing queries with authenticity and inclusivity.

5. Technical Brilliance: Honing Site Performance

Technical facets wield considerable influence over search rankings. A meticulously architected website boasting clean coding, streamlined site structure, and meticulous schema markup can amplify your ranking prospects substantially. Regularly scrutinize your website for broken links, fine-tune metadata, and make sure swift loading times to provide users and search engine bots with smooth experiences.

Strategically Navigating with BlakSheep Creative

At BlakSheep Creative, we recognize that the quest for SEO supremacy mandates adaptability and proactive anticipation. Our seasoned team stands poised to steer through the nuances of Google Core Updates, tailoring your digital strategy to thrive in this dynamic ecosystem. Here’s how our approach secures your ascent:

Holistic Appraisal: We undertake an exhaustive appraisal of your existing SEO stance, pinpointing strengths, vulnerabilities, and avenues for enhancement.
Customized Blueprint: Building on our analysis, we construct a bespoke SEO blueprint that harmonizes with your business objectives and resonates with the demands of Core Updates.
Content Augmentation: Our adept copywriters optimize existing content and craft novel, enthralling compositions that harmonize with Core Updates’ accentuation on quality and pertinence.
Technical Mastery: From refining site speed to orchestrating structured data implementation, our technical virtuosos ascertain your website aligns with Google’s technical benchmarks.
Backlink Brilliance: Adhering to ethical, influential backlink strategies, we cultivate your website’s authority in a manner impervious to Core Updates’ trials.
Continuous Vigilance: We vigilantly monitor your website’s performance, expeditiously calibrating as warranted to uphold and enhance your search rankings.

Seizing the Moment: Embracing Google Core Updates

In contrast to perceiving Google Core Updates as hurdles, we discern them as prospects to illuminate your digital presence. At BlakSheep Creative, our commitment transcends mere adaptation; we catalyze your triumph. By upholding the tenets of content mastery, user-centric design, and technical finesse, we position your website to transcend rivals and etch its mark atop search engine results.

Forge beyond adaptation, excel. Initiate a dialog with us today and start a voyage toward sustained SEO ascendancy.

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About the author

Clint Sanchez

Founder & Lead Developer · Denham Springs, LA

Clint has built and marketed websites for 26 years, since founding BlakSheep Creative in 2000. He is also a 29-year firefighter and a 23-year member of IAFF Local 557, which is where the bias toward plain answers over sales copy comes from.

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Common questions about SEO

What is a Google core update?

A core update is a broad change to Google's search algorithm meant to surface more relevant, timely, and useful content. Google does not publish the specifics, but the effect on rankings is visible across industries. Unlike a targeted spam update, a core update re-evaluates how the whole algorithm judges quality and relevance, so many sites move at once.

Why do rankings jump around after a core update?

Because Google is recalculating how it understands content quality and user relevance across the entire index. Sites in many industries see temporary fluctuations, sometimes called the Google dance, while the new signals settle. Pages with strong content, real authority, and a good user experience usually recover or gain; thin or over-optimized pages tend to lose ground.

What kind of content survives a core update?

Content built for the reader's intent. Blog posts, articles, and product descriptions that answer the searcher's actual question, offer real value, and keep people engaged hold up. Core updates consistently reward pages that serve the user first, and penalize pages that were written to game a keyword rather than help anyone.

Do backlinks still matter after Google's 2023 updates?

Yes. Google favors authoritative, credible sources, and links from respected sites in your industry remain a strong signal of that authority. The strategies that work are earning links from relevant publications, contributing guest posts, collaborating with people who already have an audience, and publishing thought leadership worth referencing. Cheap or spammy links do not help.

How should keyword strategy change after a core update?

Move away from cramming keywords and toward natural language. Use longer, conversational phrases that match the way people actually search, and write to satisfy the intent behind the query rather than repeating the exact term. The goal is to answer the question completely and authentically, which is what the algorithm is increasingly built to detect.

What technical SEO work protects a site through core updates?

Clean code, a streamlined site structure, and accurate schema markup give Google a clear picture of your pages. Regularly check for broken links, fine-tune titles and metadata, and keep load times fast so both users and search bots get a smooth experience. Technical problems rarely cause a core update loss on their own, but they amplify one.

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Google Core Updates 2023: Navigating the Impact with BlakSheep Creative