Agency Updates from Adaptify: Algorithms, AI, and Site Speed Insights

As we settle into the middle of October, it’s time for another update packed with fresh insights, must-attend events, and a sneak peek at a brand-new Adaptify feature that’ll add a little pre-holiday magic to your pitch process. This week, we’re revisiting Google’s August core update, diving into a new, powerful Google tool for monitoring site speed, and spotlighting some can’t-miss events for SEO pros. So grab a pumpkin spice latte, and let’s get into the latest must-knows for your agency!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the SERPs, Google strikes again! While it may not be headline news anymore, Google’s August 2024 core update wrapped up on September 3 after a full 19 days of rolling out. This update responded directly to feedback from previous updates, especially from smaller and independent publishers affected by ranking shifts in 2023.

This update was substantial for many sites, leading to fluctuations in rankings and organic traffic. According to Search Engine Land, a recent poll by Barry Schwartz offers a snapshot of the impact:

These results show that while Google’s focus is on showcasing high-quality, helpful content, many websites still grapple with adapting to these shifts.

Google Search Advocate John Mueller highlighted that this core update is all about pushing quality forward by prioritizing genuinely useful content over SEO-optimized pages. The aim, according to Google, is to surface more valuable content from independent publishers, focusing on sites that may not typically rank at the top but offer original insights that resonate with searchers. In other words, it's time for the underdogs to shine.

For agencies helping clients through these changes, Google’s guidance remains consistent: focus on building “people-first content.” This means creating pages that fulfill users' needs rather than focusing strictly on rankings. If clients have been impacted, ensure their content aligns with Google’s EEAT (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) standards. By prioritizing credible, reliable information, you help safeguard their rankings and reinforce their value to searchers. For further guidance, you can find Google's detailed list of questions to assess and improve content quality and align with this “helpful content” ethos.

The good news? Adaptify is already ahead of the curve. Our platform is built to adapt to updates like this, emphasizing high-quality, user-centered content strategies that align with Google’s latest priorities and policies. For agencies on Adaptify, these core updates are less disruption and more an opportunity for growth. Count on us to help you keep rankings steady and clients happy through every Google update—smooth sailing guaranteed.

Google’s new CrUX Vis tool is here to make site speed optimization simpler (and to give you more colorful graphs to scrutinize as you ponder your developers’ choices).

This Chrome User Experience Report (also known as the Chrome UX Report, or CrUX for short) - is a powerful tool that offers insight into real user experiences, helping you evaluate Core Web Vitals data by device type, URL, and time period. With mobile-first indexing now fully rolled out, speed optimization has become a key ranking factor—especially for mobile.

With Google prioritizing mobile-friendly, fast-loading sites, maintaining a quick, responsive site is essential. Missed our coverage of the new mobile-first update? Get up to speed here.

Using CrUX Vis, you can segment data to analyze site experiences, pinpoint areas for improvement, and build a user experience that supports higher rankings for your clients.

Want to see how your client’s are doing? Check their Website SEO Potential through your Adaptify dashboard or head over to Google’s PageSpeed Insights. Paired with CrUX Vis, this strategy can offer a comprehensive way to keep your client’s sites ranking and running smoothly.

For a more detailed look at CrUX Vis then we have space to provide here, check out the official breakdown on Search Engine Journal or try it yourself at CrUX Vis.

The last months of 2024 are packed with must-attend SEO conferences for those looking to enhance their skills and connect with like-minded professionals. Here are a couple of events you might want to add to your calendar:

The Search Marketing Expo (SMX) is back this November, bringing together search marketers from around the world to discuss cutting-edge SEO, PPC, and GenAI tactics. This online event includes keynote sessions, expert Q&As, and valuable networking opportunities.

NESS 2024 is a specialized summit for professionals working in news SEO, covering everything from technical SEO and Google Discover to optimizing for local and election SEO. Organized by industry leaders John Shehata and Barry Adams, this online event provides invaluable insights tailored to news publishers.

Join the Community: NESS offers access to a thriving Slack community, where attendees can continue to network and stay updated post-conference.

Ready to dive deeper into the tools and insights we’ve covered? Check out Adaptify.ai for more resources and strategies to boost your client offerings. And hey, why not book a demo while you’re there? We’d love to brainstorm ways to take your agency to the next level—together, let’s make ranking a breeze!