Google’s November 2024 core update is here, and so far, the first spam-only update of 2025. Many sites saw steep drops, while others that had been hurt by earlier spam penalties noticed recoveries. The focus was on tightening up on spammy practices rather than introducing brand-new targets.
Update Alert:
November 2024: Google released the November 2024 core update on November 11, with the rollout completing on December 5, 2024.
Timeline & Volatility
- The rollout lasted about 23 days.
- Ranking “sugar spikes” showed up Nov 13–14, again Nov 16–17, and once more around Nov 25–26.
- Many sites didn’t see stability until December, well after the update wrapped up.
Sweet Takeaways
- Quality content is still king (and candy). Pages that align with user intent and deliver depth got the sweet end of the deal.
- E-E-A-T remains essential. Google wants clear signs of expertise, authority, and trust.
- Reputation matters. The expanded site reputation abuse policy overlapped with this update, and some domains felt that sting.
What You Should Do
- Peek at Google Search Console for shifts in visibility starting mid-November.
- Audit pages that dropped. Are they thin, outdated, or mismatched with search intent?
- Refresh content and reinforce authority signals. Recovery isn’t instant, but sweet improvements now can set you up for the next update.
cyberlicious® Tip: Core updates may feel like a sugar crash, but they’re really a reminder to keep your site packed with value, not fluff.
Sweeten Your Rankings After Any Update
Already feeling the sting of an update? We’ll help you recover. Want to avoid a crash altogether? Let’s strengthen your sweet spot before the next udpate roll-out.