Google Core Update
A Google core update is a broad, periodic change to the core ranking systems that can significantly shift rankings across many sites at once. Core updates reassess the relevance and quality of content rather than targeting specific violations.
Why It Matters
A core update can raise or drop organic traffic overnight, so understanding them prevents panic and knee-jerk changes. Recovery usually comes from improving overall content quality and trust, not from a single technical fix.
Common Mistake
Making drastic changes during a rollout. Rankings fluctuate while an update deploys, and reacting mid-rollout makes it impossible to tell what actually helped or hurt.