Google August 2023 Core Update Volatility Continues

On August 22nd, Google released the August 2023 core update. We did not feel much of any volatility until a few days later, on August 25th. Then we had some movement on that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and then it died down for a couple of days, picking up again a few days ago.

I am seeing new volatility signals with this August 2023 core update starting Wednesday, August 30th, through today, Friday, September 1st. The movement does not seem to be as drastic and impactful as what we saw on August 25th but there is an additional movement over the past few days.

I have to say, overall, this release seemed to be not as heated as past updates in terms of how widespread this was. I was expecting it to hit many more sites but it did not seem to.

SEO Chatter

Here is what I see in terms of SEO chatter over the past few days. These are from WebmasterWorld, BlackHatWorld and comments here:

Very interesting.

For one moment I thought my websites all went offline or something.

87.5%
85.5%
84%
84.5%
and then yesterday 145% but today down again.

Some useful charts from Glenn Gabe (no, he can’t share the site):

Another Aug core update example. Reviews site surging with this update after dropping heavily with what appears to be the Dec Link Spam Update, then surging with March 2023 broad core update, and now more with the Aug core update. I’m seeing many examples of volatility… pic.twitter.com/mFEUq0H5s8

— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe)

More from the Aug core update. Huge drop for this site in the lyrics space after surging during previous updates including both the Sep 2022 core update & the March broad core update. Then a drop during April reviews update, but jumps back w/May volatility. Now tanking big-time pic.twitter.com/brQnt9Ra99

— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe)

So as you can see from the comments and charts, sites impacted saw very big changes.

Tracking Tools On August 2023 Core Update

The tools, at least most of them, noticed more volatility around Friday, August 25th and then seemed to calm down after. Here is what they show:

Semrush:

I suspect the update will be done rolling out soon.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld and BlackHatWorld.