Search Engine Recap - Week 46 (2024)

This week brought us Google’s latest core update, a new product search feature in Google Maps, and the launch of an AI tool called “Learn About”. Here is an overview.

Google Rolls Out November 2024 Core Update

Google has launched its November 2024 core update, aimed at improving search result quality across all markets. As with any broad core update, rankings are impacted, and businesses are advised to monitor changes in performance closely.

Drops in rankings can take months to recover from and require a focus on user-centric, high-quality content.

Insights from millions of searches already indicate that this update emphasizes relevance and accuracy, favoring sites with clear expertise and authority.

SEO professionals are encouraged to adopt a long-term E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) strategy instead of relying on quick fixes.

Google Maps Adds Real-Time Product Search Functionality

Google Maps has introduced a new product search feature, allowing consumers to find specific items and check real-time stock availability in nearby stores.

This update aims to simplify holiday shopping and increase in-store visits by providing precise inventory information.

To enable this feature, e-commerce businesses need to implement structured data and maintain accurate stock details. Precise store details, such as operating hours and contact information, are also critical for success.

Web Hosting Analysis Highlights Core Web Vitals Performance

The new Technology Reporting Dashboard from HTTPArchive, currently in beta, allows users to compare web hosting performance based on Core Web Vitals.

A recent analysis evaluated six web hosts: Bluehost, GoDaddy, HostGator, IONOS, SiteGround, and WP Engine.

Results show that WP Engine leads, with 70% of its hosted sites meeting all three Core Web Vitals metrics: LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), INP (Interaction to Next Paint), and CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift).

Following WP Engine, GoDaddy achieved 67%, SiteGround 65%, HostGator and IONOS each scored 58%, and Bluehost came in at 45%.

These findings suggest that WordPress-specific hosting platforms like WP Engine are often better optimized for site performance compared to general-purpose hosts.

It’s worth noting that these percentages reflect the quality of hosted sites rather than the hosting providers’ inherent capabilities.

Google Launches AI-Driven Search Tool "Learn About"

Finally, Google has unveiled an experimental AI-driven search tool called "Learn About", available via Google Labs.

This feature uses search to summarize content and introduces interactive navigation menus, known as Interactive Lists, to explore related subtopics.

Users can interact with the interface to uncover additional summaries and content links, fostering an exploratory approach to search. The experience resembles a “choose-your-own-story” format, encouraging deeper engagement with topics.

This experiment aligns with Google’s broader efforts to enhance search through AI-powered functionality.

Takeaways and Recommendations

The headline for Week 46 is undoubtedly Google’s latest core update, which typically takes two to three weeks to fully roll out. Only then will we be able to evaluate its impact and identify which industries experienced the most significant shifts.

So far, businesses excelling in E-E-A-T with factually accurate content are seeing gains, while those relying on thin content are falling behind.

Google Maps’ product search update underscores the company’s growing focus on eCommerce during the holiday season, alongside its continued AI developments.

Finally, HTTPArchive’s Technology Reporting Dashboard provides valuable insights into web hosting platforms’ performance in Core Web Vitals. The analysis shows WP Engine leading among the highlighted platforms, offering interesting insights for those comparing hosting providers.

Need help understanding these updates and how they apply to your business? Reach out to Bonzer. As a specialized SEO agency, we’re dedicated to helping ambitious businesses achieve top search engine rankings.