On November 2, Google will roll out what will probably be the last core update of 2023. An update time of approx. two weeks is also estimated for this update. Similar to the last update cycle, the core update will be implemented at the same time as another update, this time with a product review update. In general, Google updates serve to address the following points

1. Algorithm Changes: Google's search algorithm is a complex system that determines the ranking of web pages in search results. Core updates involve changes to this algorithm to better understand user intent, improve content relevance, and address emerging search trends.
2. Content Quality: Google emphasizes the importance of high-quality, relevant content. Core updates often focus on assessing the quality of content and ensuring that the most valuable and authoritative information is surfaced in search results.
3. User Experience: Google aims to enhance the user experience for searchers. This includes improvements in the presentation of search results, the responsiveness of web pages, and the overall satisfaction of users when they find the information they are looking for.
4. Page Experience Signals: Google has increasingly emphasized page experience as a ranking factor. Core Web Vitals, which measure aspects of user experience such as page loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability, are integral to these updates.
5. Website Authority: Core updates may also assess the overall authority and credibility of websites. Factors like backlinks from reputable sources, expertise in a particular subject, and a history of delivering accurate information play a role in determining a website's authority.
6. Transparency and Guidance: Google often provides guidance to webmasters and content creators on best practices for creating high-quality content and optimizing their websites. Following this guidance can help websites adapt to the changes brought about by core updates.

In sum core updates designed to improve the overall user experience by delivering more accurate and valuable information. It is difficult to differentiate which update has led to which fluctuations in the ranking. Google has made other significant changes to the SERPs in recent months. Google is not only testing a trending seller icon in the snippets, which is helpful for stores, and the integration of ads between organic listings (in addition to those above or below them), but is also changing the search experience by removing indented search results, for example. The latter is likely to have led to a lot of traffic loss for many site operators. However, the winners clearly include sites with user-generated content such as Reddit. The losers of the updates this time are shopsites.