On June 2, Google announced a core update (which is normal, considering it’s been 6 months since the last one), but added that it’s just the first part of a duo of Core Updates scheduled for this summer.

We can expect the next one to land sometime in July.

This comes at a time when many website owners are already on high alert for Google Search fluctuations, as the highly anticipated Page Experience Update is supposed to deploy.

Here’s what you need to know about the June 2021 Core Update:

What is the June 2021 Core Update?

All core updates are broad-reaching search algorithm changes that aim to improve Google Search for users. They don’t target specific sites, or specific types of sites. Rather, they’re intended to provide the most helpful SERPs for everyday Google users.

On Twitter, Google’s Danny Sullivan noted that most sites won’t notice much of an impact, if any at all, for either installment of this summer’s series of updates.

Why Will There be Another Core Update in July?

Core updates are big updates. In this case, Google signed up for a little more than it could actually deliver in a single core update. The solution: Release what’s ready in June; follow up with what’s left over in July.

Even though Sullivan noted that most sites won’t notice changes related to this update, because of the two-part nature of this update, some sites may experience some slight changes during the June release that are reversed or changed during the July update.

In other words: Know that the impact of the June update will not be the full story.

How is the Core Update Different From the Page Experience Update?

June 2021 is a busy month for website owners trying to keep up with Google’s changes. This month also marks the deployment of the long-anticipated Page Experience Update. This update was originally planned for May, but was pushed to mid-June, and is expected to be wrapped up by the end of August. Here are the key differences between these two important updates:

The June 2021 Core Update:

  • Launched on June 2.
  • Was completed by June 12.
  • Does not focus on specific website features that site owners and SEOs need to worry about.

The Page Experience Update:

  • Is scheduled to launch in mid-June.
  • Is expected to be completed by the end of August.
  • Focuses on specific site-level UX signals called the Core Web Vitals. Site owners and SEOs should look closely at their sites to determine what should be improved for this update.

How Should Website Owners Handle the Onslaught of Updates?

This rapid release of algo updates may be a little unnerving to site owners who are concerned for their organic search rankings and website traffic. But there’s no reason to worry, because it’s perfectly possible to protect your site amidst all the changes to Search.

Here are 2 steps you can take to help your website excel after these updates:

1. Check your most important SEO content

Quality content is the No. 1 most important consideration when preparing for an update. This is the advice Google repeats for each and every core update since August 2019.

The search engine underscored this theme when announcing the Page Experience Update, stating that “Google still seeks to rank pages with the best information overall, even if the page experience is subpar. Great page experience doesn’t override having great page content.”

For more guidance on updating site content following any core algorithm update, follow the steps in this article.

2. Inspect your site for UX issues

UX is the key concern for the Page Experience Update, particularly as it relates to your Core Web Vitals (a term coined by Google). The Core Web Vitals are 3 specific metrics that relate to how quickly your page loads and how responsive it is for users.

For more detailed information about Core Web Vitals and assessing your site for the Page Experience Update, check out this article.

Further Reading:

Molly Ploe is the Director of SEO & Demand Gen at Brafton. With a degree in journalism and 8+ years of marketing experience, she aims to help other marketers collect information and organize it in useful ways that help them achieve their goals.