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How We Recovered a Client from Google’s Core Update Penalty (Real Case Study)

INTRODUCTION

Attention:
One Google update can wipe out years of hard work overnight.

Interest:
That’s exactly what happened to one of our clients their traffic collapsed after a Google Core Update.

Here’s the twist…
They didn’t get penalised they got filtered.

Desire:
And yes we brought them back stronger than before.

Action:
Let’s show you exactly how we did it.

What Is a Google Core Update Penalty?

A Google Core Update is when Google changes how it ranks websites.

It doesn’t always issue a “manual penalty” it simply stops trusting certain sites.

This can cause:

  • Sudden ranking drops
  • Traffic loss
  • Lead decline

This is why ongoing SEO Services matter.

Key Questions People Ask

Did Google penalise this website?

No, it was affected by a quality and relevance recalculation.

How long does recovery take?

Typically 60–120 days if you fix the real issues.

Can every site recover?

Yes if the problems are identified and fixed properly.

What Went Wrong (The Real Problem)

After auditing the site, we found:

  • Thin content
  • Keyword stuffing
  • Weak internal links
  • Poor page experience
  • Outdated SEO

Google no longer trusted the website.

Our Recovery Strategy

1. Full SEO & Content Audit

We analysed:

  • Every page
  • Search intent
  • Competitor benchmarks

This is part of our Content Marketing framework.

2. Removing Low-Quality Content

We:

  • Deleted thin pages
  • Merged weak articles
  • Improved important pages

Quality beats quantity after a core update.

3. Rebuilding Topical Authority

We created:

  • Topic clusters
  • Supporting blogs
  • Internal link networks

Google needs to see expertise.

4. UX & Trust Improvements

We fixed:

  • Page speed
  • Mobile experience
  • Clear CTAs
  • Trust signals

Which aligned with Local SEO best practices.

The Results

MetricBeforeAfter
Organic trafficDropped 65%+110%
Ranking keywordsDecliningGrowing
LeadsAlmost zeroConsistent
Google trustLostRebuilt

5 Benefits vs Pain Points

  • Recovered rankings → no more panic
  • Better content → no more thin pages
  • Google trust → no more penalties
  • Stronger authority → no more volatility
  • Sustainable growth → no more fear

What most business owners don’t realise is…
Core updates reward quality not tricks.

Mistakes to Avoid After a Core Update

🚫 Publishing more bad content
🚫 Panic-changing URLs
🚫 Buying backlinks
🚫 Ignoring UX
🚫 Chasing quick fixes

How You Can Protect Your Website

Do this:

  • Create helpful content
  • Match search intent
  • Improve user experience
  • Build authority
  • Track updates

Our SEO Services are designed to make websites update-proof.

Final Thoughts + CTA

A Google Core Update doesn’t mean your website is dead it means it needs real SEO.

👉 Ready to recover and grow your website?
Contact Social Media Max today don’t wait, your competitors won’t.

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Based in West Yorkshire, Social Media Max offers affordable printing and digital marketing solutions for small businesses. From eye-catching business cards and flyers to effective social media campaigns, we help you boost your brand visibility and drive real results.

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