Playbook: harden a site before the next core update

Playbook: harden a site before the next core update
The best recovery is not getting hit. A pre-emptive checklist to run quarterly:

— Step 1: Audit every page against Google's 'people-first' questions — flag any you can't answer 'yes' to.
— Step 2: Remove or merge thin/duplicate content now, while rankings are stable.
— Step 3: Verify author E-E-A-T signals exist site-wide, not just on flagship posts.
— Step 4: Snapshot your full GSC baseline so you have a clean before-picture.
— Step 5: Document your content-production process — Google's guidance rewards consistent quality, not sporadic spikes.

Doing this between updates is easier than under fire.

One to bookmark: Google's helpful content self-assessment — turn its questions into a recurring audit checklist.