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For me, Authority Score is the most important metric because it’s the only one that reflects visibility in Google. And as we know… if something is visible in Google, it means Google finds it valuable. Regarding quality, you’re right that everything in Google happens much slower than we think.
In my opinion, there is a parameter like SQS (Site Quality Score) that is assigned to websites during core updates. It rises with a delay of many months, but it also drops with a similar lag. What you’re seeing are sites whose SQS is currently tanking, but their owners think their rankings are set in stone.
I made that exact mistake between 2022 and 2024. I coasted on a high SQS for two years without doing anything, and then—boom. Content from two years ago looked different than it does today, and pre-AI revolution content is a different story altogether. The bar for web content quality is constantly rising. Site owners who think they can just hit the top and relax are dead wrong.
