In March 2024, Google released a major update to its search algorithm, the March 2024 Core Update. This update significantly changed how search results are ranked and displayed, impacting the visibility and rankings of numerous websites across various industries.
As a crucial player in the digital marketing landscape, businesses and website owners need to understand the implications of this update and adapt their strategies accordingly.
This article will delve into the details of Google’s March 2024 Core Update and discuss its potential impact on search rankings and website performance. Stay tuned to stay updated with the latest changes in the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization.
Introduction
Google’s core updates in 2024, particularly the major March 2024 update, are significant for SEO and website traffic because they represent a major shift in how Google prioritizes content.
The March update targeted low-quality content and websites, aiming to reduce them by 40% in search results. This means websites with unoriginal, unhelpful content or those using manipulative SEO tactics risk being deindexed entirely from Google Search.
This translates to a renewed focus on quality for SEO and website traffic. Websites that provide valuable, informative content with a positive user experience are more likely to benefit from the update. Conversely, websites relying on thin content or manipulative tactics will likely see their traffic suffer.
What’s New in the March 2024 Core Update
Websites Vanish from Google
Can you believe it? Imagine you wake up one morning, excited to check your website’s ranking on Google, only to find out it’s completely vanished from the search results. Well, that happened to many websites after the latest Google algorithm update.
So, what’s this new Google update all about? Google recently rolled out a big update to clean up its search results. They’re cracking down on websites with low-quality content that only helps people. Those sites that pop up but need to give you the info you need. Yeah, those.
Google calls it a “cleanup drive,” aiming to slash up to 40% of these low-quality sites. It wants to ensure users get the best, most useful results when searching for something.
But here’s the kicker: if your website needs to be up to snuff according to Google’s guidelines, you’re in trouble. They’re not just giving out slaps on the wrist; they’re boosting these sites out of the search results. Yep, it’s completely gone.
This update’s got the whole SEO world buzzing. People are scrambling to determine what this means for their websites and how to adapt to these new changes. It’s like Google flipped the switch, and everything’s different now.
So, if you have a website, you better ensure it follows Google’s rules and provides top-notch content. Otherwise, you might wake up one day to find it’s disappeared from the Googleverse—and trust me, you don’t want that to happen.
Quick Penalties by Google
You won’t believe how quickly the penalties hit with this latest Google update! Website owners were left scratching their heads, trying to determine what went wrong.
To see if your site was affected by the Google core update, here’s a quick trick: Type “site:yourwebsite.com” into Google and see if your site pops up in the search results. You might have some work to do if it needs to be included.
Now, here’s the thing: if your site was affected by the March 2024 core update or spam update, you won’t get a fancy notification from Google Search Console. Nope, they’re not going to hold your hand through this one.
As Barry Schwartz points out, these updates are all automated. Google doesn’t send out personalized messages to let you know if your site got smacked down by the algorithm. You’re left to figure it out on your own.
If you notice your site’s ranking taking a nosedive, you should look closer and see if you got caught up in the latest Google shakedown. It’s a wild ride out there in the world of Google updates!
No Immunity for Surviving Sites
You won’t believe it, but even older websites that managed to dodge previous Google updates aren’t safe anymore. Yep, they’re feeling the heat too!
Some people are cheering about it, saying it’s high time those low-quality sites were removed. Those playing the system for years still appear in the search results.
But for others, it’s a head-scratcher. They wonder why their whole network of sites suddenly vanished.
Take this story from a private Affiliate SEO Mastermind group discussion, for example. One member shared how a publisher saw their entire network of eight sites crumble after this latest Google update. And get this: these sites were all set up in the last two years, covering different niche topics.
The content on these sites was mostly written by humans, with only a little help from AI. But despite that, all eight of them are now getting no in terms of traffic.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Some experts think E-E-A-T played a big role in this. By the way, E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
Google ensures websites have real expertise and authority in whatever they discuss. If your site covers many topics without delving deep into them, it might not sit well with Google’s algorithms.
So, it’s about more than just throwing up some content and hoping for the best anymore. You’ve got to prove to Google that you know your stuff if you want to stand a chance in the search results. Crazy, right?
Outdated Sites at Risk
Google has added a new factor to identify untrustworthy content with low E-E-A-T.
Small AI Sites Hit by Google
First, Google was cracking down on unhelpful content. Do you know the stuff that needs to be more relevant or original? AI-generated content can sometimes fall into that category, especially if it needs improvement.
Many of those small sites relied on AI to pump out content without human oversight, so you ended up with many articles that could have been more varied or offered more value.
But that’s not all. Google’s also gotten way better at sniffing out AI-generated content. So, Google’s algorithms flagged even those tiny sites using AI to churn out articles left and right.
And then there’s this thing called “scaled content abuse.” Fancy term, right? It means pumping out a ton of content to boost your search rankings without caring if it’s helpful to users. And you guessed it, many smaller AI content sites were guilty of this tactic.
Here’s the kicker: Google wasn’t specifically targeting AI content. No matter where it came from, they were going after low-quality content. But the update hit them the hardest because those smaller AI content sites were likelier to use shady tactics to crank out articles.
So, yeah, it was a rough time for those little AI content sites. It could be a wake-up call for them to focus on quality over quantity.
How to Recover or Adapt to the Update
Recovering from a Google core update, especially the March 2024 one focused on quality content, requires a data-driven approach to improve your website. Here’s a roadmap:
- Stay Calm and Analyze: Don’t panic! Use website analytics tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics to identify traffic or ranking drops.
- Identify Affected Content: Look for pages that experienced a decline after the update. These are your “problem pages” that need attention.
- Content Quality Audit: For each problem page, assess the content’s quality. Here’s what to consider:
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- Relevance: Does the content directly address user search intent and keywords?
- Depth: Is the content comprehensive and informative, providing value to readers?
- Originality: Is the content unique and insightful, or is rehashed information?
- Improve Content Relevance: Ensure your content directly targets the user’s search query. Conduct keyword research to identify relevant keywords and optimize your content accordingly.
- Enhance User Experience: Focus on making your content engaging and easy to read. Use visuals, clear formatting, and internal linking to improve the user journey.
- Build Expertise: Establish your website as an authority by citing credible sources and showcasing expertise in your field.
- Competitor Analysis: See how your top competitors performed in the update. Analyze their content strategy and identify areas where you can improve.
- Fresh, High-Quality Content: Don’t just fix old content; create new high-quality content that aligns with your target audience’s needs. Conduct user testing to gather feedback and ensure your content resonates.
- Technical SEO Check: While content is king, ensure your website’s technical SEO is sound. This includes fast loading times, mobile-friendliness, and proper indexing.
- Be Patient: SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Recovering from a core update takes time and consistent effort. Focus on creating valuable content and building a loyal audience.
By following these steps and focusing on quality content, you can adapt to the March 2024 core update and improve your website’s ranking and traffic in the long run.
Conclusion
High-quality content remains the undisputed king of SEO success. The March 2024 Google core update solidified this notion by prioritizing websites that offer valuable and informative content. Thin, unoriginal content, regardless of source, is being sidelined.
This highlights the ever-evolving nature of Google’s search algorithms. They are constantly becoming more sophisticated, adept at identifying low-quality content, and rewarding websites that prioritize user experience.
The future of SEO and content creation lies in a deep understanding of this user-centric approach.
By prioritizing high-quality content that prioritizes user needs and keeps pace with Google’s evolving search algorithms, websites can secure their place in the ever-changing SEO landscape.
You can read about the update on Google’s official webpage that talks about
Keeping more spam out of your results – that includes topics like Scaled content abuse, Site reputation abuse and Expired domain abuse.