Google’s Core Update: Key Insights for SEO Survival
Image Credit: Search Engine Land
Google has once again made waves in the world of search engines with its latest announcement of an update to its search algorithms and policies. This change is meant to be bigger and bolder than its predecessors, and it’s already underway. Supposedly, it aims to tackle spammy and low-quality content that often floods search engine results.
For anyone invested in SEO or online visibility, understanding the key insights of Google’s March 2024 core update is crucial, so let’s unpack the details and figure out how to survive and thrive in the wake of this latest algorithmic reshuffle.
Enhanced Quality Ranking
The main thrust of the March 2024 Algorithm Update by Google is to boost the quality of search results by refining its ranking systems. Elizabeth Tucker, Director of Product for Search at Google, emphasised the company’s commitment to surfacing the most helpful information while reducing the presence of unoriginal content in search results.
This update builds upon previous efforts dating back to 2022, with the goal of ensuring webpages provide genuine value and a positive user experience.
The refined ranking systems will discern whether webpages are genuinely helpful, prioritise user experience, and identify content created primarily for search engines rather than human readers.
Google anticipates that these enhancements, combined with past initiatives, will result in a significant reduction of low-quality, unoriginal content in search results. According to their sources, this reduction could be up to 40%.
New Spam Policies
One of the key impacts of Google’s algorithm changes in March 2024 is their rolling out of updated spam policies designed to weed out the lowest-quality content from search results. By taking action against various manipulative behaviours, Google aims to maintain the integrity and usefulness of its search engine. These updated policies target a range of spam tactics, including scaled content abuse, site reputation abuse, and expired domain abuse.
Scaled Content Abuse
Google is intensifying its crackdown on the abuse of automation to generate low-quality or unoriginal content at scale.
Whether content is produced through automation, human efforts, or a combination of both, the focus is on addressing the behaviour of creating content solely to manipulate search rankings. This includes targeting pages that may appear to offer solutions to popular search queries but ultimately fail to deliver valuable content.
Site Reputation Abuse
Another area of concern for Google is site reputation abuse, where trusted websites host low-quality third-party content to exploit the hosting site’s credibility. This deceptive practice can mislead users and compromise the overall trustworthiness of search results.
To combat this, Google will consider third-party content produced primarily for ranking purposes and lacking oversight from the website owner as spam. This is one of the Key Insights on Google’s March 2024 Core Update, as it will prompt websites to keep much closer tabs on the third-party content they host.
Expired Domain Abuse
The exploitation of expired domains to boost the search ranking of low-quality content is also under scrutiny. Google recognises the potential for confusion when new content is repurposed on expired domains, leading users to believe it is associated with the original site. As such, repurposing expired domains for the sole purpose of enhancing search rankings is now classified as spam.
Swift Penalties and Impact
One of the most notable aspects of Google’s March 2024 Core Update is the swift enforcement of penalties. Websites found to violate Google’s guidelines or engage in questionable SEO practices face immediate repercussions, including potential deindexing from search results. The update’s impact extends beyond just new offenders, with even previously unaffected websites facing penalties if found non-compliant.
Adaptation and Survival Strategies
Given the seismic nature of these changes, it’s imperative for website owners and SEO practitioners to adapt to Google’s March 2024 algorithm shift.
1. Quality Over Quantity
Google’s emphasis on originality, depth, and value underscores the importance of prioritising quality content. Websites relying on thin or duplicated content without offering unique insights are at risk of being penalised. Focusing on expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T) is essential for establishing credibility in Google’s eyes.
2. User Experience Optimisation
Enhancing user experience is critical for maintaining visibility in search results. Factors such as page speed, mobile-friendliness, and intuitive navigation contribute to a positive user experience, signalling to Google the quality of your website. Prioritise holistic and inclusive UX design principles over keyword optimisation tactics.
3. Auditing and Remediation
Conducting a comprehensive site audit to identify and address any issues that may run afoul of Google’s guidelines is essential. Fixing errors, updating outdated content, and ensuring compliance with spam policies can help mitigate the risk of penalties and improve overall search performance.
4. Stay Informed and Adaptive
The SEO landscape is constantly evolving, and staying informed about algorithmic updates and industry trends is crucial. By monitoring changes and adapting strategies accordingly, website owners can position themselves for long-term success in search rankings.
Looking to Boost Your Visibility?
At One2create, we have many years of experience exceeding the expectations of our clients. We use the latest tools to establish the perfect strategy for your website and to influence conversions. By blending this with a hands-on, human influence, we’re proud to say we’ve created a supercharged SEO formula.
Our experts guide you through every step of the process, from project kick-off through keyword analysis, feedback, and copy optimisation. You’re involved in each and every aspect of the project, ensuring you’ve got as much control as you like.
The support doesn’t stop once your site’s up and running, either. We reanalyse it every month and make sure it’s aligned with the latest search engine standards like the March 2024 algorithm update from Google.
You can find out more about our SEO services by visiting our dedicated page. Or feel free to get in touch with us today for a more detailed chat.
