Google’s Huge Shake-Up: Understanding the March 2024 Core Update

Whether you run from it or hide from it, the latest Google Core Update still arrives. Yes, it’s that time again. No business owner or marketer looks forward to Google chopping and changing their algorithm. Even minor updates can cause havoc with your website’s search rankings.

Well, the March 2024 Core Update isn’t a minor one. It’s the biggest we have seen in years.

While previous core updates were important, of course, this latest instalment is resulting in significant alterations to multiple core ranking systems. Accompanied by new spam policies, this update emphasises content quality and user-focused material, stepping up efforts to reduce clickbait and low-quality content.

Are you experiencing fluctuations in rankings for your web pages? Worried about the long-term SEO impact? This guide will give you a better idea of what to expect.

The Reasons Behind the Update

Google’s March 2024 core update is another step – or should that be leap – forward in its ongoing mission to enhance the user experience on its search platform. As noted in the Google Search Status Dashboard, this update comprises two main elements:

• Core update
• Spam update

Core update

As for the core Google algorithm update, this is built around refining their ranking systems, helping the search giant better understand if results are unhelpful, deliver a poor user experience, or if they have built content for people, not search engines. Here’s what Google hopes will be achieved:

“We believe these updates will reduce the amount of low-quality content on Search and send more traffic to helpful and high-quality sites… [Combined with previous efforts, we expect it] will collectively reduce low-quality, unoriginal content in search results by 40%.”

Spam update

Google search quality improvements don’t stop there. Through this March update, their spam policies are being updated in several ways to address abusive practices which are causing low-quality, unoriginal content to appear in search results. Abusive content creation practices are being targeted, particularly with the rise of new and evolving approaches to producing spam.

For instance, just think of how much AI-generated content has landed on the web in recent months, and it’s easy to see why Google is taking this hard-line approach. Some AI content is fine, but other content is the opposite. Here’s their stance on the situation:

“Our long-standing spam policy has been that use of automation, including generative AI, is spam if the primary purpose is manipulating ranking in Search results.”

Another way they’re tackling spam is with “expired domain abuse”. This is where expired domains are bought and repurposed solely to boost low-quality content’s search ranking. It’s a technique which can make users think the domain’s new content was part of the old site – even if that isn’t the case.

Additionally, “site reputation abuse” is now found on Google’s spam list. This is where low-quality content is hosted on a third-party site, taking advantage of the latter’s ranking power to boost search visibility.

Ultimately, by redefining its approach to content evaluation, Google is pushing forward with a digital environment where valuable, trustworthy content is more easily accessible to users. The end result is, hopefully, a more informative and reliable ecosystem with improved Google search rankings.

These changes have been represented in the updated Search Quality Raters Guidelines booklet.

How it Compares to 2023 Core Updates

Understanding Google Core updates requires you to stay in the know with changes over time. When compared to the most recent updates of 2023, the first 2024 update has seen its helpful content system being integrated into the core update system.

That’s not all.

Previous updates, like the November 2023 Google Core Update, focused on different aspects. The March 2024 update is broader and involves multiple core systems. The result is a greater risk of ranking volatility as the system gets fully updated. As the update is expected to be rolled out over the entire month, we’ll have more clarity about the full impact in the coming weeks.

You can read in full about the previous two main core updates in the linksHyperlinks, also known as links, are the connection points on a webpage that take you to other webpages. below:

• October 2023 Google Updates Complete: What Everyone Should Know
• The August 2023 Broad Core Update Has Finished: What To Know Now

What Does it Mean for Your Website?

Assuming you have been adhering to recent core updates, this latest change shouldn’t hurt your rankings too much. If website quality is high, where it’s responsive, delivering insightful content, and free from spam, the update may even help propel your site up the rankings.

However, what if you’re not fully adhering to the latest Google guidelines? What if your content creation efforts are lacking? Maybe you’ve been guilty of utilising clickbait tactics. In these situations, it’s likely your site will be pushed down the rankings. That’s not good.

Ultimately, content that answers user queries and adds true value will fare better under the latest algorithm update. It’s essential to align with Google’s higher content quality standards. Professional help through our content writing services can make sure you achieve that higher level.

How to Recover from the Update?

If your site experiences a drop in rankings, remember not to panic. There are no specific actions to take to recover immediately. Instead, focus on content improvements. Concentrate on helpful content for users, not content that is built for search engine rankings.

Once the update has completely rolled out, you can then reach out to us for expert assistance. We are tracking each and every detail of this update on a day-to-day basis, ensuring we know exactly how to react – and make sure the projects we work on adhere to Google’s latest changes.

Let us take on the task if you require help to regain your rankings or simply want to boost traffic. We can craft high-quality content. We can make your website comply with all the latest updates and policies. We can improve user experience across the board. Whatever you need, Click Intelligence will take your SEO marketing efforts to the next level.

Book a free strategy call today.