March 2024 Google Core Update: SEO Game-changer

March 2024 Google Core Update: SEO Game-changer
April 30, 2024 Ananta Abigail

For businesses looking to maintain or improve their visibility, staying ahead of the latest digital marketing trends is crucial, especially regarding SEO. One of the recent news is the March 2024 Google Core update.

This update signals a significant shift in how search engine rankings are determined. Now, let’s delve into what this update entails and how it could impact your digital marketing strategies and online presence.

What Happened in the March 2024 Google Core Update?

The core updates are different from Google’s usual updates. Unlike smaller updates that target specific issues, core updates have a broader impact, potentially affecting a significant number of websites across various niches.

These updates, rolled out periodically by Google, aim to refine and enhance the search algorithm, influencing how websites rank in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

In March 2024, Google announced a major core update that sent shockwaves through the SEO community. This update referred to as the March 2024 Google Core Update, brought substantial changes to how Google evaluates and ranks websites.

The announcement highlighted Google’s commitment to improving search result quality by targeting two key areas: low-quality content and spam. Also, the primary objective is to enhance user experience. Here are the details of this recent update:

Low-quality Content

One of the primary focuses of the March 2024 Core Update by Google was to tackle low-quality content proliferating across search results.

Google, in its announcement, highlighted its commitment to reducing unhelpful and unoriginal content by a substantial 40%. This meant that websites with little value to users, with thin or duplicated content, were at risk of losing visibility in search results.

The update specifically targeted websites that prioritized quantity over quality, churning out content solely to rank higher in search results. This shift emphasized the importance of user experience and relevance, rewarding websites that provided valuable and insightful content to users.

Furthermore, according to data analysis from various sources, over 800 websites were completely deindexed in the initial stages of the update. These websites, previously offering low-quality content, faced significant traffic losses and revenue declines as a result of their removal from Google’s search index.

Against AI-generated Spam

Another critical aspect of the March 2024 Google Core Update was its crackdown on AI-generated spam. With advancements in AI technology, some websites have resorted to using automated content generation to manipulate search rankings.

However, Google’s update aimed to put an end to this practice by identifying and penalizing websites that heavily relied on AI-generated content.

Research conducted by various SEO experts, Ian Nuttall, revealed that a significant percentage of deindexed websites exhibited signs of AI-generated content. He did this research by tracking 49,345 websites’ indexing status, following the core update launch in March.

This included websites where up to 100% of their posts were generated by AI, indicating a clear target by Google to curb the spread of spammy and low-quality content.

According to his research, 837 of the 49,345 monitored websites have been entirely removed from Google’s search index.

Google Performs Deindexing

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the March 2024 Core Update by Google was the extensive deindexing of websites.

Google finally took swift action to remove websites that violated its guidelines, not just penalizing them but completely removing them from search engine page results and the index. This move sent a strong message to website owners about the importance of adhering to Google’s quality standards.

The deindexing process affected a wide range of websites across various niches, from smaller AI-generated content sites to larger established domains.

Even websites that had survived previous algorithm updates found themselves vulnerable to deindexing if they failed to meet Google’s updated criteria for content quality and relevance.

Signs of Websites that will be Penalized by the Google Core Update

With Google’s ever-evolving algorithms, website owners need to stay vigilant to avoid being penalized by core updates. Understanding the signs that indicate potential penalties can help mitigate risks and maintain a strong online presence. Here are the signs you should note:

AI-generated Content

Websites heavily dependent on AI-generated content without providing substantial value to users are at risk of being penalized by the recent update.

These sites often prioritize quantity over quality, churning out large volumes of content that lack originality and fail to address user queries effectively.

Manipulative Link Building

Several manipulative link-building practices will be penalized by Google with the recent update, such as purchasing links from low-quality or irrelevant domains.

Google’s latest algorithm is designed to detect and penalize websites that attempt to artificially inflate their search rankings through unnatural link schemes.

Poor UX

Google aims to prioritize websites that provide a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience for users, and sites that fail to meet these criteria may see a decline in their search rankings.

Therefore, websites with poor UX, including slow loading times, intrusive ads, and difficult navigation, are also at risk of being penalized.

Thin/Duplicated Content

Also, websites featuring low-quality or duplicated content that adds little value to users are prime targets for penalties from the Google Core Update.

This is because Google seeks to weed out thin shallow or superficial content that offers little substantive information or original insights.

Read More: Rather than Keywords, Go Deeper into the Topic!

Actions to Take if a Website is Penalized

If your website has been affected by the March 2024 Google Core Update, don’t panic. Here are steps you can take to mitigate the impact and improve your search visibility:

Audit Your Content

Conduct a thorough review of your website’s content to identify any low-quality or spammy elements. Remove or revise these to align with Google’s quality guidelines.

To streamline this process and improve your site’s performance, use SEO Copilot to clean up old content and ensure fast indexing. This tool helps you efficiently update and optimize your content, leading to quicker indexing and better search engine rankings

Focus on Quality

Invest in creating high-quality, informative content that adds genuine value to your audience. Prioritize user experience and relevance in your content strategy.

Comply with Guidelines

Ensure that your website adheres to Google’s spam policies and best practices. Avoid engaging in manipulative behaviours or tactics that could lead to penalties.

Seek Professional Help

Consider partnering with a reputable digital marketing agency to navigate through algorithm updates and optimize your online presence.

If you are looking for a professional digital marketing agency, consider leveraging our Essentials.id digital marketing service. Don’t worry, we’re always ready to help you adapt to the latest Google Core Update!

Referensi:

https://boomcycle.com/blog/march-2024-google-core-update/

https://searchengineland.com/google-march-2024-core-update-things-you-need-to-know-438370

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/googles-march-2024-core-update-impact-hundreds-of-websites-deindexed/510981/

https://victorious.com/blog/google-core-update/

1
Hi, can we help you?