SEO

Breaking Down Google’s 2024 March Core Update

Breaking Down Google’s 2024 March Core Update

Insights on Google’s Latest March Core Update

On March 5th, Google began rolling out the March 2024 Core Update. This update targets AI-generated spam content that lacks Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Google is focused on naturally written content that puts users first while cutting down on search manipulation from users trying to rank fast with little effort.

What is Google Targeting in the Spam Core Update?

In the Spam Core Update, Google is not only targeting AI content, but they are also focusing on clickbait-style blogs that attract users while not being helpful or providing a user exactly what they are searching for.

Google has put together a helpful content FAQ page to help users get answers to their questions. The March Core Update also states that removing unhelpful pages across a website can help improve rankings, showcasing the importance of helping users in their search journey.

Google is Introducing 3 New Spam Policy Updates

Since Google’s release, people have tried to abuse its algorithms to rank better. Google is now introducing three new spam policy updates targeted at expired domain abuse, scaled content abuse, and site reputation abuse.

  1. Expired Domain Abuse: Google is targeting the misuse of expired domains to safeguard against deceptive practices that compromise search integrity.
  2. Scaled Content Abuse: Significant efforts are being made to identify and reduce the spread of mass-produced, low-quality content in search results.
  3. Site Reputation Abuse: Google is focusing on preserving the credibility of high-authority sites by penalizing the inclusion of inferior content that could erode trust.

These policies target users who manipulate search engines for better rankings through Black hat methods.

Back in 2021, Google introduced a spambot called SpamBrain. This bot analyzes websites for ranking manipulation by analyzing duplicate content, non-genuine product reviews, and an extensive range of other proprietary factors Google checks for. This all comes down to Google’s main focus: useful content that users want to read, helpful content that answers user intent, and answers to users’ questions.

Expired Domain Abuse

Google’s fight against spam aims at the underbelly of SEO manipulation: expired domain abuse. This tactic involves purchasing lapsed domains and filling them with low-quality content to hijack the domain’s previous authority. This can mislead users and corrupt search engine results. As part of the trio of spam policy updates, Google is clamping down on this practice to ensure that domain history can’t be exploited for unfair ranking advantage.

Addressing Scaled Content Abuse

A vital aspect of the March Core Update is its crackdown on scaled content abuse. Google has long battled against content generated in mass quantity for SEO manipulation. However, with the advent of sophisticated AI tools capable of producing content at an unprecedented scale, Google has sharpened its policies. The update targets content generated through automation that needs to deliver substantial information or insight, emphasizing the need for content creators to focus on quality over quantity.

Site Reputation and Content Quality

The update also targets site reputation abuse, where high-reputation sites might host low-quality, AI-generated content to leverage their domain authority. Google clarifies that it will penalize sites engaging in such practices, encouraging site owners to maintain a high standard of oversight and quality for all content, whether in-house or by third parties.

What This Means for Content Creation

For web creators, the message is clear: this core update ends the era of relying on AI-generated content lacking depth, expertise, or authenticity. Google’s March 2024 Core Update encourages a renewed focus on creating content that genuinely serves the user’s intent, offers expert insights, and fosters trust.

Real-World Data from Around the Web

Amongst the dynamic landscape of Google’s Core Update, websites that consciously forego AI-generated content have encountered only minor fluctuations, which have yet to translate into long-term penalties.

Organic, human-written content can initially experience volatility as search algorithms adjust and recalibrate. However, sites investing in content that reflects human expertise and creativity have found this to be temporary. As the update continues, these websites begin to distinguish themselves, with their rankings climbing gradually.

The increase in rankings suggests that Google’s algorithms are rewarding content that resonates with authenticity and a human touch… a factor that AI-generated content has historically struggled to replicate. Content that exemplifies experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness — cornerstones of Google’s E-E-A-T criteria — helps websites align more closely with what search engines deem valuable.

As such, these websites have weathered the algorithmic shifts and capitalized on them, securing more organic visibility and engagement.

march core update ranking decrease

Informational websites have experienced the brunt of these fluctuations.

News websites have experienced an increase in SERP volatility, with a striking score of 9.4 out of 10 on the SERP volatility scale, according to Semrush Sensor. This fluctuation may reflect underlying quality issues within the sector. One prevailing theory suggests that the rapid pace at which news content is produced could compromise the depth and accuracy of information. Additionally, the pressure to rank for trending keywords might result in a deluge of hastily created articles that lack substantive analysis or verification, diluting the overall quality of content in this category.

In response to such issues, Google’s algorithms have possibly become more stringent, emphasizing the necessity for trustworthy and authoritative news content. This underlines the importance of news websites prioritizing thorough fact-checking, reporting, and genuine insight to align with Google’s heightened standards for quality and authenticity in the news sector.

march core update ranking increase

Users who opted out of using AI-written content saw slight fluctuations during Google’s Core Updates but, overall, saw increases over time.

news volatillity

 

all category volatility

All Category SERP Volatility

Understanding SERP Volatility with Semrush Sensor

Semrush provides a volatility sensor called “Semrush Sensor.” This sensor tracks daily changes in search result rankings across numerous categories and detects patterns of volatility that can indicate updates or adjustments within Google’s search algorithms.

For anyone involved in digital marketing or website management, this tool is invaluable. It translates the often cryptic shifts in SERPs into actionable data. By monitoring these movements, users can:

  1. Identify the timing and impact of search engine updates or algorithm changes.
  2. Compare volatility levels within their industry to gauge normal fluctuations versus significant shifts.
  3. Diagnose potential issues with their website’s SEO performance by correlating it with broader search trend changes.
  4. Adapt their SEO strategies promptly in response to the detected changes, staying ahead in a competitive digital landscape.

In essence, the Semrush Sensor empowers users with a deeper understanding of the search environment. This enables them to make more informed decisions and maintain their website’s visibility and ranking performance.

Moving Forward After the March Core Update

To navigate the effects of the Core Update successfully, content creators and site owners should review the following:

Policies and Practices Audit

Google’s updated spam policies are not merely guidelines but the new rulebook for organic success. Content creators must review their strategies to ensure strict adherence to these rules.

Compliance is no longer optional — it’s critical. This includes understanding the nuances of what constitutes value-driven content and steering clear of tactics flagged as manipulative or deceptive.

Content Evaluation for E-E-A-T

Google has focused squarely on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Your site’s content should be thoroughly evaluated to ensure that each piece contributes positively to these aspects. This means assessing the factual accuracy of your content, the authority of authors on the subject matter, and ensuring that the information is presented in a trustworthy and user-friendly manner.

It’s about embracing a user-centric perspective, wherein content creators’ expertise and credentials align with the audience’s expectations and needs.

User Intent and Originality

Successful content lies in its originality and ability to resonate with the audience. It’s about peering through the user’s lens — understanding their challenges, questions, and needs — and crafting content that addresses these points directly and effectively.

Creators should pivot towards delivering unique insights, analyses, and innovative takes on subjects that captivate and provide tangible solutions or knowledge to users.

Value-Oriented Content Creation

The spotlight is on creating content that serves the user first. This involves prioritizing the quality of information and its utility over-optimizing for search engines. Content that aids, educates, or enriches the user experience is poised to perform better.

This translates to a focus on creating detailed guides, in-depth tutorials, insightful commentaries, and well-researched articles that users find genuinely helpful and engaging.

By embedding these practices into your digital strategy, you align with Google’s current standards and prepare for the inevitable, continued evolution of search algorithm updates.

The objective is clear: foster a space where content integrity and user satisfaction are paramount, ensuring that your site survives and thrives in the face of future updates.