Google just made a big change to how search works (March 2024 core update). This is the first update of the year and it might be stressful for some business owners and SEO experts. The goal is to make search results better by getting rid of spam and showing people the most helpful information. This update started rolling out on March 5th.
Here’s what else changed:
- Google improved its system for finding helpful content.
- They also made new rules to fight spam on the internet.
Helpful Content Now Part of Core Updates!
Google won’t announce separate updates for helpful content anymore. Instead, finding helpful content is now part of their regular updates.The September update might have hurt some websites, but hopefully this March update won’t be as bad
Here’s the key takeaway for businesses: Write content that’s actually helpful to people, not just designed to trick search engines. As long as your content is original and helps users, you shouldn’t have much to worry about.
Along with their core update, Google is also cleaning house with some new anti-spam measures. Two of these updates will start working right away to find and remove spammy websites.
There’s also another update coming in May that focuses on websites that misuse a good reputation to rank low-quality content.
1. No More “Content Fluff”
- What it means: Google is targeting websites that produce low-quality content, just to rank higher in search results. This includes content created automatically, by hand, or using a mix of both.
- The problem: These websites waste searchers’ time with content that doesn’t answer their questions or provide any real value.
- The solution: Focus on creating high-quality, helpful content that actually benefits your readers.
2. Expired Domains Aren’t Shortcuts
- What it means: Buying an old website (expired domain) and filling it with low-quality content to rank higher won’t work anymore.
- The problem: This tactic exploits the ranking power of established websites but offers no real value to searchers.
- The solution: Build your website’s reputation organically by creating valuable content and earning backlinks from reputable sources.
3. Watch Out for Website Hitchhikers
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- What it means: Google is targeting websites that allow others to post low-quality content on their site. This is sometimes called “parasite SEO” because it tries to piggyback on another website’s good reputation.
- The problem: This tactic can mislead searchers and damage the reputation of the website allowing the low-quality content.
- The solution: Carefully review any third-party content you allow on your website and make sure it’s high-quality and relevant to your audience.