Google’s fresh Core Update, rolled out on March 5, 2024, is setting the stage for a cleaner, more valuable Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs) experience, cracking down on spam and grappling with the emerging influence of AI in content creation.

This overhaul isn’t just about tweaking algorithms; it’s a concerted effort to champion genuinely insightful content over the flashy but empty allure of clickbait and overstuffed keyword labyrinths designed to game the system. With a suite of new spam policies in place, Google is doubling down on its commitment to boost the integrity of search results.

For those who’ve been playing by Google’s rules all along, this update probably won’t feel like a major quake—more of a gentle nudge. But let’s get into what’s really new and noteworthy about this update, its spam policies, and the art of crafting top-notch content.

Why This Update Matters Now

Charlie Warzel of The Atlantic recently nailed a growing sentiment, likening using Google to “rifling through junk mail.” It seems the magic of Googling has lost its gleam, bogged down by scams and uninspired content. It’s clear something had to change. With this update, Google repositions its algorithm to put users first again, a necessary pivot from the AI-driven strategies that served it in the past.

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So Google needed to change something. AI and an algorithm that had been serving it so well for so long was no longer putting the user first. 

Luckily, Google has taken action.

Decoding the March 2024 Core Update

This isn’t your average update. Google is deploying new signals and methods to better gauge the helpfulness of content, marking a significant shift from reliance on any single factor. Here’s a snapshot:

Key Highlights:

• Spam Policies: Enhanced guidelines to ensure search results remain trustworthy and high-quality.

• Rollout Duration: Expect this update to unroll over a month, which might lead to more fluctuations in page rankings than usual.. 
• No Special Action Required: If you’re already focused on crafting content that genuinely serves users, keep at it
• New FAQ Page: Google has launched an FAQ page to clear up any confusion about the changes.

Deep Dive into Google’s Spam Policies.

#1 Understanding Google’s Spam Policies

Cloaking and Doorways: These tactics, like showing different content to search engines than to users or creating pages just to rank well, can mislead and diminish user experience.

Expired Domain Abuse and Hacked Content: Taking over expired domains to leverage their former clout or injecting harmful content onto websites without permission won’t just hurt your credibility—it could lead to penalties.

Hidden Text and Keyword Stuffing: Techniques meant to manipulate search engine rankings, like using invisible text or excessive keyword repetition, are out.

Link Spam: Any manipulative link practices intended to influence page rank are in Google’s crosshairs.

#2 The Rollout Timeline

This comprehensive update is complex and might take a while to fully implement. Keep an eye on Google’s Rollout Dashboard for updates.

#3 Fostering People-First Content

Google’s advice has long echoed the sentiment of creating sincere, reliable content. Imagine explaining your content strategy to your grandmother—the confusion, while humorous, highlights the importance of simplicity and integrity in what we produce. If your content feels disingenuous, it’s worth a rethink.

Of course Google has a bit more specific instruction than that, starting with the ever famous E-E-A-T.

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) are more crucial than ever. Content that demonstrates these qualities, especially on YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics, will be prioritized in search rankings.

If you want a refresher on E-E-A-T read below, if not, feel free to skip ahead.

SIDEBAR: E-E-A-T: The Cornerstone of Content Quality

E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It’s a framework used by Google to assess the quality of content on the web. Here are some bullet points to help understand each component:

Experience

• Demonstrates the content creator’s personal experience and hands-on knowledge of the topic.
• Content should convey a depth of understanding that comes from actual use or interaction with the subject matter.
• Examples include detailed product reviews, personal narratives, and case studies.

Expertise

• Reflects the level of knowledge and skill the content creator has in a particular field or subject area.
• Expertise is especially crucial for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics, where accuracy and depth of knowledge can impact readers’ health, happiness, safety, or financial stability.
• Credentials, formal training, or extensive experience in the field can indicate expertise.

Authoritativeness

• Measures the credibility and reputation of the content creator and the website where the content is published.
• Authoritativeness is built through endorsements from other authoritative figures in the field, citations, and links from reputable sites.
• High-quality content that is frequently cited by others in the same field can enhance authoritativeness.

Trustworthiness

• Assesses the reliability and honesty of the content, the content creator, and the website.
• Secure sites with clear privacy policies, easy-to-find contact information, and transparent about the author’s credentials or site’s purpose score higher in trustworthiness.
• Accurate, well-researched, and unbiased content contributes to a site’s trustworthiness.

#3 Creating People-First Content (Continued)

Content and Quality Questions to Ask Yourself:

• Does your content offer original insights, analysis, or information?
• Is your content comprehensive and detailed, providing a complete understanding of the topic?
• Would you bookmark or recommend your content to a friend?
• Does your content contribute substantial value when compared to other pages in search results?

Expertise Matters:

• Showcase clear expertise, whether that’s through your own experience or via thorough research of your topic.
• Ensure your content is free from factual errors and is coming from trustworthy sources, with links to original sources.

Providing a Great Page Experience:

• Optimize loading speeds and ensure your site is mobile-friendly.
• Design your site with user navigation in mind, making it easy for visitors to find what they need.
• Secure your site with HTTPS to protect users’ information.

Focus on People-First Content:

• Aim to create content that fulfills the user’s search intent, offering them the answers or solutions they seek.
• Engage your audience with content that reflects first-hand expertise and a depth of knowledge.
• Ensure your content would be useful to your audience if they came directly to your site, without relying on search engines to find it.

Avoid Search Engine-First Content:

• Don’t produce content with the primary goal of ranking in search engines.
• Avoid writing on trending topics unless they align with your site’s purpose or your audience’s interests.
• Refrain from using automated tools to generate content that lacks depth or value.

#4 FAQ Overview: Google’s Helpful and Unhelpful Content

Google’s FAQs provide insights on identifying and improving helpful content, stressing that content evaluations are primarily page-level but influenced by overall site quality.t. Here are the key takeaways:

• Evolution of Helpful Content Identification: this system has been evolving since 2022. Currently, there isn’t a singular system for identifying helpful content; instead, Google’s core ranking systems utilize a multitude of signals and systems to assess content.
• Assessing Content Helpfulness: You can use things like the guide above or go straight to the source with Google’s guide on creating helpful, reliable, people-first content, which includes a series of evaluative questions.
• Page-Level vs. Site-Wide Assessment: Google’s core ranking systems primarily evaluate the helpfulness of content on a page-by-page basis, although some site-wide signals are also considered in the ranking process.
• Impact of Removing Unhelpful Content: While Google’s ranking systems primarily focus on individual pages, having a significant amount of unhelpful content on a site can negatively affect the performance of other content. Removing unhelpful content may help improve the ranking of the remaining content.
• Timing of Ranking Improvements After Content Removal: Ranking improvements following the removal of unhelpful content are not tied to core updates and can occur at any time.

Other Things Worth Considering

Beyond this update, remember that solid technical SEO and a well-rounded backlink profile are still vital. Your keyword strategy should be a piece of a broader digital strategy that not only captures attention but captivates the right audience at the optimal point in their journey.

Need more insights or assistance? Drop us a line at hello@digitalnar.com—we’re here to help elevate your digital presence.

And there you have it, a reimagined look at Google’s latest update, designed to help you navigate these changes with clarity and strategy.