What are the implications of the March 2024 Google update?
The March 2024 Google Core Update is a major event for website owners and marketers. This update could have a significant impact on the ranking and visibility of websites in search results. Google has announced that this update aims to reduce the amount of unhelpful content in search results. This means that websites offering valuable and relevant content will have a higher chance of ranking well in search results. In addition, Google will also focus on addressing expired domains and cases of parasite SEO. This update aims to improve the quality of search results and provide users with valuable information.
Preparing and optimising your website
What does this update mean for your website? How can you prepare and make sure your website performs well in search results? In this article, we will discuss the implications of the March 2024 Google Core Update and provide tips on how to optimise your website.
The impact of the March 2024 Google Core Update
The March 2024 Google Core Update aims to improve the quality of search results and prioritise valuable content for users. This update was announced by Google on 5 March 2024 and is considered one of the most impactful updates since the beginning of the SEO era.
Key aspects of the update
Reducing unhelpful content in search results with 40%. This means that websites that create content for the sole purpose of ranking high in search engines, without adding value for users, will be ranked lower.
Address specific problems, such as expired domains and parasite SEO cases. Expired domains are domain names that are no longer used by their previous owners and will receive lower rankings in search results. Parasite SEO cases refer to situations where high-authority websites allow the posting of low-quality content by low-authority websites. These cases will also be addressed in the March 2024 update.
Impact on your website
If your website has good and relevant information for visitors, this update can help you rank higher in search results. Make sure your content is trustworthy and expert, according to Google's E-A-T rules.
Think about what your target audience wants to know and give them useful answers. Keep your content current and update it regularly so that it stays in tune with what your visitors need and what Google expects.
Backlinks are still important, but try to have a good mix of different types of links. Quality links from various sources in your field can help you be seen as an expert.
Although Google is sometimes criticised for favouring big companies, it does its best to keep users happy with valuable search results.
Main implications of the update
Reduction of unhelpful content in search results
Tougher crackdown on websites engaging in "scaled content abuse" and "clickbait content"
Stricter measures against the use of misleading clickbait titles
Addressing lapsed domains
Reduction of unhelpful content
One of the main effects of the Google Core update is the reduction of unhelpful content in search results. Google will take stricter action against websites that provide low-quality content and do not provide value to users. This particularly applies to websites that engage in "scaled content abuse" and "clickbait content".
"Scaled content abuse" refers to the creation of content designed solely to manipulate search engines without regard to users' needs. This can include, for example, repeating the same content on multiple pages with minimal changes. With the update, Google will crack down on such practices and rank websites with this form of content manipulation lower in search results.
The use of misleading clickbait titles will also be dealt with more strictly. Clickbait titles are titles that mislead users and encourage them to click on a link, but the content does not offer the promised value. This practice is considered misleading and will also be addressed with the update.
What is unhelpful content according to Google?
Google plans to reduce unhelpful content in search results by 40%, which is a significant reduction.
Unhelpful content refers to content that is created solely for search engine optimisation (SEO) and offers no real value to users. This includes content that is stuffed with keywords, poorly written or irrelevant to the user's search query. By reducing unhelpful content, Google aims to improve the overall quality of search results and ensure users find the information they are looking for.
Addressing lapsed domains
Another important consequence of the Google Core update is the approach to expired domains. These are domain names that are no longer used by their previous owners. Google will rank these domains lower in search results because they often do not offer valuable content to users. Websites that use expired domains to improve their ranking may be negatively affected by the update.
What is parasitic SEO?
Parasitic SEO is a technique whereby low-quality, low-authority websites take advantage of high-authority websites to improve their own ranking in search engine search results.
It is a sly way for these low-quality websites to get more visibility and traffic by hitching a ride on the reputation of established websites.
Websites using parasitic SEO may see a drop in their rankings and a decline in organic traffic. This is because Google prioritises valuable and useful content for its users, and websites that engage in these black-hat SEO practices do not comply.
Sounds pretty intense right? The recent Google core update in March 2024 addresses this problem.
Criticism of the Google update
The March 2024 Google Core Update has received both positive and negative attention. Although Google designed the update to improve the quality of search results, some criticisms have emerged.
Favouring large organisations: the update emphasises factors such as expertise, authority and reliability (E-A-T). Large organisations often have more resources and are better able to present themselves as authorities in their field. This can lead to higher rankings in search results, making it harder for smaller companies to compete.
Importance of backlinks: although Google also considers other factors such as user experience and content quality, backlinks remain an important signal of authority and trustworthiness. Some website owners find this unfair, as obtaining high-quality backlinks is often difficult and time-consuming.
Negative impact on certain websites: the March 2024 Google Core Update could potentially negatively impact websites with low-quality or automatically generated content. These websites may experience a drop in their ranking and traffic.
So, despite criticism of the March 2024 Google Core Update, it is important to understand why it is there and ensure valuable content for your visitors. By working on expertise, authority and reliability, website owners can increase their chances of coming out of the update well.
Importance of valuable and useful content
EAT principle
It is important to focus on creating valuable and relevant content for your target audience. Prioritise answering questions and addressing your customers' needs. Make sure your content adheres to the E-A-T principles, which stands for Experience, Expertise, Authority and Trustworthiness. This means providing a good user experience, demonstrating expertise in your field, establishing authority and building trust with your audience.
At G365Marketing, we understand how complicated SEO can be and the impact of Google updates. We offer you personalised marketing solutions that fit what your business needs. Our experienced team of SEO specialists are ready to help you increase your online visibility and achieve measurable results.
Find out how G365 Marketing can help you optimise your website to meet the requirements of the Google Core Updates. Contact us today for a free consultation!
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