Google regularly rolls out core algorithm updates, typically occurring every 1-2 months. These updates are designed to improve Google’s search results by targeting sites that violate Google’s quality guidelines or rely too heavily on optimization tactics.
The March 2024 core update, referred to as the Google March 2024 Core Update, was a major algorithmic update that began on March 12, 2024, and rolled out over the following weeks. This update had significant and widespread impacts, causing volatility in search rankings across many sectors. Many site owners reported massive fluctuations and losses in traffic and rankings.
Understanding the characteristics of sites impacted, whether positively or negatively, provides key insights into Google’s evolving quality standards and best practices for maintaining strong rankings. Analyzing the core update is crucial for SEO professionals and web admins seeking to optimize their sites.
Significant Impacts Reported
In the weeks since Google’s March 2024 core update rolled out, website owners and SEO professionals have reported major turbulence in the search results. While core updates are designed to improve search quality, many sites have experienced severe drops in traffic and rankings.
Beyond large, established sites, the update also affected many smaller businesses and independent publishers. Based on chatter in SEO forums and Facebook groups, thousands of sites of all sizes appear to have experienced ranking shakeups and traffic declines following the March update rollout. The breadth of the impacts suggests Google made fundamental algorithmic changes that substantially reordered search results across numerous topics and categories.
Google’s Explanation of the March 2024 Core Update
Google has not provided much detail about what signals or algorithm changes were behind their March 2024 core update. However, they did acknowledge that this update was focused on improving the quality of search results and the user experience.
According to Google’s search liaison, Danny Sullivan, core updates are designed to ensure their algorithms continue to find and surface the most relevant and helpful content for searchers. He stated that sites impacted by core updates may have experienced shifts based on whether their content is comprehensively useful, unique, and substantive.
While Google avoids revealing specifics about these updates to prevent manipulation, some clues were provided. Sullivan confirmed this core update will roll out globally starting on March 13, 2024. He also hinted that it incorporated both new signals and adjustments to existing ranking factors.
One goal mentioned was enhancing results for searches where fresh, authoritative information is needed. This implies a focus on improving relevance for time-sensitive queries and emerging topics.
Overall, Google’s statements indicate their March 2024 core update targeted content quality issues like thin, low-value pages and aimed better to satisfy searchers’ needs for useful, trustworthy information. The impacts reflect Google’s evolving standards for content that provides a satisfying search experience.
Core Update Signals
The latest Google Core Update in March 2024 has targeted several key algorithmic signals related to overall content quality and E-A-T (expertise, authority, and trustworthiness). Here’s an overview of what experts believe were some of the main focuses:
Content Relevance and Depth: Producing high-quality content that deeply covers the topic at hand has been rewarded. Thin, low-effort content was likely penalized. Sites should aim for comprehensive, substantive information rather than just skimming the surface.
Original Reporting and Research: Unique analysis, insights, and data have been prioritized over aggregating or rewriting existing information. Google wants sites to add value through original research.
Author Expertise: Having content written by experts and specialists in their field was a plus. Building author credibility through qualifications, experience, and a track record has been valued.
Strategic Internal Linking: Natural, relevant, and thoughtful interlinking rather than over optimized anchor text links appears to align with Google’s wishes. An effective internal linking structure helps highlight the expertise on your site.
High Editorial Standards: Strong copywriting, proper formatting, excellent grammar and spelling, and robust editing and fact-checking helped sites provide a better user experience. Higher production quality matters.
Referencing Sources: Citing sources, references, data, quotes, etc., helps demonstrate an editorial process and validates the accuracy of information provided to users. Transparency builds further trust.
Avoiding Misinformation: This update penalized misleading claims, unsubstantiated conspiracy theories, harmful health or medical advice, and other blatant misinformation. Reliable, factual accuracy is critical.
Expert Optimization Tips
SEO experts recommend focusing on the following areas when looking to recover or improve rankings after Google’s March 2024 Core Update:
Improved page speed and technical SEO: Page speed is becoming an increasingly important ranking factor. Make sure your site is optimized for fast load times on all devices. Fix any technical SEO issues, like broken links or structured data errors.
Enhance content quality: Google is cracking down on low-quality, thin, or copied content. Ensure you have in-depth, comprehensive, and unique content on every page. Add more words, images, videos, and multimedia to enrich the content.
Strengthen expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T): Build a stronger reputation by cultivating domain expertise and an authoritative brand. Produce trustworthy content that cites sources and shows journalistic integrity. Get reputable backlinks from trusted industry websites.
Optimize for featured snippets and rich results. Structured data and templates for FAQs, how-tos, and lists can help you target special search features. Write content that comprehensively answers search queries.
Diversify backlinks. Don’t depend on manipulative link schemes or low-quality links. Focus on earning backlinks organically from a diverse range of high-quality, topically relevant sites.
Provide local content and optimization. For local businesses, optimizing for local SEO is key. Build robust location-based pages and signals like NAP, GMB listings, and local backlinks.
Enhance UX: beyond just ranking keywords, provide the best overall user experience. Improve site speed, navigation, conversions, and satisfaction.
The road ahead
Google’s March 2024 core update has clearly caused major disruption and volatility for many sites’ rankings. Looking ahead, we can expect further fluctuations and shakeups as the dust continues to settle from this update over the coming weeks and months.
Google will likely roll out additional refining updates to fine-tune and adjust aspects of the algorithm change. Minor follow-up updates often occur after major core updates. Sites negatively impacted may see rebounds or further declines during this period of volatility.
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