The March 2024 Core Update: Focus on Helpful Content

Core updates are broad algorithm changes that Google implements to improve the overall quality of search results. The March 2024 core update, announced on the Google Search Central Blog, emphasizes rewarding “helpful information on the web” and reducing unoriginal content.

Here’s a breakdown of what this means for website owners:

• Prioritizing User Experience: Google wants to ensure users find content that is genuinely informative and addresses their search queries effectively. This update likely strengthens the importance of factors like website structure, readability, and mobile-friendliness.
• Combating Unoriginal Content: Sites with thin content, excessive keyword stuffing, or content blatantly copied from other sources are likely to see a decline in rankings. Google aims to elevate content that demonstrates expertise, provides unique value, and offers a fresh perspective.
• Understanding User Intent: The update might place more emphasis on understanding the user’s intent behind a search query. Content that goes beyond simply matching keywords and delves deeper into a topic to fulfill the user’s informational needs will likely be favored.

Before vs. After: The March 2024 Core Update

Factor	Before Update	After Update
Content Focus	Keyword-centric, potentially thin content	User-centric, informative, and original content
User Experience	Mobile-friendliness might be a secondary concern	Mobile-friendliness likely a top priority
Expertise & Authority	Content from any source might rank	Content from established sources or demonstrating expertise might rank higher

Addressing the March 2024 Core Update

Here are some actionable steps you can take to adapt your website to the March 2024 core update:

• Content Audit: Conduct a thorough content audit to identify thin content or content lacking originality. Consider revising or removing such content.
• User-Centric Approach: Revisit your content strategy with a user-centric mindset. Ask yourself: “Does this content genuinely answer user search queries?”
• E-A-T Focus: Focus on Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) in your content. Ensure your authors are credible and your content is backed by reliable sources.
• Mobile Optimization: Double-check that your website offers a seamless user experience on mobile devices.

The March 2024 Spam Update: Cleaning Up Search Results

Alongside the core update, Google also rolled out a separate spam update aimed at tackling low-quality content. This update targets specific spam tactics like:

• Expired Websites Repurposed for Spam: Websites that were once legitimate but have been taken over and filled with spam content are likely to be impacted.
• Obituary Spam: This update aims to remove irrelevant obituary notices that spam search results.

While the core update focuses on rewarding high-quality content, the spam update directly targets specific tactics used to manipulate search engine ranking.

Overall Impact and Recommendations

The combined effect of these updates is likely to be a significant shift in search results, prioritizing user experience, helpful information, and trustworthy content.

Here are some final recommendations for website owners:

• Stay Informed: Keep yourself updated on Google’s algorithm updates. Resources like Google Search Central offer valuable information.
• Focus on Quality: Create high-quality content that provides genuine value to users. Focus on in-depth analysis, original research, and a user-friendly experience.
• Long-Term Strategy: Don’t chase trends or manipulate search engines. Build a long-term SEO strategy based on creating valuable content and building trust with your audience.

By understanding these updates and adapting your website accordingly, you can ensure your content continues to rank well and reach your target audience in the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization.