March was arduous for content creators and website owners as the March 2024 Google Core Algorithm update changed some critical ranking factors. Hundreds of websites experienced low traffic; many were deindexed due to this new update.

Here are more important things about the March 2024 Google Core Algorithm Update and how to stay on top of its new ranking factors.

What The New Google Update Brings

Looking at the New Google Update, two significant changes aim to improve search results.

No spam contents

According to the new algorithm, low-quality or seemingly spamming content will be kept out of Google searches. This algorithm will target websites that are not updated or expired, as well as those that are repurposed through a domain sale.

No unoriginal content

AI has hit the content industry unexpectedly in the past months. Both written and graphic content became handier to everyone with access to an AI platform. The March Google algorithm update aims to promote original, high-value content and penalize websites that use unoriginal content on a large scale.

Top Things You Need to Know About the New Google Algorithm

Penalties Target Websites Overnight

Google is penalizing websites and even removing them from search results fast without a warning. Websites that use unoriginal content offer low-quality information, and this core algorithm directly targets decreased user experience. Almost half of the search results might be penalized as this algorithm is implemented.

The harshest penalties go to the websites that use black hat SEO strategies and questionable SEO tools to rank higher on Google.

AI Content Is a Big No

Not only are websites that use more than 50% AI content in danger but also those that use less unoriginal content. However, AI content is one of many break-up dealers for this new core algorithm. Google targets websites that use unoriginal, repetitive, and unhelpful content. And it will remove low-quality content even if it is 100% human.

The Algorithm Chooses Quality Over Quantity

We can sum up most of the new core algorithm changes to its earlier EEAT strategy. This strategy used to be known as Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness. The new E added in front of that stands for Experience. Websites must create content meeting EEAT standards to increase search results ranking.

Platforms that offer content from various niches unlinked to each other are at risk because they need to show experience or expertise in one primary domain. According to Google’s new changes, writing a little of everything to catch the wave of popular keywords is considered spam.

The Selection Is Continuous

Many websites survived the first selection wave, which doesn’t make them immune. Consecrated websites that have survived several Google algorithm changes over the years might feel that they are in a safe spot. But this is only sometimes the case. Each new algorithm brings new standards, and websites must be updated accordingly to maintain their ranking.

Penalties Come with No Alert

Google will not notify website owners if their platforms are penalized by the new algorithm changes. However, you will notice a decrease in traffic that will leave you wondering what happened, and you will eventually need to adapt your SEO strategy to recalibrate the platform. Such changes are automatic, which is why it is essential to keep an eye on your website’s performance to be able to change it accordingly.

You can also type in the search engine “site:website.com” to see if your website appears in search results. This can save you a lot of investigative time.

Why Did Google Update the Algorithm?

Google implemented new strategies to eliminate spamming content and increase the quality of the search results. The changes began in 2022, even if in March 2024, they came to bring results. Google started changing its ranking factors to increase the quality of search results and sort out valuable websites from low-quality content.

Here are the main factors that the March 2024 Google Core Algorithm Update aims to reduce to improve search results’ quality:

  • Spam and unoriginal, repetitive content
  • Scaled content abuse
  • Site reputation abuse
  • Expired domains

The Impact of the Update

The March 2024 Google core algorithm update affected hundreds of websites by drastically reducing their traffic and removing some from search results.

While these changes may have shocked many website owners, Google aims to improve its search results and offer a better user experience. This update is a blessing in disguise, as genuine websites that happened to be penalized by losing a small percentage of their traffic have the chance to recalibrate. With the search engine’s spam folder significantly reduced, there will be more space for quality platforms to gain the authority they deserve.

Planning Forward if Your Website Was Penalized

With so many websites penalized or deindexed from search engines, it is essential to act as soon as you notice a decrease in traffic on your platform. Here’s a plan to move forward and remain a valuable source for your readers and on good terms with Google:

Eliminate useless or compromised content

The first step to recovering your website’s position and ranking higher is fixing the previous mistakes. Review the content and edit or replace unoriginal, redundant, or unhelpful content. Content created only to hit keywords should go to if it doesn’t answer queries. Remember that Google is not going after AI content by default, but if you mainly use AI content to get traffic, that can be a red flag for the algorithm.

This step to recovery might take some time, but there is only one way to do it with it.

Get Rid of Black Hat SEO

Black hat SEO strategies have been a no-no for many years, but the penalties against them just got harsher with this Google update! Keyword stuffing, redirects, cloaking, and parasite SEO can put your website in the spam category.

Build a legitimate SEO strategy with your team. Even if it might take longer to see stable ranking results, you will improve your website authority in the long run.

Don’t buy a Second-Hand domain

While it might be tempting to purchase a previously used domain, there are better approaches than this if you want to rank on Google. According to the new Google core algorithm update, “Expired domains purchased and repurposed to boost the search ranking of low-quality content are now considered spam.”

However, it ultimately boils down to the quality of your content. If you purchased a domain but kept adding steady, original, high-value content, it could be as successful as you planned. But if you want to use the previous traffic of that domain as a starting point and feed it with low-quality content, chances are Google will notice.

Only use high-authority links

It is important to use links on your website, but the links you use are critical to your SEO success. Check out your top linking sites in Google Search Console and remove all the spammy ones. Submit a review request to make sure your changes improve your website’s SEO.

Wrap-up

While the March 2024 Google core algorithm update can seem drastic and impact many websites, know there is hope for recovery. It will not be a fast recovery, though. You must fix the mistakes Google identified and prove your website is trustworthy.