Google updated its search ranking algorithm again, and this time, we’re seeing major impacts across industries. From fluctuations in rankings to shifts in organic traffic, the SEO community is actively analyzing the impact of the March 2024 Core Update on search engine results pages (SERPs) and devising strategies to adapt to the evolving search landscape.
What Are Google Core Updates?
Google core updates are significant adjustments to the search engine’s algorithms, impacting how web pages are ranked and displayed in search results. These updates aim to improve the relevance, quality, and usefulness of search results for users. Google periodically releases core updates, sometimes multiple times a year, to refine its algorithms and adapt to changes in user behavior, technology, and the web landscape.
What is the Significance of the March 2024 Core Update?
The March 2024 core update marks another pivotal moment in Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance search quality and user experience. This update introduces notable changes to how websites are evaluated and ranked in search results, potentially affecting their visibility and traffic. Website owners and SEO professionals need to pay close attention to these updates as they can impact website rankings, traffic, and ultimately, business performance.
According to SEO Roundtable, many sites are seeing movement, but not all for the better. Unlike previous updates, the March 2024 core update is more complex and involves changes to multiple core systems. Google provided insight to website owners saying “This [update] is designed to improve the quality of Search by showing less content that feels like it was made to attract clicks, and more content that people find useful.”
Some noticeable quick facts about this update include:
- Name: Google March 2024 Broad Core Update
- Launched: March 5, 2024, at around 12 pm ET
- Rollout: Completed 45 days later on April 26, 2024, at around 4:09 pm ET
- Targets: It looks at all types of content
- Penalty: It is not a penalty, it promotes or rewards great web pages
- Global: This is a global update impacting all regions, in all languages.
- Impact: Google said it will result in a 45% reduction in low-quality unoriginal and unhelpful content in its search results.
- Discover: Core updates impact Google Discover and other features, as well as feature snippets and more.
How Should Website Owners Respond?
According to Google, “There’s nothing new or special that creators need to do for this update as long as they’ve been making satisfying content meant for people.” Here are some steps we think website owners can take now.
- Monitor Performance & Analyze Changes – Keep a close eye on website traffic, rankings, and user engagement metrics before and after the core update to gauge its impact. If you notice fluctuations in search visibility, identify areas of improvement.
- Content Quality – Focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that meets users’ needs and aligns with Google’s search quality guidelines. Learn whether your content is “helpful, reliable, and people-first”.
- Technical SEO – Ensure your website’s technical aspects, such as page speed, mobile-friendliness, and structured data markup, comply with best practices for optimal performance in search results.
- User Experience (UX) – Enhance the overall user experience on your website by improving navigation, reducing intrusive ads, and optimizing for mobile devices.
- Adapt and Evolve – Google rolls out updates regularly, sometimes monthly. Stay informed about Google’s algorithm updates and industry trends to adapt your SEO strategies accordingly and maintain competitive visibility in search results.
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