Core Update and Helpful Content System:
- Google’s March 2024 core update aims to prioritize useful information over content that seems optimized for search engines. In theory, spammy shite should be dropped in the rankings.
- The helpful content system is revamped and integrated into the core ranking systems to better identify genuinely helpful content and reduce unoriginal content.
- Expect the rollout to take a month, with significant ranking fluctuations during this period.
- Google aims to reduce low-quality, unoriginal content in search results by 40%.
Actionable To-Do List:
- Review Content Quality: Assess your website’s content for originality and usefulness to real users, not just for SEO.
- Monitor Rankings: Prepare for fluctuations in search rankings as the update rolls out. Use this time to identify areas for improvement.
- Update Content Strategy: Focus on creating high-quality, original content that addresses your audience’s needs and questions.
- Avoid Spam Tactics: Steer clear of expired domain abuse, scaled content abuse, and site reputation abuse to avoid penalties.
It generally helps to write from experience rather than just giving an overview that anyone could scrape and rewrite from the internet. Include your own images, videos etc.
Big brands will still probably have a massive advantage regardless of what they do.
Spam Updates:
- Significant changes to spam handling will start on May 5, 2024, affecting sites through algorithmic adjustments or manual actions.
- New spam policies target expired domain abuse, scaled content abuse (especially AI-generated content), and site reputation abuse.
Actionable To-Do List:
- Audit for Spam Practices: Check if any part of your SEO strategy could be considered spam under the new policies.
- Adjust SEO Tactics: Eliminate any reliance on expired domains, bulk AI content creation, or publishing on authoritative sites solely for SEO benefit.
- Stay Informed: Keep up with Google’s documentation on spam policies and examples of abuses to ensure compliance.
- Plan for May 2024: Prepare for the spam update by cleaning up any questionable SEO practices well in advance.
General Recommendations:
- Recognize the shift towards rewarding authoritative and genuinely helpful content.
- Anticipate a more significant impact from updates targeting spam and low-quality content.
- Understand that recovery from these updates may require fundamental changes beyond SEO, focusing on building a reputable and sought-after brand for quality content.
Actionable To-Do List:
- Wait and Watch: Allow time for the full impact of the updates to become clear as they fully roll out.
- Evaluate Your Website: Conduct a thorough review of your site’s content, focusing on quality, originality, and user value.
- Revise Your Content Creation Approach: Develop a content strategy that prioritizes user needs and questions, aiming to become a go-to resource in your niche.
- Build Your Brand: Focus on building a strong brand reputation that attracts users directly, independent of search engines.
