With the dust just settling on the recent March 2024 core update, now is the perfect time for websites to take stock of their current organic search strategy, or even start to consider including one in their marketing strategy. Here, our Ardent SEO team will take you through the key highlights of this update and what you can do if your website was impacted.
In Case You Missed It
In March 2024, Google announced that they would be releasing another core update to their algorithms. These updates are often designed to improve the overall quality and relevance of organic search results. Running from March 5 to April 19, the most recent algorithm update made major changes to multiple ranking systems. This included:
- Improved Quality Ranking – Enhancements to better identify and promote high-quality, original content, ensuring that users access the most helpful information available.
- Reduction of Low-Quality Content – Google estimates a significant 45% reduction in low-quality, unoriginal content appearing in search results.
- Updated Spam Policies – Concurrent with the algorithm update was a comprehensive overhaul of Google’s spam policies to tackle evolving spam tactics more effectively. The aim is to prevent low-quality content, such as expired domain spam and site reputation abuse, from polluting search results.
- Enhanced Spam Detection – Enhanced measures are being introduced to detect and penalise sites that employ manipulative practices to boost their rankings. This includes more sophisticated approaches to identifying spam generated through automated means or scaled content production.
How To Adapt To These Changes
Post-update, you might observe fluctuations in your website’s search rankings. It’s important to adapt to these changes if you wish to maintain or improve the number of users that organically find your website. Here are some steps that you can take to minimise the impact:
- Audit Your Existing Content And Website: Review your current content to ensure it aligns with the new standards. Also, perform an audit of your website to see if there are any major technical issues that could affect usability.
- Consider E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) are more crucial than ever. Ensure that your content is created or reviewed by experts. Focus on adding value through unique insights and comprehensive information that are useful to your visitors.
- Enhance User Experience: Google’s algorithm updates increasingly reward sites with fast loading times, easy navigation, and mobile optimisation. These elements contribute to a better user experience and can help improve your rankings.
Don’t Panic!
While algorithm updates can seem daunting, they are also perfect opportunities to improve your site and better serve your audience. If you’ve noticed a drop in your rankings, don’t panic.
Instead, use this as a motivation to refine your SEO strategies and content offerings. By focusing on creating high-quality, relevant content, you can align your site with Google’s objectives and, in turn, enhance your visibility in search results.
Looking to boost your site’s performance or need tailored advice on adapting to these changes, but don’t know where to start? Get in touch with Ardent for a free strategy session with our SEO experts.
