Webmasters and SEO specialists can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Google’s much-anticipated March 2024 core update, which began rolling out on March 5th, has officially concluded as of April 19th, 2024. This complex update, taking 45 days to fully implement, aimed to refine Google’s search algorithms and prioritize high-quality, helpful content for users.
ALSO READ: Google Releases March 2024 Core Update & New Spam Policies
While the core update itself is complete, Google’s work on improving search results is never truly finished. Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways:
- Focus on Quality and User Experience: This update emphasized content that is informative, trustworthy, and addresses users’ search queries comprehensively. Websites with thin content, low-quality AI-generated text, or those focused on search engine manipulation tactics likely saw a decline in rankings.
- The Helpful Content Update’s End: Google announced the standalone Helpful Content Update would be integrated into this core update, streamlining their evaluation process.
- A Storm of Changes: The March 2024 update coincided with a separate spam update and a wave of manual actions against websites with spammy content. This period might have caused ranking fluctuations due to the combined effects.
The March 2024 core update is complete, having ended on April 19. The ranking feedback form is now ready at https://t.co/EiM7C8PtaS and will remain open through May 31. We’ve also updated our Debugging drops in Google Search traffic help page here: https://t.co/pxz3nXBXxP
— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) April 26, 2024
What Now for SEOs?
Although the core update is over, SEOs should remain vigilant. Here are some steps to consider:
- Content Audit: Analyze your website content for quality, depth, and user value. Consider revisions or refreshing outdated information.
- Focus on EAT: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (EAT) remain crucial. Ensure your content comes from credible sources and offers unique insights.
- User Engagement: Monitor user engagement metrics like time on page and bounce rate. Low engagement might indicate a need to improve content or user experience.
- Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with Google’s ever-evolving search guidelines. Utilize resources like the Google Search Central blog and webmaster tools.
The March 2024 core update signifies Google’s ongoing commitment to providing users with the most relevant and valuable search results. By prioritizing quality content and user experience, SEOs can continue to optimize their websites for success in the ever-changing search landscape.
Image Courtesy: Google