Google Updates its Algorithms to Address Low Quality Content and Spam

If your company invests in best SEO practices, the this newsletter might be of high interest. Why? Well, last month, Google ran a core update for their algorithms. Focusing on finding low quality content generated solely by AI, as well as manipulative SEO practices, the update comes with added benefits, as well as many implications for business owners.

?? Good quality content is still key

Classic metrics like the quality of the content have always stood on a high position when it came to optimizing for search engines. With the developments of AI, the ability to write content, using the right keywords is at everyone’s fingertips.

? But this March core update tells website owners and content creators that the use of content generated through automation, including generative AI, is SPAM if the primary purpose is manipulating ranking in Search results.

? Therefore, AI can well be used as a virtual assistant which provides correlated information or why not, a content structure and ideas. But its full potential will be unleashed by the ones who know how to take the ideas generated by AI and turn it into high quality, fresh and relevant content which exudes the human touch.

?? Improved ways to index helpful content

Google is showing that its focus is now shifting towards its end users, prioritizing user experience and genuine content.

The algorithms will now prioritize content that serves the needs of their visitors, rather than algorithms. This will not only improve user experience dramatically, but will also result in a more informative and trustworthy web space

And this makes a lot of sense, especially for eCommerce websites, where the whole experience, from searching for the products to product pages, is integral to the success of the business.

?? Spam Policies are getting a boost

Worried about Brand hijacking or other controversial practices? Well, this is Google's way of saying that they are constantly working to ensure safety.

? For many years, Expired domain abuse has been a common practice employed to manipulate search rankings by purchasing an expired domain. The new algorithms are trained to spot these practices but also to differentiate between these malicious habits and using an old domain name for a new, original site that’s designed to serve people first.

? Scaled content abuse has taken a rise in the last year, with the help of AI. Some try to manipulate search rankings by creating large amounts of un-original content that provides little to no value to users. The new algorithms will penalize that.

? Site reputation abuse happens when a third-party page is published, having no relation whatsoever with the first-party page in terms of relevance of content.

However, the new algorithms are trained not to penalize all these pages.

For example, websites owned by publications often have advertorial pages. Even though they don’t have the same content as the main pages, these are still relevant to the business.

?? If your website have such pages, which are not created to increase your rankings, our advice is to use the noindex robots meta tag, a rule that tells Google not to index the content or let it appear in Google search results.

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