Google’s 2024 Updates: What Marketers Need to Know

As marketers, we need to be flexible and adaptable to change. Right now it feels like drinking through a firehose.?

You’ve probably heard Google has rolled out some big updates in 2024 that could shake up your SEO and content strategy. Keeping up with these changes is crucial if you want to stay ahead of the game and keep your content ranking well. Let's break down what these updates are and how you can adapt to them.

1. Understanding the March 2024 Core Update

What is the March 2024 Core Update?

The March 2024 Core Update is Google’s latest tweak to its ranking system, aimed at refining how content is evaluated and ranked. This update took about 45 days to roll out, causing quite a stir in the SEO community.

Key changes and their implications for content creators:

Integration of "helpful content" signals

Google’s now better at spotting helpful content. If your content genuinely answers user questions and provides value, you’re in luck. This update prioritizes well-researched, user-focused content over fluff.

Focus on reducing low-quality and unoriginal content

Google has had enough of thin, recycled content. If your blog is full of keyword-stuffed, low-value articles, it's time to step up your game. Google is cracking down on this kind of content, so make sure what you publish is original and useful.

2. The March 2024 Spam Update

Overview of the Spam Update

Alongside the core update, Google also rolled out a spam update targeting specific abusive practices to ensure cleaner search results.

Targeted abusive practices

• Expired domain abuse: Using old domains to boost rankings is now a no-go. Google’s shutting this down to ensure that content ranks based on its own merit, not just the history of a domain.
• Scaled content abuse: Creating loads of low-value pages to manipulate rankings? Google’s not having it. This practice is being targeted to improve the overall quality of search results.
• Site reputation abuse: Publishing third-party pages with little oversight to game the system is out. Google’s focusing on ensuring that site reputation is earned through genuine, high-quality content.

3. Other Notable Changes

Introduction of social media updates in business listings

Google now shows updates from Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) directly in business listings. This means your social media activity can directly impact your search visibility, so keep those profiles active and engaging.

Removal of Direct Ordering Through Restaurant Listings

For restaurants, Google has removed the ability to order directly through listings. Now, users are redirected to the restaurant’s own website or third-party ordering sites.

New search features

• Circle to search: This new tool aims to make searches more intuitive by helping users refine their queries easily.
• AI-powered multisearch: Combines text and visual elements to provide a richer search experience. This feature aims to deliver more contextually relevant results based on multiple inputs.

4. Impact on SEO strategies

With Google’s heightened focus on helpful and original content, your old SEO tricks might not work anymore. Expect significant ranking shifts and traffic changes if your content doesn’t meet the new standards. This means it’s time to revisit and refine your SEO strategy, focusing more on quality and user intent.

5. Preparing for the changes

With Google’s new updates, it’s crucial to adapt your content strategy to stay relevant and maintain your rankings. This means conducting a thorough audit of your existing content and aligning your future content with Google’s emphasis on quality and user experience. Here’s how you can prepare for these changes and ensure your content meets the new standards.

Steps to audit your existing content

• Content quality check: Review your content for originality, depth, and usefulness. Get rid of anything that’s thin or outdated.
• Engagement metrics: Analyze metrics like bounce rate and dwell time to gauge user engagement. High engagement signals to Google that your content is valuable.
• Update outdated content: Refresh old posts with current information and better insights to keep them relevant.

Strategies to align with Google’s emphasis on high-quality content

• Focus on user intent: Create content that answers real user questions and needs. This means understanding what your audience is looking for and delivering it.
• Invest in expert content: Use subject matter experts to produce well-researched, authoritative content that adds real value to your readers.
• Improve readability: Break up text with headers, bullet points, and visuals to enhance user experience. Easy-to-read content keeps users engaged longer.

Conclusion

Google’s updates require marketers to stay proactive and adaptive. Keep your content fresh, valuable, and user-focused to not just survive, but thrive, during this great shift in Google’s search strategy and upcoming AI “search generated experience” (more on that later).?

Start auditing your content today and implement these strategies to ensure your website remains relevant and valuable in light of Google’s 2024 updates. Let’s get to work!

Thoughts, feelings, opinions? I’m always open for discussion.?

Author

Laura Kenner is a freelance content marketer offering a variety of services for B2B SaaS cybersecurity companies and specialized marketing agencies who cater to their needs.

#SEO #B2Bmarketing #ContentMarketing