Google’s March 2024 Core Update: bigger than before

15th March 2024 / in SEO / by Ruturaj Kohok

Google is releasing massive search quality enhancements in March 2024 core update and multiple spam updates.

The Core Update introduces algorithmic changes aimed at enhancing search result quality and implementing new spam policies. The objective is to reduce the presence of low-quality, duplicated content in search results by 40%. The updated spam policies target abuse related to scaled content, site reputation, and expired domains.

The March 2024 Core Update, described as more comprehensive than routine core updates by Google, is currently being rolled out. In fact, since Google is updating multiple core systems, there will be more fluctuations in rankings than with a regular core update, as different systems get fully updated and reinforce each other.

Here are the comprehensive details.

Improved Quality Ranking:

A primary focus of the March 2024 Core Update is the refinement of Google’s ranking mechanisms.

Through this update, Google will enhance their core ranking algorithms to ensure the presentation of the most beneficial information on the web while mitigating the prevalence of unoriginal content in search results.

Google anticipates that the amalgamation of this update with its previous initiatives will collectively reduce the presence of low-quality, duplicated content in search results by 40%.

New Spam Policies:

Google is refining its spam policies to eliminate the “lowest-quality” content from search results.

Scaled Content Abuse:

Google is strengthening its policy against using automation to generate low-quality or unoriginal content on a large scale to manipulate search rankings.

The updated policy will focus on the abuse of mass-produced content to boost search rankings, whether it involves automation, humans or a combination of the two.

Site Reputation Abuse:

Google is addressing the issue of site reputation abuse, where trusted websites host low-quality, third-party content to capitalize on the hosting site’s strong reputation.

Expired Domain Abuse:

Google’s updated spam policies will target expired domain abuse, where expired domains are purchased and repurposed to boost the search ranking of low-quality content. This practice can mislead users into thinking the new content is part of the older, trusted site.