Google Algorithm Updates 2024: What To Know & How To Adapt Accordingly?

Did Google's recent March 2024 update leave your website trembling in fear? You're not alone! Many marketers have seen their rankings drop drastically overnight. While Google often updates its algorithm, the recent one has had a significant impact.

This leads us to the most pressing questions, such as "What are the new rules for SEO now?" or "How can marketers adapt to the new updates and steer clear of penalties?" Rest assured, this blog guide provides clear and concise answers to these questions, offering a way to stay unbothered amidst such changes.

Updated & Enhanced SEO

The first and foremost update in Google's new plan is altering the search algorithms and keeping the spam ones at bay. So, if your website prioritizes keyword stuffing or using irrelevant words more and doesn't concentrate much on writing relevant and high-quality content, it will be game over for you. In simple words, if your content doesn't match the searched query despite the keyword relevance, you're in for a rough ride.

Google is taking a stricter stance. Websites violating the new guidelines or using manipulative SEO tactics risk not only ranking penalties but complete removal from search results. In short, Google wants to ensure its users find what they're looking for quickly and efficiently, and this update paves the way for a more helpful and reliable search experience for everyone.

Website Content: More Emphasis On Quality Over Quantity

Secondly, Google's focus now shifts to genuinely informative and engaging content that provides value to searchers. Your GPT-derived content might be smart, but Google's AI is smarter and can easily detect unhelpful pages. Google further promises these updates will reduce low or trash content by 40%, clearing space for informative and well-deserved websites to shine.

AI Involvement: How Much Is Allowed?

"But I have been using AI discreetly to write the content for my website- how can it be detected and labeled spam?" This is the response we've heard the most since the new update. But as we said, Google is smarter than you think.

Firstly, it works through an EEAT concept revolving around experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness while checking the content posted on websites. And why is it necessary? The best example is if you're looking for a medicine to treat the illness, you will obviously believe the doctor's perception, not advice from a singer.

Hence, Google further checks if the content is high quality and written by a real person. There are a few clues that give away the hint if it's written by a real human or a machine. Further, articles written by known writers are in the green as well.

So, what do you do? How do you make sure your content doesn't contain AI traces, as it's also impossible to be entirely unique? You can work on the recommendation by Search Engine Journal that talks about using AI to polish only rough content or using the voice search option instead, as this will reduce the chances of spam or redundancy and give you a creative and effective way to form content for your website.

Spam Policies You Should Know

It's not new to end up on a website that doesn't answer your question, yet you clicked on it anyway as it was either in the top rankings or had your searched keyword placed in between?! Surprisingly, most websites use such a strategy to trick the search engine, but no more, as Google's new abuse policies are designed to prevent such setbacks. That said, the new abuses are;

• Scaled Content: In the past, some websites created tons of content automatically, hoping to trick search engines into thinking they were useful. This often meant you ended up on pages that weren't very helpful at all. Now, Google will look for websites that produce a lot of low-quality content, regardless of whether AI or people write it.

• Reputation & Relevancy Above All: Sometimes, websites with good content might accidentally get tricked into hosting not-so-great content from other sources. An example can be a recipe website telling you how to pay your loans. But you won't see much of this now, as Google will ensure that a website posts only relevant content.

• No More Old Web Addresses: Sometimes, people buy old website addresses and use them to show low-quality content. This can trick you into thinking the new content is related to the old website, which is often untrue. So, Google is now cracking down on this practice to ensure more reliable search results.

Manual Penalties

In addition to automatic changes, Google can manually penalize websites with low-grade content. This means a human reviewer at Google identifies specific issues on a website. After the update, many have complained about receiving such manual penalties.

That said, if you noticed your website ranking lower in search results lately, it might be because of this update. So, it's better to check your website content to make sure it doesn't violate any of Google's spam policies (which we discussed above).

Your Or Google's Way? How To Survive? Effective Tips!  

Don't worry; your site will not be removed immediately. Instead, Google has granted everyone a two-month window to adapt to the new policies and make changes. So, let's answer the last question: How can we adjust to the latest update and stay in Google's good books?

• Content Quality Matters The Most

Google's recent update emphasizes high-quality, relevant content. While AI is surely helping everyone become a writer, it still limits creativity, which humans, on the other hand, have more of. So, don't feel underwhelmed by AI advancements, and keep channeling your creativity and confidence.

• Don't Overuse Your Keywords

Secondly, ditch the keyword stuffing! Google prioritizes natural language, so focus on using keywords organically throughout your content. Tools like Ahrefs and Semrush can help you identify relevant keywords and use them strategically without forcing your content.

• Avoid Confusing The Audience

Your website has to be a trusted source for specific information. Avoid confusing users by straying from your core niche. Repurposing old website addresses for unrelated content is another no-no. Make sure your content aligns with your website's real aim and avoid the practices Google identifies as spam or abuse.

• Taking The Relevant & Right Help

It's okay to feel overwhelmed by these changes, especially if you can't get your head around. Don't worry! You can always contact a digital marketing agency that keeps up with Google's updates. It can further help you create high-quality content, improve your SEO ranking organically, and manage other aspects of your online presence.

The Takeaway

So, that's the Google update in a nutshell and our answers to the most asked questions. The good news is you have time to adjust. But you have to stop using the old ways and adapt to the newer ones if you want to be in the game for long. And hey, if you feel overwhelmed, there's always help around. Good luck!