I've been keeping my eye on a BIG change to website search over the last month. 

 

In case you missed it, Google introduced a March 2024 core update. It's aimed at reducing crappy ← technical term 😂 content in your search results. In other words, content Google feels is low-quality, unoriginal, and created simply to attract clicks. 

 

Part of this latest core update also includes new spam policies. You can read more about it here if you'd like to delve a little deeper.

 

This update is great news when we're searching for information on the internet because it should mean less spam and useless results. But, with Google having over 91% of the worldwide search engine market share, it's important to understand any changes to the search algorithm if you own a website.

 

 

Some people woke one morning to find their websites had been de-indexed overnight. Which means they'd simply disappeared from Google's search results. 

 

Because the core update aims to remove 40% of low-quality websites, it's been targeting those providing useless or regurgitated information, and a poor user experience. 

 

If you're already doing the right things, the update could be good news for the performance of your website. But there's a warning for anyone using AI (such as ChatGPT) without any human input to generate all their content.

 

Showing E-E-A-T (Experience - Expertise - Authoritativeness - Trustworthiness) in your web content has been an important factor in Google search for a while now. 

 

And here's the thing. 

 

Google knows that pure AI-generated articles may have errors, plus can only be created from existing information on the internet, some of which may be outdated. Regurgitated, out of date articles, full of errors, gets flagged by Google as the “Lowest E-E-A-T”. And that's not good for your website's search results.

 

👉  Create useful and helpful content for humans first, not search engines

👉  Improve your E-E-A-T (which means referring to reputable sources and showcasing your expertise clearly)

👉  Ensure your website looks good

👉  Build a website which is easy and intuitive for readers to find their way around

👉  Remember that around 80% of people view websites on their mobile devices now, so mobile-friendliness is crucial (plus this is the version Google uses to index your site)

👉  Check your website loads quickly

👉  If you use AI to generate content, make sure you check facts, edit, and add in a human element before publishing

 

I'll be honest, none of this is new. Google has been advising we do these things for a long time, and you'll find my blog posts about search engine optimisation cover this and more.

 

In simple terms, it's about knowing who your readers are, and what they want to see or read - then creating that for them, adding your own experience and knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shout if you have any questions.

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