What Does Google’s Recent Algorithm Update Mean?
In March 2024, Google launched comprehensive updates to its search algorithm, causing web developers and marketers to scramble. From my vantage point, it really shouldn’t have been a surprise. By now, we should be used to change. In fact, when it comes to algorithms, constant change is the only thing that doesn’t change. And we need to be ready for more frequent groundswell adjustments as AI comes into its own.
So what do these changes mean to you and your business?
Don’t Panic
These changes actually are good news to businesses who are doing things right when it comes to their content strategy. And as a consumer, I personally look forward to a better user experience when I’m trying to find something on the “interweb.” Have you tried to find a simple recipe online? Results are so long and filled with graphics, ads and unnecessary text that I’ve given up and started using my grandmother’s old cookbooks instead. Searching through the index is still quicker than wading through the unnecessary content found online.
And those two words are key when we dig into Google’s recent search update: unnecessary content.
Finding Better Information
Google’s efforts to find poor quality content are ongoing and relentless. They want users to be able to find the information they want. And they don’t want anyone gaming the system with black hat tactics. Of course Google would prefer advertisers to boost its coffers along with their search ranking, but for those of us relying on organic search, keeping things relevant is actually good news.
I pulled a few things straight from the Google announcement:
We’re making algorithmic enhancements to our core ranking systems to ensure we surface the most helpful information on the web and reduce unoriginal content in search results.
This update involves refining some of our core ranking systems to help us better understand if webpages are unhelpful, have a poor user experience or feel like they were created for search engines instead of people …
We believe these updates will reduce the amount of low-quality content on Search and send more traffic to helpful and high-quality sites.
There are also updates penalizing sites that use large scale automated content creation and sites with low-quality third party content. But none of this is bad news for you or your business if you are creating original, good quality content.
Should I Change My Content Strategy
If you are focused on creating and posting genuine blog content that answers customer questions, you should be just fine. If you’re not sure what your content strategy is … or where your content is coming from … you might have something to worry about. I’d be happy to take a look at your site’s blog content. And if you are ready to hire an actual human to research and write your blog content, let me know. Together we can start creating that original, helpful content Google – and your customers – are looking for.
