Google Wraps Up March Spam Update, Core Update Ongoing

Google recently finished rolling out its spam update that started on March 5, along with a core update. This spam update took about two weeks to be fully implemented. It focused on addressing issues like scaled content production, expired domain misuse, and authority abuse.

The spam update rollout has been successfully completed.

On March 20 at 6:09 PDT, Google confirmed that the spam update rollout had concluded.

The announcement came via an update to Google’s Search Status Dashboard.

Google Completes March Spam Update, Core Update Continues

With this update, Google has implemented three new spam policies targeting scaled content abuse, expired domain abuse, and site reputation abuse.

While the first two policies were immediately enforced, the site reputation abuse policy will be effective starting May.

Impact On Websites & Search Results

The completion of the spam update rollout provides a clearer picture of the search landscape for publishers and SEO professionals. Now, they can better understand the impact of the changes.

Early data from SISTRIX shows that there have been notable changes in rankings across different domains. Some websites have even been completely removed from Google's search index.

After unveiling the updated spam policies, Google took action against pure spam problems by issuing several manual penalties.

According to research conducted by Originality.ai, all of the websites that were removed from the index displayed indications of content generated by artificial intelligence. Additionally, half of these websites had between 90-100% of their articles produced by AI technology.

Manual actions are different from algorithmic demotions. The key distinction is that manual actions are performed by Google's human reviewers and come with a notification in Search Console.

Algorithmic ranking updates, like the March spam update, are automatic and do not trigger notifications from Google. A website can be affected by both a manual action and an algorithm update at the same time.

Core Update Still In Progress

While the spam update rollout has concluded, the core update, which began simultaneously, is still in progress.

Google has mentioned that the core update is still ongoing and will take a few more weeks to finish as they incorporate the “Helpful Content” assessment into the core algorithm.

During this period of the core update, it is important for SEO experts and content creators to concentrate on producing unique, valuable content that connects well with their desired audience.

Danny Sullivan from Google’s Search Liaison advises waiting for updates to be fully completed before making any major changes in response to ranking fluctuations. It's important to be patient and cautious during this process. It's best to wait and see if there are any significant changes that need to be addressed before taking action.

Your site seems clean and nice. Going through the site, I see [steak pie] as one of your featured recipes. You're in the carousel and…

— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) March 15, 2024

Adapting To The Changing Search Environment

Website owners and content creators can now start adjusting to the changes in the search landscape following the completion of the spam update rollout. This adjustment process may include reviewing current content, refining AI-generated material, and giving more importance to human creativity and editorial control.

Google is dedicated to promoting original, high-value content and fighting against low-quality, spammy material. The SEO community is closely watching the effects of recent updates to see how they impact search results.

Featured Image: Bayu Eka Y/Shutterstock

Editor's P/S:

The recent spam update from Google has been a significant development, highlighting the company's commitment to combating low-quality content and promoting original, valuable material. The update targeted practices such as scaled content production, expired domain misuse, and authority abuse, leading to notable changes in rankings and even removals from the search index.

While the spam update rollout is now complete, the core update initiated alongside it is still ongoing. This update incorporates the "Helpful Content" assessment into the core algorithm, emphasizing the importance of creating content that resonates with audiences. As the core update progresses, SEO professionals and content creators should focus on producing unique, valuable content that meets the needs of their target audience.