How To Future-Proof Your Content From Google AI Core Updates

It’s  the first-half of 2024 and the interaction between search engine algorithms and content creators has reached an unprecedented level of complexity. With the introduction of Google’s Core March Update, the dynamics of online visibility have undergone a significant transformation, presenting both challenges and opportunities for those engaged in the ever-evolving digital marketing scene.

At the core of this shift is a need to address a growing phenomenon: AI-generated content. As algorithms become more sophisticated and user expectations rise, there is a heightened urgency to navigate this terrain with precision. This is where E-E-A-T—Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness—comes into play. E-E-A-T is a guiding principle introduced by Google to ensure that online content meets rigorous standards of credibility and reliability.

In this article, we embark on a journey to explore the implications of the Google Core March Update 2024 and to uncover strategies for content creators to not only adapt but thrive in this new sector. From understanding the intricacies of AI-generated content to strengthening your digital presence with E-E-A-T-aligned practices, we delve into the essential tactics for establishing visibility and authority in an era characterized by the fusion of technology and human expertise.

Table of contents:

1. What is the Google March 2024 Update Really About
2. Why AI-generated is a challenge that needs to be solved
3. What sites have been impacted the most and how were they affected?
4. What can I do to future-proof my content strategy in the era of spammy AI content?

What is the Google March 2024 Update Really About

The March 2024 core update is Google’s first core update of the year. Unlike previous core updates, this one brings enhancements to various aspects of Google’s core system. It’s a comprehensive update touching on multiple systems within the core, prompting Google to implement subsequent updates to these systems over the following period.

We were getting used to navigating through the effects of the Helpful and Core Updates separately, they’ve now been combined! This adds an extra layer of complexity to assessing any potential impacts and performing correlation analysis.

In plain language, it means that SEOs and webmasters like you and me won’t receive individual announcements for helpful content updates anymore; instead, they’ll be rolled into the core updates. 

According to Chris Nelson from Google’s Search Quality team, the March 2024 core update is more intricate than previous ones, involving changes across multiple core systems. Google has refined its core ranking systems to deliver more useful results, employing a range of innovative signals and methods. In essence, the prioritization of helpful content is now a central aspect of core updates.

Cyrus Shepard delved into the depths of 50 different websites and identified some intriguing correlations that shed light on crucial factors affecting site performance.

He discovered that sites burdened with excessive and intrusive ads, particularly sticky video ads, are more susceptible to falling victim to Google’s Helpful Content System. This finding reinforces what we’ve learned from industry experts like Google and Glenn Gabe: if you’ve been impacted, it’s high time to reposition your ad strategy.

Furthermore, adopting a first-person writing style could act as a defense against the impacts of the Helpful Content System, or assist in your recuperation if you’ve already been affected. Although not a direct indicator, it closely adheres to Google’s “first-hand experience” guidelines, highlighting a noteworthy correlation that requires careful consideration.

Why AI-Generated Is A Challenge That Needs To Be Solved

The entry barrier to becoming a copywriter or content writer has drastically decreased with the emergence of new AI models, assuming you’re proficient in utilizing these tools. While content production has become more affordable, we’re also witnessing a surge in the quantity of content being generated, much of which is unverified and consequently leads to a subpar user experience. Picture yourself seeking medical information or any YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topic and stumbling upon a website where an inexperienced teenager offers an answer. Is this the direction we envisioned for search engines?

I’m uncertain if this aligns with the vision ChatGPT intended for search-related activities, but search engines like Google are undoubtedly grappling with the challenge of delivering excellent results for users. It appears that their fundamental quality model is being put to the test, inevitably affecting their business model. Poor quality Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) not only hinder ad sales but also impede the development of engaging user experiences. This is detrimental for both Google and users like you and me.

What Sites Have Been Impacted The Most And How Were They Affected?

Accordingly, the sites that have been impacted the most by Google’s March 2024 Core Update are low-quality, AI-generated websites that manipulate search results. This update has led to the deindexing of numerous websites, resulting in significant losses in organic search traffic and advertising revenue for affected website owners. 

The deindexed sites showed signs of heavy reliance on AI-generated content, with some having up to 100% of their posts generated by AI. The impact of this update is substantial, with over 40% of SERPs being completely deindexed from Google’s search results in the early stages.

This is huge! I would not underestimate it if I were you, especially if your website business model is relying on advertising revenue.

What Can I Do To Future-Proof My Content Strategy In The Era Of Spammy AI-Content?

One effective approach is to prioritize ethical AI by embracing the creation of vetted, fact-checked content while leveraging tools like WordLift and ontology design for knowledge graphs.

First and foremost, investing in vetted and fact-checked content ensures that your audience receives accurate and trustworthy information. In the new era where misinformation proliferates, establishing your content as reliable and credible is essential for building trust with your audience. E-E-A-T is not easy to build but we’ve been there for multiple clients, learned first-hand and have the know-how on how to tackle this further.

Integrating WordLift into your content strategy offers numerous benefits. By enriching your content with structured data and semantic markup, WordLift helps search engines better understand the context and relevance of your content. This not only improves your content’s visibility in search results but also enhances its accessibility to users seeking credible information.

Additionally, WordLift’s ability to create a knowledge graph around your content fosters deeper connections between topics, providing a more comprehensive and engaging user experience.

Ontology design further strengthens your content strategy by organizing and structuring information in a meaningful way. By defining relationships between concepts and entities, ontology design ensures that your content is logically structured and easily navigable for both users and search engines. This not only improves user engagement but also reinforces your content’s authority and expertise in your niche. By prioritizing accuracy, relevance, and credibility, you can future-proof your content strategy and maintain a competitive edge in the digital sector.