Google’s March 2024 Broad Core Update is Fighting Spam and Deleting Low Quality Content

Google has long been the go-to search engine for billions of users worldwide, serving as a bridge between users and the vast ocean of information available on the web. Recognizing the importance of maintaining the integrity and quality of search results, Google has continually evolved its search algorithms and policies to combat spam and low-quality content. With AI generated content flooding the web with low-value rewrites and spam, Google's results have seen a decline in quality.

The March 2024 Broad Core Update is aggressive and Google is planning to remove 40% of unhelpful content from their index. Here's what you need to know about this update and how it might affect your law firm's SEO strategy.

Key Highlights of the March 2024 Anti-Spam Core Update

Improved Quality Ranking

The core of the March 2024 update revolves around algorithmic enhancements aimed at surfacing the most helpful information on the web. By refining its ranking systems, Google intends to demote unoriginal and unhelpful content, ensuring that users are connected with content that not only answers their queries but also provides genuine value.

Strengthened Spam Policies

To keep the search ecosystem clean, Google is introducing updated spam policies targeting the lowest-quality content. This includes tackling expired websites repurposed as spam repositories and addressing the issue of obituary spam, among other forms of low-effort content designed to game the system.

Focus on Reducing Low-quality, Unoriginal Results

Building on efforts initiated in 2022 to curb unhelpful content, the March update aims to further reduce the visibility of low-quality, unoriginal content by 40%. By refining core ranking systems, Google enhances its ability to identify web pages that fail to serve the user's interests or that seem to have been created solely for search engines.

Addressing Scaled Content and Site Reputation Abuse

The update takes a firm stance against scaled content abuse, where automation or a mix of human and automated efforts produce content en masse with the sole aim of manipulating search rankings. Similarly, it targets site reputation abuse, penalizing low-value content hosted on reputable sites to leverage their standing.

Tackling Expired Domain Abuse

The misuse of expired domains, purchased and repurposed to boost the search ranking of low-quality content, is also addressed. This practice, which can mislead users into associating the new, often unrelated content with the original site's reputation, is now considered spam.

Visualizing the March 2024 Update

This flowchart represents the systematic approach Google is taking to enhance the quality of its search results. Starting with the implementation of the March 2024 Broad Core Update, the process unfolds through various strategies aimed at reducing spam and promoting high-quality content. The expected outcome is a cleaner, more reliable search experience that benefits both users and creators of valuable content.

Google's March 2024 Broad Core Update is a testament to the company's commitment to maintaining the credibility and usefulness of its search engine. By continuously refining its algorithms and policies, Google ensures that the web remains a resourceful place for billions of users. As the digital landscape evolves, so too does Google's approach to delivering the best of what the web has to offer, connecting people with information that is not only relevant but genuinely helpful.