Search Engine Recap - Week 18 (2024)

Welcome to week 18, where we'll be assessing Google's recently concluded core update, new ranking documentation, and updates from OpenAI. Here is an overview.

Google Core Update Officially Concludes

Google's March core update has officially concluded - effectively since April 19th. This extensive update brought significant changes aimed at enhancing search result quality and combating spam content.

The update notably targeted reducing low-quality and unoriginal content, resulting in many AI-generated content domains being pushed back - not because they were AI, but due to thin and generic content.

Additionally, the update brought forth updated documentation on links, affecting domains utilizing "site reputation abuse" negatively starting from May 5th. This is also known as parasite SEO - something Google strongly opposes

Google Updates Ranking Drop Documentation

Google has updated its documentation for ranking drops to better assist those working with SEO in diagnosing and addressing challenges. The revised guidance is more detailed and takes a more realistic approach to managing traffic drops.

Headlines in the update include a new structure for explaining algorithmic changes, with increased focus on differentiating between minor and major ranking drops.

This streamlined guidance aims to make troubleshooting more straightforward for businesses experiencing fluctuations in their search result positions.

Google Makes Changes to Google News

Google has recently removed the option for manual submission to Google News from the Publishers Center. This change means publishers can no longer manually submit their sites to be included in Google News.

This removal of the option is part of Google's broader effort to streamline processes and rely more on its algorithms to discover and index content.

This may pose challenges for how quickly and effectively new and updated content is recognized and featured by Google News.

OpenAI Updates ChatGPT

OpenAI has introduced a significant change allowing ChatGPT to display content and links in response to queries or prompts, if desired.

This development is poised to benefit users by potentially driving more traffic directly to sources through ChatGPT.

The integration of direct content and links within ChatGPT marks yet another advancement in how AI can be used to enhance the accessibility of information.

Takeaways and Recommendations

We can now conclusively assess Google's lengthy core update, which aimed to target thin and generic content, often associated with AI - not because it's AI, but because it's abused.

Google has optimized its algorithms and will place greater emphasis on them going forward - and it seems they've been significantly upgraded. This is good news for those adhering to their guidelines and not so great for those who have built SEO strategies around circumventing them through purchased links and hastily assembled content.

I can only (once again) emphasize the importance of integrating E-E-A-T into your marketing strategy as a business. This will keep you at the forefront and help you leverage your full potential.

Looking to strengthen your SEO strategy? Feel free to reach out to us. As a specialized SEO agency, we optimize businesses every day to rank number one on search engines.