Googles March spam core update is affecting 40% of spammy content. Is it yours next?

Googles march spam core update is announced and it’s a big one, and it’s shaking things up in the world of search results. Here’s the deal: Google wants to make search better for everyone by getting rid of low-quality content. This means websites with unhelpful information or those created just to trick search engines might see a drop in ranking.

I’ve seen several websites being hit, and people posted on Reddit, Twitter, and even Facebook. If I estimate in numbers, there are at least more than thousands of websites affected by Google’s algorithm. However, it’s important to note that some websites actually got a boost in ranking too!

Wait, so what’s the difference?

The key difference is the type of content. Websites with helpful, informative content that people find valuable are likely to see a ranking increase. On the other hand, websites with low-quality content, like pages crammed with keywords or recycled information from other sources, might be negatively affected.

It’s also worth mentioning that some website owners might be confused because they received a manual penalty notice from Google.

Now, these penalties likely weren’t caused by the March update itself, but by previous updates focused on “helpful content” and other policies Google put in place after AI content tools became popular.

These manual penalties are just now taking effect because of Google taking action at once.
And about the googles March spam update, it has shown its effect, at the time I’m writing this post on 12th March 2024.

But wait! What if you create awesome content?

Don’t worry, this update is all about rewarding websites that provide valuable and interesting information to users. So, if you’re focused on creating high-quality content that people love, you’ve got nothing to fear.

Googles March Spam Core Update: What You Need to Know.

So what exactly does “low-quality content” mean to Google? This update goes beyond just outdated information or bad grammar. Google is cracking down on several sneaky tactics that some websites use to try to trick search engines into ranking them higher.

Here are some of the key areas Google is focusing on with this update:

1. Unoriginal Content: Google wants to see fresh and original content on websites. This means avoiding things like copying content from other sources or churning out tons of articles that all say basically the same thing.
2. Poor User Experience: Is your website slow to load, cluttered with ads, or difficult to navigate? These factors can hurt your ranking. Google wants websites that offer a smooth and enjoyable experience for visitors.
3. Content Made for Search Engines: Have you ever come across a website that seems like it’s written for robots, not people? This type of content is often stuffed with keywords and doesn’t provide any real value to users. Google is getting smarter at spotting this kind of content and pushing it down in search results.
4. Site Reputation Abuse: Imagine a website known for its delicious recipes suddenly starts publishing a bunch of articles about unrelated topics, like car parts. This could be a sign of site reputation abuse, where someone is trying to take advantage of a website’s good reputation to rank higher for unrelated content.
5. Scaled Content Abuse: This refers to websites that create mass amounts of low-quality content, whether created by AI, Human, or both. Google wants to see websites that put effort into creating valuable content, not just churning out junk.
6. Expired Domain Abuse: Have you ever seen an old website suddenly come back to life with a bunch of new content? This could be a sign of expired domain abuse, where someone buys an old domain name and fills it with low-quality content to try to rank higher in search results.
7. 2 months duration: Google mention the March spam update will roll out on second of May.

You’ve might Got Questions About the Update? Let’s Talk!

The March Spam Core Update has sparked a lot of conversation online, and it’s understandable to feel a little confused. Here, we’ll address some of the key points people are discussing:

Is Everyone Getting Hit?

The short answer is no.  Barry Schwartz, noted the update’s impact has been widespread, with some websites experiencing significant ranking fluctuating. However, others haven’t seen much change yet. It’s important to remember that Google updates typically roll out gradually, so the effects might not be immediate for everyone.

What About AI-Generated Content?

There’s been a lot of discussion about whether the update specifically targets AI-written content. While some reports suggest a crackdown on AI content, it seems the primary focus is on addressing spam and unhelpful content more broadly.

However, a significant amount of low-quality AI content might fall under Google’s definition of spam.  Matt G. Southern from Search Engine Journal reported that the update resulted in the deindexing of hundreds of websites, with a particular emphasis on low-quality content and AI-generated spam. This suggests that while AI content itself isn’t the sole target, there’s a noticeable overlap between such content and the characteristics of unhelpful or spammy material that Google wants to demote.

If you are thinking, Does google allows AI-generated content? Yes! It does, but in a certain limits that I have mentioned a lot of times.

Data and Recovery: What Can You Do?

Here’s the good news: If you haven’t seen an impact from the update yet, there’s still time to be proactive! Here are some tips based on the insights from SEO professionals:

• Monitor your website’s rankings and traffic: Keep an eye on analytics to identify any potential issues caused by the update.
• Focus on content quality: This is always a good practice, but it’s especially important now. Review your content and make sure it’s valuable, informative, and engaging for human readers.
• Understand Google’s Spam Policies: Familiarize yourself with the latest guidelines to ensure your website is compliant.
• Enhance user experience: Make sure your website is fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate.
• Stay informed: Keep an eye on updates from Google and SEO experts for the latest developments.

Remember: Patience is key.  Multiple people, including Shahnoorblogger, (me) founder of Shahnoorblogger.com, highlighted the update’s fluctuating nature. Some websites might see an initial drop followed by a bounce back.

What should I do to recover from Googles March spam update?

The Google March Spam Core Update might have sent your website’s ranking into a tailspin. But fear not! There’s still a way to recover. Here’s a roadmap to get you back on track:

Step 1: Analyze the Damage

Before you jump into fixing things, take a deep breath and assess the situation. Here’s what you need to do:

• Utilize Google Search Console: This is your best friend! Search Console provides valuable insights into your website’s performance, including any crawl errors or manual actions triggered by the update.
• Dive into Your Analytics: Analyze your website traffic data to pinpoint exactly where you’ve been hit. Did you lose ranking for specific keywords? Did certain pages see a significant drop in traffic?

Understanding the impact helps you prioritize your recovery efforts.

Step 2: Diagnose the Problem

Now that you know what’s wrong, it’s time to figure out why. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Does your content fall under any of Google’s new spam categories? Review the points mentioned earlier in this guide (scaled content abuse, site reputation abuse, expired domain abuse) and see if your website might be unintentionally violating any of them.
• Is your content genuinely helpful and informative? Be honest with yourself. Does your content offer value to users, or is it primarily focused on keywords and search engine manipulation?
• Is your website user-friendly? Is it slow to load? Does it display poorly on mobile devices? Remember, Google prioritizes user experience, so ensuring your website is easy to navigate is crucial.

Step 3: Take Action!

Once you’ve identified the problem areas, it’s time to take action. Here are some steps you can take to improve your website and potentially recover from the update:

• Improve your content quality: This might involve rewriting existing content, removing irrelevant material, or creating entirely new, valuable pieces.
• Address user experience issues: Optimize your website for speed, mobile responsiveness, and overall ease of use.
• Clean up your website: Remove any spammy content or low-quality pages that might be dragging you down.
• Disavow low-quality backlinks: If your website has a lot of backlinks from irrelevant or spammy sources, disavowing them can help improve your standing with Google. But be careful with the disallow tool. If it’s done wrong, it can harm your website.

Step 4: Be Patient and Stay Informed

Recovering from a Google update takes time.  Remember, some websites might experience a temporary dip followed by a recovery. Here are some tips for staying patient and informed during the process:

• Monitor your website’s performance: Keep an eye on your analytics to track your progress.
• Stay updated on Google announcements: Google often releases updates and clarifications on recent changes. Following their official blog and social media channels can help you stay informed.
• Seek professional help: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider consulting with an SEO professional for guidance.

A Word from Shahnoorblogger.

I believe the reason, Google announced March spam update and took action on thousands of low quality websites it’s because.

It’s Google, and it needs to maintain its reputation. Especially after ChatGPT and several AI tools, that allow others to create massive amount of content or junk, if not used the right way.

In fact, several famous news journalists reported, if Google didn’t control the sunami of AI content, it will decline the quality of search engine which should not happen. Source by Devdiscourse, and The Verge

The thing is, Google is now cleaning up the mess created by, not good Webmasters.

If you’re honest, you know your website content is amazing, and provides the best user experience, then you don’t need to worry, and just wait for the algorithm to completely role out.

Did your website got hit by this update? Share your experience, who knows? Your one word can help me or others.

Frequently asked questions.