Google’s March 2024 Core Update: 8 Ways Search Berg is Riding the Storm

Google’s latest core update marked yet another pivotal moment in digital history. In a bold move, one of the boldest yet, Google refined its algorithms to further emphasize high-quality, original, and value-added content.

The goal? To diminish the visibility of low-quality, unoriginal, fluff-laden material in search results by an impressive 40%.

This sweeping update targeted the usual suspects of spammy content. It also introduced stringent spam policies against manipulative practices like scaled content abuse, site reputation abuse, and expired domain abuse​.

Now, one may think this is just another update at first glance. Google’s always looking for ways to up its quality game after all, isn’t it?

However, this time around, Google isn’t politely requesting creators to play by the rules. Instead, it’s demanding that creators prioritize genuine value over SEO manipulation.

And what happens when you don’t listen? You wake up to your website being de-indexed, de-ranked, or penalized in another capacity. No, this is not a hypothetical scenario; it’s the new reality. Even the smallest AI content websites are falling victim to Google’s strictness. Google means business this time around. It’s acting quickly, aggressively, and irrevocably.

The core update is a clear signal from Google that quality, relevance, and user focus are more important than ever. The updated spam policies are particularly noteworthy as they crack down on new and evolving practices designed to game the system.

For business owners, this means it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get serious. For digital marketing experts, particularly for those of us at Search Berg, this update is an opportunity to keep our clients afloat and further raise the bar. And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing (more on our efforts here).

By focusing on creating truly valuable content that resonates with audiences, adhering to Google’s updated guidelines, and optimizing every aspect of user experience, we’ve helped our clients reserve a safe spot in Google’s good books. And we plan to keep things that way.

In this blog, we’ll offer a closer look at our content strategy. Let’s break down our approach, bit by bit, and show you how a masterful SEO content writing gameplan can take your business from a vulnerable low-ranking site to a secure, stable, and successful high-ranker that Google adores (and continues to adore down the line).

1. Emphasizing E-E-A-T Principles

Google isn’t just tweaking knobs and dials in the background. They’re making a clear statement: “We value content that truly serves users. Create content that’s crafted with care, insight, and authenticity.” That’s music to our ears because it’s what we’ve been preaching and practicing at Search Berg all along. How? Using Google’s E-E-A-T principles.

E-E-A-T stands for experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. This framework is vital because it reflects Google’s commitment to prioritizing content that genuinely serves the user’s needs by being both informative and reliable.

The addition of the first “E” for experience to the existing E-A-T framework underscores the value Google places on firsthand experiences and knowledge in content creation. This means that content backed by personal experience or demonstrable expertise is more likely to be viewed favorably in search rankings​.

In light of these considerations, emphasizing E-E-A-T in content creation aligns with Google’s objective to filter out unhelpful, irrelevant, and unoriginal content. This is a way for Google to ensure that users have access to informative, authentic, and trustworthy content.

At Search Berg, we have already been incorporating E-E-A-T principles into our work. This switch was made from our end long before the March 2024 core update came our way. Here’s what we’ve been doing all along (and are continuing to do in light of the update):

1.1. Experience-Driven Content: At Search Berg, we take our content up a notch by anchoring it in the rich soil of real-world experiences.

Take, for example, a comprehensive guide we recently produced for a client in the outdoor gear industry. As part of our research process, we drew from the personal experiences of seasoned hikers and campers. This helped us provide invaluable tips for wilderness survival and outdoor ethics.

Firsthand accounts provide readers with practical, tested, and reliable advice. That’s exactly what the audience wants. That’s also what Google wants.

1.2. Expertise at the Forefront: When we talk about SEO content, the depth and credibility of information are paramount.

At Search Berg, we hire a team of skilled, creative, knowledgeable, and capable SEO content writers who possess a deep understanding of the topics they write about. Every piece of content is imbued with deep insights and authoritative knowledge.

Our creators are selected for their professional qualifications, extensive industry experience, and profound dedication to their specific niches. This exhaustive process helps us guarantee that we provide reliable, insightful, and value-added information that stands up to scrutiny.

1.3. Authoritativeness in Every Piece: Authoritativeness is a key factor in establishing credibility and reliability in the eyes of both Google and readers.

At Search Berg, we achieve this by crafting high-quality content that serves as a comprehensive resource on its topics.

But we don’t stop there; we also engage in strategic external linking and foster partnerships with reputable sites within relevant fields. This practice of linking our content to and from authoritative sources positions our clients as thought leaders and trusted authorities in their industries.

This symbiotic relationship between our content and respected entities in the digital space signals to search engines and users alike that our clients’ sites are sources of valuable and trustworthy information.

1.4. Trustworthiness as a Pillar: What’s the foundation of any strong content strategy? Trust.

At Search Berg, trustworthiness is woven into the fabric of our content creation process. We achieve this through meticulous research and by verifying every claim (no exceptions). Our job is to ensure that all the information we provide is accurate, up-to-date, and sourced from reputable entities.

Recommended Read: How to Master Google’s E-E-A-T Guidelines

2. Evaluating Content to a Tee

Google’s March 2024 core update has made one thing pretty clear: high quality is non-negotiable.

The update demotes content that appears unoriginal, seems misleading, or serves little to no value to users. If you want your content to stay afloat, it’s time to take the crackdown on low-quality content seriously.

This calls for aggressive content evaluation.

Since Google has raised the bar for what it considers high-quality content, creators must reassess their SEO content writing strategy and make the right changes to match Google’s raised bar. This means analyzing content for SEO metrics, its overall value to the user, its originality, and the accuracy of the information it presents.

Yes, once you turn your attention to Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines, you’ll automatically end up checking a lot of these boxes off the list. However, you must also launch an independent content evaluation program to confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt that your content is delivering exactly what Google has demanded.

At Search Berg, we take this seriously.

Here’s an overview of our process.

2.1. Adopting a User-Centric Approach: In order to create high-quality content, it’s important to understand and prioritize the target audience’s needs and preferences. We conduct comprehensive audience research to identify the questions, problems, and topics most relevant to our clients’ potential customers. This user-centric approach helps us address customers’specific needs. As a result, the content is high in value and relevance.

2.2. Employing Advanced Analytics: Our second goal is to ensure our content strategies are data-driven. We achieve this by employing advanced analytics tools to track content performance across various metrics, e.g., page views, time on page, bounce rates, and conversion rates.

By analyzing this data, we can identify patterns and insights that guide our content optimization efforts. Consequently, our content resonates with the target audience and aligns with the factors emphasized by Google’s latest update, e.g., engagement and user satisfaction.

2.3. Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Staying updated with the latest SEO trends, Google updates, and best practices is essential for maintaining content quality. Our team routinely participates in professional development opportunities, including webinars, conferences, and online courses, to stay ahead of industry changes. This commitment to continuous learning means that our content strategies always align with the most current SEO standards and practices.

2.4. Collaborative Feedback Loops: Feedback is an essential component of our content evaluation process. We foster open lines of communication between our SEO experts, content creators, and clients to facilitate the exchange of feedback and ideas.

Let’s say we’re working on a comprehensive blog for a client in the eco-tourism industry. Initially, our SEO content writers draft a content plan based on extensive research and SEO best practices. We focus on high-ranking topics like sustainable travel tips, eco-friendly accommodations, and conservation activities.

The initial draft is then reviewed by our SEO experts. They apply their technical knowledge to optimize the content for search engines.

The draft is subsequently shared with the client for feedback. This is where we give the client an opportunity to provide insights based on their deep understanding of their audience and industry. Their insights may include suggestions for additional topics, revisions to existing topics, or clarifications on complex concepts.

Armed with this feedback, our content creators and SEO experts collaborate to further refine the guide. This iterative process may go through several cycles to ensure that the final content meets the highest standards of quality, relevance, and optimization.

Once published, we continue to monitor the guide’s performance by analyzing metrics like page views, time spent on the page, and user engagement. This is how we ensure that the content meets the mark.

3. Prioritizing Original Research

In the wake of Google’s March 2024 core update, we now know that original research is your golden ticket to visibility and credibility. Google has effectively rolled out the red carpet for content that dares to bring something new to the table.

We’re not talking about filling gaps here (although that’s also important); we’re talking about constructing entire bridges of knowledge that perfectly align with Google’s goal of connecting users with truly helpful information.

The emphasis on original research responds to modern users’ increasingly sophisticated needs and questions. In 2024, web users are seeking answers to complex questions, solutions to nuanced problems, and insights into emerging trends. Google’s algorithm update is a direct response to this evolution. Google is now, more than ever, prioritizing content that enriches the user’s understanding and perspective instead of just providing black and white answers.

Engaging in original research encourages a deeper engagement with your subject matter. The outcome? Content that isn’t just informative but also genuinely interesting and engaging. Your content won’t just “get discovered” by users; it’ll be remembered and respected. This is the kind of content that makes it to the top Google search engine result pages (SERPs).

How do we achieve this at Search Berg? It’s all about collaboration. We pool expertise from various trusted sources to ensure that our research is both original and multidimensional. This collaborative dynamism allows us to craft content that speaks directly to our audience’s curiosity and needs.

Our secret sauce is our diverse team of experts. Each individual is a connoisseur in their respective fields (from technology and healthcare to finance and beyond). This melting pot of expertise is our hidden strength. By collaborating with specialists across multiple industries, we infuse our content with rich ideas, unique insights, and groundbreaking research.

4. Avoiding Scaled Content Abuse

We get it. The temptation to produce content at scale for the sake of volume and visibility can be enticing.

However, Google’s March 2024 core update casts a spotlight on the pitfalls of scaled content abuse. Creators must tread carefully, very carefully, in their quest for search engine dominance.

In order to avoid scaled content abuse, creators must recommit to the essence of what makes content genuinely valuable: originality, quality, and relevance. They must understand that quality cannot be mass-produced. This is especially important to grasp at a time when AI-generated content has become the shortcut everyone wants to take.

True value comes from content that’s carefully crafted, thoughtfully researched, and designed to meet your audience’s specific needs and questions. This approach requires a shift from quantity to quality; we must focus on what truly benefits the reader rather than what may superficially boost search rankings.

The danger of scaled content isn’t just the potential penalties from search engines but also the erosion of trust with your audience. Users are increasingly savvy; they can easily discern between content created to serve their needs and content designed to game the system. Once trust is compromised, you can’t regain it, no matter how hard you try.

To steer clear of scaled content abuse, content creators must invest in processes that prioritize depth and detail. This means allocating time for thorough research, engaging with subject matter experts, and tailoring content to address your audience’s nuanced questions and concerns.

At Search Berg, that’s exactly what we’ve been doing. We create content that resonates with the target audience on a personal level; it provides answers that aren’t just accurate but also meaningful and enriching.

We also prioritize diversity in our content formats. Why is this important? Because different audiences prefer different types of content. Whether we’re working on blog posts, videos, infographics, or podcasts, our goal is to deliver the message in the most effective and engaging way possible. This variety enhances the user experience and reinforces the message.

5. Say No to Spammy Guest Posts

There’s no doubt that guest posts have traditionally been a valuable tool for expanding a site’s reach. They bring in fresh perspectives and help businesses build authority through diverse voices.

However, the convenience of this strategy has been tainted by its misuse. A potential asset has now turned into a liability through the proliferation of spammy, low-quality, ranking-hungry contributions aimed more at link building than providing real value to readers.

In light of Google’score update, the importance of curating guest posts with a razor-sharp eye for quality and relevance has never been more critical. The update emphasizes the need for content that enhances the user experience by providing clear, actionable, and trustworthy information.

At Search Berg, we believe that guest posts are extremely important. However, this isn’t an excuse to resort to black-hat SEO practices. We focus on building high-quality backlinks by partnering with trusted, reliable, and reputable websites with a high domain authority score. We don’t “beg” or “bribe” for backlinks; we maintain honest practices to help our clients achieve genuine results that both Google and their audience enjoy. Top of Form

Our innovative approach extends beyond just selecting the right partners for guest posts. We invest in thorough research to identify topics that resonate with our clients’ target audiences and align with the latest industry trends and search engine guidelines. This dual focus ensures that the content we produce or host contributes significantly to the online conversation.

We also rigorously vet the content for authenticity and originality. This is done to ensure the content meets the high standards expected by both readers and search algorithms post the March 2024 core update.

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Let Search Berg Show You the Way

At Search Berg, our goal has always been to help our clients succeed. Yes, that means helping you rank high on Google SERPS, generate more traffic, and earn maximum conversions. But that doesn’t mean we’ll resort to shortcuts.

Google’s March 2024 core update makes it pretty clear that Google doesn’t have the patience for unethical practices anymore. Google wants businesses to play by the rules. And if they can’t adhere to the platform’s strict guidelines, the response is loud and clear: penalization.

By using white-hat SEO content writing practices, we help our clients enjoy dominating the web while retaining their names in Google’s good books. We create well-researched, engaging, value-added, reliable, and insightful content for our clients that resonates well with both their target audience and Google. Our unique approach is precisely what has helped us reel in success for our clients time and time again. And we don’t plan on stopping any time soon.

If you’re ready to act in light of Google’s core update, Search Berg is right by your side. Let us take the right action to help you engage, rank, and convert without even the slightest risk of penalization. Sign up for our SEO content writing services today!