Google Core and Spam Update March 2024

Johannes Beus

(Author)

Published: 06.03.2024

During March 2024 both a core update and a spam update were rolled out in parallel.

The core update took 45 days, starting at March 5th 2024 and ending at April 19th 2024 at 10:00 (US/Pacific).

The spam update too only 14 days, starting at March 5th 2024 and ending at March 20th 2024 (US/Pacific).

Apart from the extended run of the core update, it was also unusual that Google provided more background information on the goals of these updates in a blog post and other articles .

Core Update: Helpful Content now part of the core algorithm

In the past, Google has rolled out various updates under the title “Helpful Content”. The goal is to rank unique content better and less original content worse.

With the new update, this evaluation of content has now become part of the core algorithm – therefore it is now forming part of a core update. What is also new is that there is no longer just one system for evaluating content, but several different metrics and systems that are now used for this.

Spam Update: Focus on scaled content production, expired domains and abuse of authority

With the spam update, rolling out at the same time, Google communicated three different goals. It is taking action against the scaled production of content that is mainly generated for search engines. It doesn’t matter whether they are created by people or computers (keyword: AI).

The misuse of expired domains will also be curbed and, finally, action will be taken against websites that enjoy a high level of authority on Google renting out individual subdomains and directories to third parties for this reason – this is often seen in the publishing environment with games, gambling, voucher codes and similar.

We will monitor both updates with interest and report back when we see the first measurable changes in the search results. Although there have already been movements in the last few days, they were too early to attribute to the two Google updates.

Winners and losers of the March 2024 Core and Spam Update

Below are lists of domains that have gains or losses since the start of the update. First, the domains with the biggest percentage loss. [The lists are based on large domains and Google UK search data. Some NSFW domains may exist. These domains may have changes due to affects outside the impact of the Spam and Core update, including technical issues, migrations and competitor movements.]

Here is a list of the top 25 absolute losses.

In terms of major absolute Wikipedia has lost a huge 697 VI points since the start of the two updates but remains at extremely high levels of visibility. One of the biggest commercial losses appears in the affiliate-led business of goodhousekeping.com. A 25% loss adds to the slow losses of late 2023 bringing the domain to its lowest visibility since 2019. The losses have occurred domain-wide as can be seen in the graphic below.

The winners are also listed below. Among the percentage winners are a large number of adult domains. Losses seen in tables above have been distributed widely.

A significant winning domain is seen with hmrc.gov.uk where the forum has gained. It also puts the domain into the top 25 of absolute visibility gains. The live Visibility Index history for that directory is shown here:

Finally, here are the domains with the biggest absolute visibility gains:

Quora and Reddit are obvious winners from the March Core and Spam update:

Google Update Radar

The update radar shows the daily SERPs changes detected over the period of the core and spam update.

Updates and examples during the rollout

Below you’ll find regular updates that were added during the period of the spam and core update rollout.

March 12th Update: The changes in the SERPs rise above normal noise levels

We are seeing the first significant movements in large, established domains.

While losses are easy to see, gains are harder to find. This could indicate algorithm update that is focused on removing URLs rather than promoting URLs. Gains made after the removal of ranking URLs would be widely spread as the search results ‘snap’ together again. This effect could change as the updates roll-out.

March 8th Update: First candidates emerge. No major movements across large domains

In the data set available on the 8th March we’ve been able to find domains that are probably seeing the effects of the Core and Spam Updates. Overall, however, there are very few major movements to be seen. The Top 100 domains (UK, and US) are all stable.

It’s not easy to find domains that have been affected but the samples below show typical signs of an update and confirm that the Google updates are being rolled out.

There is some evidence that the updates are working at directory-level.

Winners are less easy to find and that could be a sign that the changes are focused on penalising poor content. Rewards happen as the SERPs fall back into place.

Our Ask SISTRIX page with information on all Google Updates is always kept up to date.