Google Core Updates are broad changes that Google makes to its algorithms that rank websites in its Search Engine Results Page (SERP). At the beginning of March, Google announced another round of core updates to help the company present helpful, high-quality content to users. This update focuses on refining the Helpful Content updates it worked on starting in mid-2022 and continued to process through 2023. With this newest update, Google has expanded its efforts to limit spam from AI sources and low-quality content.

Google's E-E-A-T Method

To understand Google's methodology for determining what content is "helpful" for consumers, understanding its E-E-A-T acronym is essential. Google uses this acronym for its Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines, which stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Each aspect is important for your website to appear on Google's SERP and rank higher than your competitors.

• Experience: Google values first-hand experiences with the products and services companies sell. For example, if you sell and install window treatments, good content can include your experience working with customers and installing their new products in their homes and businesses.
• Expertise: Similar to experience, Google values experts in their respective fields. For example, if you're the leader of a law firm, including evidence of your licenses and education and those of your partners is valuable for Google because it shows your business has law experts.
• Authoritativeness: Another valuable part of Google's E-E-A-T method, authoritativeness is how others perceive you or your business. For example, if you're an expert in early childhood education and other experts in the field rely on you for information and provide links to your website, you can build authoritativeness.
• Trustworthiness: Trust is a significant factor in all aspects of business marketing, and you can build your trustworthiness by providing accurate, relevant, and accessible information to your customers safely. Citing data from sources, using accurate user reviews, and having easily accessible and accurate contact information can all help you build trustworthiness.

Expect Volatility

When Google goes through its updates, many websites experience volatility, which means their rankings can change, their website may leave Google for brief periods, and website traffic fluctuates. Typically, this means you may experience lower traffic and conversions, which affects your business. Once Google finishes rolling out its March 2024 Core Update, most of these will likely return to their stable state unless you have a lot of AI-generated content.

AI-generated content continues to be a debate among almost everyone except Google. Ultimately, the search engine doesn't value AI content because it lacks experience, expertise, and trustworthiness, which are some of Google's highest priorities for helpful content. But there's a way to boost a low-ranking website or maintain your leading positions on Google SERPs with the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services at Creekmore Marketing. We use and recommend processes such as:

• Writing about what makes you and your business unique
• Creating content based on relevant keyword research for your location, industry, and competitors
• Setting the trends in your industry instead of following them
• Evaluating your content for unique, expert advice, solutions, and information

Get High-Quality Content and SEO Services with Creekmore Marketing

At Creekmore Marketing, we create content written by people for people, precisely what Google values with its updates. When you rely on Creekmore Marketing for your website content and SEO services, you know you get high-quality content from our expert SEO & Content Specialists. We go beyond the basics and provide a full suite of digital marketing services, including website design, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media solutions, and more.

Contact us to learn how we can boost your local digital marketing plan and help you grow your business.