Google Updates for 2024: Key Changes You Can’t Miss

Have you noticed a sudden drop in your website’s organic traffic? If Yes, then you are not alone. 

As we know change is constant in digital marketing, and Google algorithm updates are the best example. Google’s algorithm has been evolving for years with regular updates and improvements.  Google updates can have a big impact on website rankings, which means that you might see changes in your website traffic after one is rolled out. So, it is important to keep an eye on these updates.

Google’s latest update, which started in March 2024 and finished rolling out by the end of April. This core update aims to target low-quality content and spam. In this blog, we’ll talk about the Google updates in 2024. 

What are Google Algorithm Updates?

Before we know about Google 2024 updates, firstly we should know what are Google Algorithm Updates.

Google algorithm updates are those constant tweaks Google makes to keep the search engine accurate and relevant. Every so often, Google rolls out these updates to improve how search results are ranked, which makes sure that you are seeing relevant information first. 

What this means for website owners and digital marketers is that keeping up with these updates is important. If you ignore them, it could mean a drop in website rankings, which can impact traffic and visibility.

Google Updates for 2024

August 2024 Core Update

The Google August Core Update, which begins rolling out on 15 August and completed by 3rd September. This update focuses on promoting high-quality and user-centric content. Google’s aim with this update is to highlight useful content and emphasize expertise, authority and trustworthiness (E-A-T) as key ranking signals. 

Websites that offer accurate and credible information are more likely to see positive effects on their rankings, while websites that focus on keyword manipulation or low-value content might experience a drop in rankings.

This is why Google advises regularly auditing and improving content to align with user needs and focusing on strategic enhancements to content quality and user experience to support long-term SEO goals. 

June 2024 Spam Update

Google announced the rollout of its June 2024 spam update, which aims to target websites that violate Google’s spam policies. This update began on 20 June 2024 and was completed by 27 June 2024.

As a result of this update, search rankings may fluctuate, which can impact sites that engage in practices against these guidelines.

July 2024 Deepfake Ranking System Update

On July 31, 2024, Google updated its search algorithm to make sure deepfake content doesn’t rank highly. This update aims to show quality and relevant content over potentially misleading deepfakes.

This update uses advanced tech to detect deepfakes. Fake or misleading content that lacks proper disclosure is ranked lower, while reliable content is prioritized. 

Google also said: 

“With these changes, people can read about the impact deepfakes are having on society, rather than see pages with actual non-consensual fake images.”

March 2024 Core Update

On 5 March 2024, Google announced a core update impacting various ranking systems, which resulted in noticeable fluctuations in rankings. The March Core Update was the first big update of 2024. 

This update aims to reduce “unhelpful” content by 40%, enhancing the relevance of search results. Google also integrated its helpful content system with the core ranking system to improve search result quality. The rollout was scheduled to take up to 45 days to complete and conclude on 26th April. Along with new spam policies and the release of the March spam update, this update looked to target low-quality content including AI-generated spam.

Conclusion

The above Google 2024 updates are part of Google’s ongoing efforts to improve search quality. While most changes are minor, some major updates like these can impact your website rankings in a big way. Staying on top of these changes is the key for anyone looking to keep up in the SEO world.