The world of SEO can feel like a constantly shifting landscape. Google’s core updates are like earthquakes, shaking things up for even the most experienced website owners. The website owners scrambling for answers on how to recover from a Google core update. The March 2024 update was no different, causing waves throughout the digital marketing world.

But fear not. This guide is here to equip you with the knowledge and tools to not just bounce back from the update, but to come out even stronger.

Understanding Google’s Core Update

Before we start with the step-by-step guide and understand why website owners are asking the question of how to recover from a Google core update. It is important to understand the reason behind Google’s core update. Google’s core updates have one main goal: to make search results better for everyone. They want users to find websites with trustworthy, informative content that truly answers their questions. The March 2024 update specifically targeted content quality, cracking down on things like spam and low-value content created with fancy tricks like artificial intelligence.

The Recovery Plan

Step 1: Stay Cool and Assess the Damage

When faced with a setback, staying calm is key. Frantic decisions can make things worse. Take a deep breath and start by checking your website’s analytics. Look for patterns in traffic and rankings to understand which areas of your site were affected by the update.

Step 2: Content Audit – Meeting Google’s Standards

Now it’s time to take a close look at your website’s content. Before you understand how to recover from a Google core update. It is important to ask these questions. Imagine Google is a teacher grading your work. Are your pages well-written, informative, and helpful to your visitors? Do they answer the questions people are searching for? If not, it’s time to remove or improve those pages. Remember, the goal is to provide real value to your audience.

Step 3: Technical SEO – Building a Solid Foundation

Technical SEO is the behind-the-scenes stuff that makes your website work smoothly for search engines and visitors alike. Make sure search engines can easily find and understand your content. This means checking for things like mobile-friendliness, fast loading speeds, and secure connections.

Step 4: E-A-T – Building Trust and Authority

E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It’s a big deal for Google, and it should be for you too.  Show off your expertise by highlighting your credentials and citing reliable sources in your content. Well-researched and informative content builds trust with your audience and search engines alike.

Step 5: Strategic Recovery Actions

  • Identify and Improve Affected Pages: Use the data from your analytics to find pages that took a hit after the update. Focus on making those pages the best they can be.
  • Learn from the Best: See what your competitors who did well in the update are doing. Analyze their content strategies and adapt your approach if needed. This might also help to answer the question of how to recover from a Google core update. 
  • Focus on User Intent: People come to your website with questions. Make sure your content answers those questions and solves their problems.
  • Content is King (and Queen): Fight any traffic dips by consistently adding fresh, valuable content to your website. Keep your visitors engaged and coming back for more.

Advanced Strategies for a Powerful Comeback

  1. Structured Data: Schema markup is like a special code that helps search engines understand your content even better. This can lead to richer search results and potentially more clicks to your website.
  2. Backlink Check-Up: Not all backlinks are created equal. Take a look at the links pointing to your website and get rid of any low-quality ones that might be hurting your reputation.
  3. Content Variety: Keep things interesting. Expand your content library with different formats like videos, podcasts, and infographics to attract a wider audience.

The Takeaway: Embrace the Change

Getting back on track after a Google core update takes time and dedication. It’s not simple to answer how to recover from a Google core update. It’s all about creating high-quality content that truly serves your audience and following SEO best practices. By focusing on genuine value and staying updated on Google’s ever-evolving guidelines, you can not only recover from this update but also build a website that thrives in the long run. Remember, think of your website as a helpful friend, providing valuable information to those who need it. That’s the recipe for SEO success.