Digila Anna Mathew In March 2024, Google released a significant core algorithm update aimed at improving the quality of search results by reducing low-quality and unoriginal content. This update has led to widespread discussions and complaints among affiliate marketers on various forums. A lot of online affiliate marketing businesses have suffered losing traffic and revenue overnight. Reportedly, over 800 sites were deindexed. For example:
- FreshersLive.com: Initially deindexed, but later saw pages reappear in Google’s search index​..
- OldTimeMusic.com: Similar to FreshersLive, this site also experienced reindexing of its pages after initial deindexing​​.
Google’s March 2024 Updates: What They Are and What They Mean
In March 2024, Google rolled out a significant core algorithm update aimed at enhancing the quality and relevance of search results. This update introduced several changes that have impacted websites, particularly those involved in affiliate marketing and content creation. Here’s a detailed look at what the update entails and its implications:
Google’s March 2024 Update Recommendations
- Focus on High-Quality, Human-Made Content:
- Objective: Google aims to prioritize content that is helpful, human-made, and user-friendly over low-quality, automated, or AI-generated content.
- Implication: Websites relying heavily on AI-generated content without significant human oversight have seen their rankings drop. This change emphasizes the need for originality and depth in content creation.
- De-Emphasis on Backlinks:
- Objective: The update reduces the influence of backlinks as a ranking factor, particularly those obtained through manipulative practices like private blog networks (PBNs).
- Implication: Websites that relied on backlink schemes for ranking have been negatively affected. The focus has shifted to content quality and user experience rather than sheer volume of backlinks.
- User Experience (UX) Emphasis:
- Objective: Google is placing more importance on user experience, including page load times, mobile-friendliness, and overall site usability.
- Implication: Sites with poor UX, such as those bogged down by intrusive ads or slow load times, are seeing declines in their rankings. Improving site performance and ensuring a seamless user experience is now critical.
- Crackdown on Spam and Low-Quality Content:
- Objective: The update includes stricter measures against spammy and low-quality content, particularly content that appears to be designed for web crawlers rather than human readers.
- Implication: Sites with thin content, keyword stuffing, or low-value pages have been penalized. Google’s spam policies now target a wider range of manipulative tactics.
- Action Against Scaled Content and Expired Domains:
- Objective: Google targets websites that produce large volumes of low-quality content or that misuse expired domains to boost rankings.
- Implication: Websites employing these strategies have been de-indexed or seen significant drops in rankings. Content quality and relevance to the domain’s original purpose are now more scrutinized.
We highly recommend learning more about Google’s March Updates from Google themselves. Here’s a link to Search Control Central where you can read more about what are Google’s March Updates: What web creators should know about our March 2024 core update and new spam policies.
10 Common Affiliate Marketing Issues After Google’s March Updates
Let’s take a look at the 10 most common complaints doing rounds on social media and affiliate marketing forums. While we have expert recommendations along with the complaints, nothing beats the golden rule – get the basics right.Â
1. Significant Drop in Traffic
Complaint: Many affiliate marketers have experienced a sudden and substantial drop in traffic following the update.
Solution: Perform a comprehensive site audit to identify pages that may have been affected. Focus on improving the quality and relevance of your content by following Google’s E-E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) principles. Ensure your content is well-researched, original, and provides real value to users.
2. De-indexed Pages
Complaint: Some websites have reported that several of their pages have been de-indexed.
Solution: Check Google Search Console for any notifications or warnings. Analyze which pages were de-indexed and why. Often, pages with low-quality or AI-generated content are targeted. Revise these pages to ensure they meet Google’s quality standards and resubmit them for indexing.
3. Impact on AI-Generated Content
Complaint: Google’s update has significantly affected websites relying heavily on AI-generated content.
Solution: While AI tools can aid in content creation, it is essential to ensure that content adds unique value and is not merely a regurgitation of existing information. Google is not against AI-generated content but it must be put to purpose with human insights and expertise. Regularly update and review AI-generated content to maintain high standards of quality and relevance.
4. Spam and Low-Quality Content
Complaint: Sites with low-quality or spammy content have been hit hard by the update.
Solution: Remove or significantly improve any content that could be considered spammy or low-quality. Avoid overuse of keywords and ensure your content addresses the needs and queries of your audience comprehensively. Engage in ethical SEO practices and avoid manipulative techniques.
5. Issues with Backlinks
Complaint: Some affiliate marketers are concerned about the de-emphasis on backlinks in the ranking algorithm.
Solution: While backlinks remain important, the focus should be on acquiring high-quality, relevant backlinks rather than large quantities. Create content that naturally attracts backlinks from reputable sources and engage in genuine outreach to build relationships within your niche.
6. User Experience (UX) Concerns
Complaint: Poor user experience, such as slow load times and intrusive ads, has been penalized more strictly.
Solution: Optimize your site for better user experience. Ensure your site is mobile-friendly, improve page load times, and reduce the number of intrusive ads. Enhance site navigation and make it easier for users to find the information they need.
7. Lack of Specific Guidance
Complaint: Google has not provided specific actions to recover from the update, leaving many marketers unsure of the exact steps to take.
Solution: Follow Google’s general advice on creating high-quality, user-focused content. Regularly check for updates from Google and industry experts, and be proactive in making necessary adjustments to your site based on the latest best practices.
8. Multiple Overlapping Updates
Complaint: The overlap of the March core update with other updates (such as spam updates) makes it hard to pinpoint the exact cause of ranking changes.
Solution: Use detailed analytics to track changes in traffic and rankings. Identify patterns and correlate them with the timing of the updates. This can help isolate which specific changes might be impacting your site and allow you to take targeted action.
9. Scaled Content Abuse
Complaint: Sites producing large volumes of content using automated tools have been penalized.
Solution: Focus on quality over quantity. Ensure that all content, whether produced by humans or AI, is valuable, informative, and relevant. Regularly review and update older content to maintain its quality and relevance.
10. Difficulty in Recovering Rankings
Complaint: Some marketers find it challenging to regain lost rankings even after making improvements.
Solution: Recovery from a core update can take time. Consistently improve your content and adhere to best SEO practices. Engage with your audience to understand their needs better and tailor your content accordingly. Keep monitoring your site’s performance and continue refining your strategies.
We’d love to hear from you! Let us know if your site was affected by Google’s latest updates or if you have any suggestions or strategies that have worked for you, please share your experiences in the comments. Your insights can help fellow marketers.
