This year has already seen major changes in the SEO landscape. From a complex core Google’s Search algorithm update to thousands of lines of leaked code, website owners and digital marketers are learning what to do and what not to do to get their pages ranking on Google SERPs. As everyone scrambles to adapt, understanding these updates is crucial to maintaining visibility. Dive in as we dissect the latest news and analytical shifts that might change the game for online content.
June 2024: Google Ends Infinite Scroll
Google has announced it will eliminate its infinite scroll feature on desktop search results, replacing it with a “More Results” button at the bottom of the page. The search giant plans to delete the feature from mobile search results within the next month.
According to Google, this change aims to serve search results faster by only loading additional results when explicitly requested by users. Google also noted that automatically loading more results did not significantly enhance user satisfaction.
This shift reflects a broader trend toward user interface designs that prioritize ease of navigation and clarity, particularly in environments where information overload is a concern. For website owners and SEO strategists, this could mean adjusting how we evaluate page performance and user engagement, as user interactions within search results may change.
June 2024 Google Algorithm Leak
One of the biggest news items this summer is Google’s algorithm leak — more than 2,500 pages and 14,000 lines of code detailing Google’s search ranking mechanisms were accidentally made public via internal API documentation on GitHub.
While Google quickly moved to take down the information, it was too late. Third-party services indexed the data, making it accessible to anyone who wished to view it well after its removal from GitHub.
Some key takeaways from the leak for SEO experts:
- Domain and site authority are factored into rankings, despite Google’s previous claims to the contrary.
- Google analyzes the quality of links and assigns values to them.
- E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) is a significant ranking factor for content, especially YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) content.
- It’s important to create a unique title for each page on your website and include your goal keyword organically and early on.
- Even if short-form data is unique, it can still score well.
- Publish dates are more important than many SEOs realized since Google favors the most recent content.
June 2024 Spam Update
Google released a general spam update, completing its rollout on June 27. According to Google, while its automated systems to detect spam operate continuously, they occasionally release updates to enhance their effectiveness. One such system potentially impacted by this update is SpamBrain, Google’s AI-based spam prevention system.
Google advises sites noticing changes after the update to review its spam policies to ensure compliance. Websites that break these rules may not rank at all or rank worse in search results.
March 2024 Core Update & Spam Updates
March 2024 saw Google’s first core update of the year, a complex update involving changes to multiple systems. Google stated it would no longer rely on a single signal or system to show more helpful search results.
Google expects this update, along with previous efforts, to reduce low-quality, unoriginal content in search engine results pages by 40%.
The huge search engine is still facing spam. In terms of the year 2020, its artificially intelligent (AI) anti-spam system, SpamBrain, found over six times as many spam sites in 2021. Google revised its spam policy in March to address new and emerging misuse methods to curb this growing problem.
The updated spam policies focus on:
Scaled content abuse:
- Abusive behavior around content generated at scale, whether automated, human, or a combination.
Abuse of a website’s reputation:
- Low-quality content created by third parties mainly for search engine optimization.
Expired domain abuse:
- Purchasing and repurposing expired domains to boost low-quality, unoriginal content.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted Google to remove the infinite scroll feature from desktop and mobile search results?
Google decided to eliminate the infinite scroll feature in favor of a “More Results” button to enhance page load speed and improve user satisfaction. The change aims to address concerns about information overload and streamline navigation by only loading additional results when users explicitly request them.
How did the recent leak of Google’s algorithm code impact the SEO community?
The leak of over 14,000 lines of Google’s search algorithm code provided new insights into ranking mechanisms, including the significance of domain authority, backlink quality, and E-E-A-T. This revelation has led SEO experts to reassess their strategies and adapt to the newly uncovered factors influencing search rankings.
What are the main takeaways from the June 2024 algorithm leak for optimizing content?
The relevance of E-E-A-T for YMYL content, the significance of domain authority in rankings, the necessity of excellent links, the usefulness of unique and keyword-rich titles, and the growing importance of publish dates for ranking fresh content.
Also Read: The primary advantage of using generative AI in content creation
How has Google’s spam update in June 2024 affected websites?
Google’s June 2024 spam update focused on refining spam detection and enforcement, impacting sites that violated spam policies. Websites seeing changes in rankings should review and ensure compliance with Google’s updated spam policies to avoid potential ranking penalties.
What changes were made in Google’s March 2024 Core Update, and what was its expected impact on content quality?
The March 2024 Core Update introduced significant changes to multiple ranking systems, aiming to reduce low-quality, unoriginal content in search results by 40%. This update marked a shift from relying on single signals to a more comprehensive approach to evaluating search results.
How does Google’s SpamBrain system contribute to combating spam, and what are the new spam policies introduced in March 2024?
Google’s SpamBrain system, an AI-based spam prevention tool, has been crucial in identifying and combating spam sites. The March 2024 spam policies address issues such as scaled content abuse, site reputation abuse, and expired domain abuse to better tackle new and evolving spam practices.