When the March 2024 Google core algorithm update landed, many site owners woke up to chart lines diving south. The shock was global, and plenty of Australian businesses learned the hard way that “set and forget” no longer applies to SEO.
A core algorithm update is Google’s periodic house-cleaning. Rather than fixing one tiny element, these updates tweak dozens of ranking systems at once—relevance signals, quality signals, even how user experience data is interpreted.
Why Core Updates Matter:
- Site-wide scope: They re-evaluate every indexed URL, not just the odd spammy page.
- Ranking models shift: Signals like experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trust (E-E-A-T) can be weighted differently overnight.
- No appeal process: You can’t request reconsideration; you must improve and wait for the next recalculation.
How the March 2024 Update Turned Rankings Upside-Down
Whenever Google finishes a big rollout, the industry studies which types of pages fall the hardest. The March 2024 update targeted thin, recycled, or AI-scaled content, expired-domain link schemes, and low-quality third-party “parasite” pages. If your site relied on any of those tactics—or if your content was simply a bit stale—traffic probably tanked.
The Common Victims
- Thin or unhelpful articles: Pages that add little beyond what’s already in the top ten.
- E-E-A-T gaps: Lack of author bios, missing credentials, or thin about pages diminish trust signals.
- Aggressive content scaling: Churning out hundreds of AI-stitched articles looks suspicious.
- Sluggish, ad-heavy UX: Slow or jumpy layouts worsen engagement stats, compounding the hit.
Signs Your Site Was Hit by the Core Update
It’s tempting to blame everything on Google, but you need evidence first. Sudden drops can be caused by server errors, faulty analytics filters, or even seasonality.
Red Flags to Look For
- Organic traffic plummets while direct or social stay flat.
- Drops align with Google’s public rollout timeline.
- Keyword positions fall broadly, not just for a handful of terms.
- Competitors in the same niche show parallel declines.
If you tick three or more boxes, the core update is the prime suspect.
Confirming the Core Update Is to Blame
Before you start fixing things, double-check that the algorithm—rather than your own infrastructure—is the villain.
A Simple Three-Step Test
- Overlay dates in Analytics or Search Console. Match the fall to the public rollout window.
- Audit technical health. Broken redirects, rogue noindex tags, or server downtime can mimic an update hit.
- Review user behaviour metrics. If time on page and conversion rates slid at the same moment, content relevance may be the deeper issue.
Diagnostic Checklist for Core-Update Damage
Once the culprit looks certain, run through this checklist. Completing every task positions your site for the fastest recovery when Google recalculates rankings.
Essential Tasks
- Crawl the entire site: Identify duplicate titles, thin pages, and index bloat.
- Update or merge thin content: Consolidate overlapping articles and redirect the rest.
- Show real expertise: Add author bios, credentials, and links to credible sources.
- Boost user experience: Aim for sub-2.5-second Largest Contentful Paint and low layout shift.
- Scrub your backlink profile: Disavow toxic links, remove paid placements, and diversify anchor text.
- Document everything: Keep a changelog so you can link wins to specific fixes.
Content Revitalisation Tactics That Work
Core updates reward pages that go beyond surface-level answers. By refreshing older content and adding firsthand insight, you tell Google—and users—that your site is still alive and kicking.
Practical Approaches
- Inject experience: Add personal commentary, real-world data, or case studies.
- Use local touchpoints: A line about Aussie pricing or regional regulations gives articles a unique angle.
- Add multimedia elements: Images, short videos, or interactive tools improve dwell time.
- Refine structure: Break up walls of text with subheadings, bullet lists, and concise summaries.
Technical Tweaks Still Matter Post-Update
Quality content goes nowhere if crawlers can’t access it. After every core update, Google reminds webmasters that technical barriers can hide improvements.
Key Areas to Check
- Indexability: Ensure no vital pages are accidentally blocked by robots.txt or noindex tags.
- Redirect hygiene: Fix chains and loops, especially after HTTP-to-HTTPS or URL restructuring.
- Mobile performance: With mobile-first indexing, slow handheld experience can sink rankings even if desktop flies.
Final Takeaway
Google’s core algorithm updates, including the heavyweight March 2024 rollout, can slash even well-meaning websites’ traffic overnight. If your numbers crashed, verify the timing, audit content quality, tidy up technical issues, and inject genuine expertise. By turning recovery into a systematic routine, you’ll be ready not just to regain lost ground but to eclipse competitors when the next core update hits—whether your audience lives in Melbourne, Manchester, or Manila.
