AI and Google search: what's the latest and why it matters

Google just rolled out a new update for March 2024, and it's pretty big news for anyone who publishes content on the internet. Let's dive into what's new and why it matters to you.

Google's March 2024 core update

Google's March 2024 update is more than just a regular tweak—it's a significant step forward in the way search engines are evolving, especially with AI becoming a central player.

The main idea behind this core update is to reward content that genuinely helps users. Google is sharpening its focus on quality, which means that creating content that resonates with readers and offers real insights is more crucial than ever.

If your content is genuinely helpful, you're on the right track. For creators, this is a nudge to think deeply about what you put out there and how it serves your audience.

Cracking down harder on spam

Google has announced three new spam policies to address common practices by web creators that negatively impact search results: expired domain abuse, scaled content abuse, and site reputation abuse.

• Expired domain abuse - Expired domains are usually purchased and repurposed to publish low-quality content, taking advantage of the domain’s previous “SEO juice”. That said, Google does clarify that purchasing an expired domain is not always a bad practice, as long as the purpose is to create a new, original site intended to be a helpful resource for users.
• Scaled content abuse - With the rise of AI text generators in the market, creating content at scale has never been easier. However, this automation can be abused when multiple pages are generated with the main intent to manipulate search rankings. Whether completely done by AI or with a human touch, Google looks down on producing large amounts of content that don’t serve any purpose or offer no value for users.
• Site reputation abuse - Certain sites with a high domain authority allow third-party pages, usually sponsored or advertised, that contain low quality content. When these content are obviously published without oversight of the original domain or intended to manipulate rankings, Google considers it a violation.

This increased crackdown on spam highlights a broader trend for the way search is evolving: the need for authenticity and oversight in digital spaces. Google’s message is clear: play by the rules, focus on making great content, and you'll do fine.

When sites are found to violate these spam policies, Google may penalize your pages by ranking them lower in search results or having them not appear in search at all.

AI: a game-changer for search and content

Google’s core update does not mean that AI-generated content has no place in today’s evolving search. In fact, it reiterates that the main issue has always been in pages that intend to manipulate search ranking through spammy practices — whether through the use of automation or not.

Low quality content can be generated by AI and humans alike; in the same way that it’s not only humans who are capable of creating content that’s genuinely helpful and insightful.

For AI tools, this core update is a moment to shine—by aiding in the creation of content that's both engaging and valuable. AI can, for example, help analyze trends, suggest content improvements, and even ensure your work aligns with SEO best practices post-update, beyond simply generating text from a single topic prompt.

Opportunity for creators

For creators, this evolution means embracing AI as a co-pilot in your content journey. Tools that leverage AI to enhance content quality, user engagement, and SEO will become invaluable. It's an invitation to merge creativity with technology, ensuring your content not only ranks well but also makes a meaningful impact.

Improve your ecommerce content with WriteText.ai

WriteText.ai is not your ordinary text generator. Aside from being fully integrated with WooCommerce, Magento, and Shopify, eliminating the hassle of working with different tools at the same time, WriteText.ai is also packed with SEO features that help you optimize your content for ranking and sales.

Version 1.2 introduced advanced image analysis for more contextually relevant text, image alt text generation, and a companion Chrome extension to help with your internal review process.

Over the next month, we will be rolling out enhanced SEO features — including insights into keywords you’re already ranking at, keywords your competitors are ranking at, and the intent behind your target keywords. All these features make sure that the content you generate through WriteText.ai is relevant and helpful to users, and not a basic product description generated from the bare minimum information on product attributes.

What's all this mean for the future?

As search engines like Google get smarter, thanks in part to AI, the digital ecosystem is set to become more authentic, valuable, and user-focused. This isn't just about adapting to an update; it's about recognizing and leveraging the role of AI in crafting the future of content.

Whether you're a creator, marketer, or developer, the message is clear: quality, creativity, and technology are the pillars of success in this new era.

But it's not just a challenge; it's an opportunity. AI can help us understand what people are really looking for and create content that hits the mark. As Google gets better at spotting the good stuff, it's a chance for creators who put in the effort to stand out from the crowd.

In short, the future of search is looking pretty interesting. AI's not just changing the game; it's making it fairer for those who are here to provide real value. So keep creating, stay honest, and let's make the internet a better place, one piece of content at a time.