{"id":619326,"date":"2024-05-03T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/3-key-observations-about-the-google-march-2024-core-update\/"},"modified":"2024-05-03T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T14:00:00","slug":"3-key-observations-about-the-google-march-2024-core-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/3-key-observations-about-the-google-march-2024-core-update\/","title":{"rendered":"#3 key observations about the Google March 2024 core update"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2910d1c03c5\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2910d1c03c5\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/3-key-observations-about-the-google-march-2024-core-update\/#Uncover_the_unique_characteristics_of_the_March_2024_core_update_from_its_prolonged_rollout_to_its_heavy-handed_impact_on_certain_sites\" >Uncover the unique characteristics of the March 2024 core update, from its prolonged rollout to its heavy-handed impact on certain sites.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/3-key-observations-about-the-google-march-2024-core-update\/#1_Analyzing_this_update_is_hard\" >1. Analyzing this update is hard\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/3-key-observations-about-the-google-march-2024-core-update\/#2_Huge_movement_at_the_bottom_half_of_the_SERP_across_the_web\" >2. Huge movement at the bottom half of the SERP across the web<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/3-key-observations-about-the-google-march-2024-core-update\/#3_The_aggregate_data_only_tells_one_part_of_the_story\" >3. The aggregate data only tells one part of the story\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/3-key-observations-about-the-google-march-2024-core-update\/#So_how_%E2%80%98big_was_the_March_2024_core_update\" >So how \u2018big\u2019 was the March 2024 core update?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"subhead\" itemprop=\"alternativeHeadline\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Uncover_the_unique_characteristics_of_the_March_2024_core_update_from_its_prolonged_rollout_to_its_heavy-handed_impact_on_certain_sites\"><\/span>Uncover the unique characteristics of the March 2024 core update, from its prolonged rollout to its heavy-handed impact on certain sites.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"bialty-container\">\nGoogle\u2019s March 2024 core update will hands down be one of the most talked-about SEO topics of the year, if not the last few years. <\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s so much around the update, from its length to the death of the helpful content update (HCU) to all of the quality issues on the SERP (talking about you, <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reddit<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There is going to be a lot said about this update. Here are a few things I wanted to share based on data Semrush shared with me, scouring through hundreds of SERPs and looking at the ranking patterns along with the sites themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/1038259\/SEL_Post-text --><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1693000027709-0\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"post-break\"><\/div>\n<p>To be clear: none of this is definitive. The following analysis is what I\u2019ve seen and my interpretations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-analyzing-this-update-is-hard-nbsp\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Analyzing_this_update_is_hard\"><\/span>1. Analyzing this update is hard\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Analyzing the Google March 2024 core update difficult for many reasons. Even just understanding what h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ened in terms of the HCU and integration (or lack thereof) into the core is a whole basket of confusion for various reasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The other elephant in the room is how long the update took to roll out, which presents a heap of complications compared to traditional data.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1027\" alt=\"The full rank volatility fluctuation pattern seen during the March 2024 core update (with just a tad of pre-update volatility to boot)\" class=\"wp-image-440151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-527x338.png.webp 527w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-800x514.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-176x113.png.webp 176w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-768x493.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-1536x986.png 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US.png.webp\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1027\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US.png.webp\" alt=\"The full rank volatility fluctuation pattern seen during the March 2024 core update (with just a tad of pre-update volatility to boot)\" class=\"wp-image-440151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-527x338.png.webp 527w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-800x514.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-176x113.png.webp 176w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-768x493.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/SERP-Volatility-All-categories-US-1536x986.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The full rank volatility fluctuation pattern seen during the March 2024 core update (with just a tad of pre-update volatility to boot)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>For example, one of the \u201cmetrics\u201d tool providers show is the level of \u201cpeak volatility.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>As I\u2019ve mentioned at various times (including SMX Next 2023), this metric is often the least telling when gauging the impact of an algorithm update, but it can still help paint the overall picture.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019d say, in this case, it\u2019s almost entirely irrelevant.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you look below, the levels of peak rank volatility seen during the March 2024 core update are actually lower than what Semrush tracked back during the November 2023 core update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"991\" alt=\"Peak volatility comparison - Semrush sensor data\" class=\"wp-image-440152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-546x338.png.webp 546w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-800x496.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-182x113.png.webp 182w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-768x476.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-1536x951.png 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data.png.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"991\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data.png.webp\" alt=\"Peak volatility comparison - Semrush sensor data\" class=\"wp-image-440152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-546x338.png.webp 546w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-800x496.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-182x113.png.webp 182w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-768x476.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Peak-volatility-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-1536x951.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Shocking? Not really.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The March 2024 core update was a very different update. It wasn\u2019t about a quick week or so burst of intense algorithmic activity \u2013 it was a prolonged <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> of many moments of algorithmic intensity. <\/p>\n<p>Looking at a \u201cpeak\u201d moment in time (in our case, one out of 45 days) is not how this update should be analyzed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The same applies to another metric that is often pretty telling: volatility change. This data looks at the levels of rank fluctuations during a baseline period (a period of relative calm) and compares them to the level of fluctuation seen during the update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Looking below, it turns out the March 2024 core update and the November 2023 core update show the exact same amount of relative change per Semrush:<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"991\" alt=\"Rank volatility change comparison - Semrush sensor data\" class=\"wp-image-440153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-546x338.png.webp 546w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-800x496.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-182x113.png.webp 182w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-768x476.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-1536x951.png 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data.png.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"991\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data.png.webp\" alt=\"Rank volatility change comparison - Semrush sensor data\" class=\"wp-image-440153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-546x338.png.webp 546w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-800x496.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-182x113.png.webp 182w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-768x476.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Rank-volatility-change-comparison-Semrush-sensor-data-1536x951.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Here, too, the metric relies on comparing one moment in time to another moment. With the March 2024 core update, it\u2019s not about specific algorithmic moments that can be analyzed but the whole shebang.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It all makes gauging the impact of Google\u2019s March 2024 core update far more difficult than usual (and it\u2019s usually very difficult).\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-huge-movement-at-the-bottom-half-of-the-serp-across-the-web\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Huge_movement_at_the_bottom_half_of_the_SERP_across_the_web\"><\/span>2. Huge movement at the bottom half of the SERP across the web<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>I must have looked at around 300 SERPs and the ranking patterns of the top 20 results over the course of the entire update. <\/p>\n<p>One of my early observations was that there was a ton of movement toward the bottom of \u201cpage one of the SERP\u201d but the top results didn\u2019t seem to see any increased volatility relative to other updates I\u2019ve analyzed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s not to say sites were not impacted by key ranking losses at the top of the SERP. I\u2019m saying that, overall, I expected to see more movement at the very top of the SERP.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>(If you\u2019re screaming, \u201cNo, I\u2019ve seen crazy ranking swaps at the top of the SERP you fool!\u201d you\u2019re not wrong \u2013 I\u2019ll get to it.)<\/p>\n<p>This assessment seems to be corroborated by the data Semrush provided me.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If we look at the percentage of URLs ranking top 10 post-update that prior to the update didn\u2019t crack the top 20 you\u2019ll see a disparity between the March 2024 core update and the November 2023 core update:\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1102\" alt=\"Core update comparison - Top 10 results\" class=\"wp-image-440154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-491x338.png.webp 491w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-800x551.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-164x113.png.webp 164w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-768x529.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-1536x1058.png 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results.png.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1102\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results.png.webp\" alt=\"Core update comparison - Top 10 results\" class=\"wp-image-440154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-491x338.png.webp 491w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-800x551.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-164x113.png.webp 164w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-768x529.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-10-results-1536x1058.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In November, 6.46% of the URLs ranking in the top 10 came from beyond position 20. That number jumps noticeably to 9.38% in March.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To me, this is more telling than peak volatility or volatility change. It\u2019s the analysis of where things were and where they ended up over the course of the update. It\u2019s not just looking at a one-shot moment in time.<\/p>\n<p>It also helps to see how drastic the rank volatility was and whether Google was really rewarding what it hadn\u2019t known to reward before.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That said, the same pattern doesn\u2019t hold true when looking at the top 5 results:\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1102\" alt=\"Core update comparison - Top 5 results\" class=\"wp-image-440155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-491x338.png.webp 491w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-800x551.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-164x113.png.webp 164w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-768x529.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-1536x1058.png 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results.png.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1102\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results.png.webp\" alt=\"Core update comparison - Top 5 results\" class=\"wp-image-440155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-491x338.png.webp 491w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-800x551.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-164x113.png.webp 164w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-768x529.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Core-update-comparison-Top-5-results-1536x1058.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Among the top 5 results, the gap between the March 2024 core update and the November 2023 core update is far less significant.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This would point to the March 2024 core update not being disproportionately potent relative to other core updates where it matters most \u2013 the very top of the SERP. (Again, when looking at it through this very specific lens).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It also points to what I saw and mentioned before \u2013 the update was heavy-handed toward positions 6-10.<\/p>\n<p>Beware \u2013 this is a horizontal data analysis that was meant to try to sweep across the web \u2013 it\u2019s very normalized. We still need to dig a bit more \u201cvertically\u201d and that\u2019s part of what makes analyzing this update so hard.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- START INLINE FORM --><\/p>\n<p><!-- END INLINE FORM --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-the-aggregate-data-only-tells-one-part-of-the-story-nbsp\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_The_aggregate_data_only_tells_one_part_of_the_story\"><\/span>3. The aggregate data only tells one part of the story\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With this update in particular, I think you can\u2019t just sweep across the web and look at the top-level data. It\u2019s, in a weird way, too normalized.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Looking at the web horizontally includes sites that lost and gained rankings but mostly includes sites that did not do much of anything.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To get a better understanding of the update, you have to hone in on who was impacted and the nature of that impact. That\u2019s a more vertical and qualitative analysis.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>From what I see (again, it\u2019s just what I see, and it\u2019s anecdotal at that), the March 2024 core update had a bite to it that you don\u2019t always see with a core update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Below is a site that slowly started to see growth in September 2023 (ironically right around the September 2023 helpful content update) and really took off in Q4 2023 (suspiciously so, but I have not dug enough to say that with any confidence).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The March 2024 core update destroyed it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"423\" alt=\"Sample website - Estimated traffic trend\" class=\"wp-image-440156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-600x159.png.webp 600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-800x212.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-200x53.png.webp 200w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-768x203.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-1536x406.png 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend.png.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"423\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend.png.webp\" alt=\"Sample website - Estimated traffic trend\" class=\"wp-image-440156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-600x159.png.webp 600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-800x212.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-200x53.png.webp 200w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-768x203.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-1536x406.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Since I mentioned the September 2023 HCU, below is a site that saw a ranking reward with the August 2023 core update but a loss with the September 2023 HCU a month later.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The March 2024 core update all but finished it off.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"438\" alt=\"Sample website - Estimated traffic trend post-March 2024\" class=\"wp-image-440157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024.jpeg.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-600x164.jpeg.webp 600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-800x219.jpeg.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-200x55.jpeg.webp 200w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-768x210.jpeg.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-1536x420.jpeg 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024.jpeg.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024.jpeg.webp\" alt=\"Sample website - Estimated traffic trend post-March 2024\" class=\"wp-image-440157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024.jpeg.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-600x164.jpeg.webp 600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-800x219.jpeg.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-200x55.jpeg.webp 200w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-768x210.jpeg.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-post-March-2024-1536x420.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>There does seem to be a bit of a pattern with sites getting hit by the September 2023 HCU and seeing subsequent losses with the March 2024 core update:<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"448\" alt=\"Sample website - Estimated traffic trend - June 2023 to May 2024\" class=\"wp-image-440158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-600x168.png.webp 600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-800x224.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-200x56.png.webp 200w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-768x215.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-1536x430.png 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024.png.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"448\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024.png.webp\" alt=\"Sample website - Estimated traffic trend - June 2023 to May 2024\" class=\"wp-image-440158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024.png.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-600x168.png.webp 600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-800x224.png.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-200x56.png.webp 200w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-768x215.png.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-website-Estimated-traffic-trend-June-2023-to-May-2024-1536x430.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>My personal theory is that no, Google did not throw away the HCU. It makes zero sense to me that they invested so heavily to create the construct only to throw it in the trash can. <\/p>\n<p>What I personally think happened is the classifier used by the HCU was built upon and serves as the foundation of the now multifaceted way Google algorithmically assesses helpfulness.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Think of it like the Model T. No, the Model T is not produced anymore, but the process used to mass-produce it serves as the basis and foundation for mass-producing the cars we drive today.<\/p>\n<p>For the record, not all sites got hit; some got rewarded. Here\u2019s a site\u2019s informational content folder getting a massive uplift with the March 2024 core update:<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"427\" alt=\"Sample informational site - Estimated traffic trend - rewarded\" class=\"wp-image-440159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded.jpeg.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-600x160.jpeg.webp 600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-800x214.jpeg.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-200x53.jpeg.webp 200w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-768x205.jpeg.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-1536x410.jpeg 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded.jpeg.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded.jpeg.webp\" alt=\"Sample informational site - Estimated traffic trend - rewarded\" class=\"wp-image-440159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded.jpeg.webp 1600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-600x160.jpeg.webp 600w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-800x214.jpeg.webp 800w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-200x53.jpeg.webp 200w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-768x205.jpeg.webp 768w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/Sample-informational-site-Estimated-traffic-trend-rewarded-1536x410.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-so-how-big-was-the-march-2024-core-update-nbsp\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"So_how_%E2%80%98big_was_the_March_2024_core_update\"><\/span>So how \u2018big\u2019 was the March 2024 core update?\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Trying to size up any algorithm update is such a precarious task. All the more so with the March 2024 core update. <\/p>\n<p>I hate to use the age-old SEO cliche, but it depends. It depends on how you look at it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Do you define the impact of the March 2024 core update by its reach across the web as a whole? If so, there are indications that it was more potent than your typical update but not definitively so.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, if you define the impact of the March 2024 core update by its ability and tendency to be heavy-handed, then the March 2024 core update, by all accounts, seems to have had some extra bite.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>My personal take: there was something different about this update. If you combine it all, the extra bite the update had in negatively impacting sites, the extra rank volatility seen at the 6th \u2013 10th rank positions, etc., paints a picture of what is a very \u201cunique\u201d update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"about-author\">\n    About the author<\/p>\n<div class=\"information\">\n<div class=\"author-module\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-3 text-center\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid rounded-circle avatar-border\" alt=\"Mordy Oberstein\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/images\/authors\/MordyOberstein-lg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid rounded-circle avatar-border\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/images\/authors\/MordyOberstein-lg.jpg\" alt=\"Mordy Oberstein\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\">\n                                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-9\">\n<div class=\"about\">\n<div class=\"name\">\n                            <strong>Mordy Oberstein<\/strong>\n                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"row g-2 pt-2\">\n<div class=\"col-auto twitter\">\n                                    <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/follow?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fsearchengineland.com%2F&amp;region=follow_link&amp;screen_name=MordyOberstein&amp;tw_p=followbutton&amp;variant=2.0\" aria-label=\"opens in a new tab\"><i class=\"fab fa-x-twitter\"><\/i><\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        Mordy is the Head of SEO Branding at Wix. Concurrently he also serves as a communications advisor for Semrush. Dedicated to SEO education, Mordy is one of the organizers of #SEOchat and a popular industry author and speaker.                    <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology<\/a><\/span> category.<\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/google-march-2024-core-update-key-observations-440148\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Uncover the unique characteristics of the March 2024 core update, from its prolonged rollout to its heavy-handed impact on certain sites. Google\u2019s March 2024 core update will hands down be one of the most talked-about SEO topics of the year, if not the last few years. There\u2019s so much around the update, from its length&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-619326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=619326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619326\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=619326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=619326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=619326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}