Recent Developments at Google and their Stand on AI

Very Recently, there has been a huge Google core algorithm update impacing content generated by AI. Codenamed the “Benefactor” by some, this core algorithm update is actually good news for companies that do SEO the right way.

Google Wants to provide the best results creating Happy Searchers.

Think about it. Google’s core updates, like Benefactor, are trying to improve search results for everyday people. Their entire business model for this arm of their company is to deliver you results when you search their index of the internet for information. They want users to find websites that are actually helpful, informative, and solve their problems. This new update addressed three areas specifically:

1. Scaled Content Abuse
2. Site Reputation Abuse
3. Expired Domain Abuse

Benefactor Takes Aim at AI-Generated Nonsense

Benefactor specifically targets low-quality, AI-generated content. You know, that robotic, copy-and-paste stuff that floods the internet? Google’s taking a big swing at cleaning that up.

Elizabeth Tucker, director of the product “Search” at Google, said “We expect that the combination of this update and our previous efforts will collectively reduce low-quality, unoriginal content in search results by 40%,”. Tricking the internet to get better rankings is something Google has constantly and consistently attacked with its search engine.

Prompting a large language model (LLM) like Chat GPT to write all your content and expecting to rank in the first 10 positions of Google is not a strategy that is going to work. Google’s Marach update just provides even more clarity on this issue that we have been faced with ever since the launch of these LLM’s.

Site Reputation Abuse

Some websites have their own content mixed in with spammy 3rd party content. This 3rd party content is usually pointing (linking) to another website in the hopes of increasing its target website rankings. This type of content showing up high in the search results will now be deranked, classifying it as low value content. Site owners began seeing the rollout of this across the search engine on May 5th, 2024.

Expired Domain Abuse

Google has directly addressed the issues of using old, expired, and often called “aged” domains to link to your website in the hopes of higher rankings. There are different ways SEO experts have been doing this over the last few years. One strategy involves buying old domains with the intention of boosting search rankings to a new domain with old, low quality or unoriginal content. The main point is Google will now be punishing irrelevant domains that try this tactic.

Once again, Quality Content is King (Don’t forget – Marketing is Queen and the Queen Runs the House)

This update is fantastic news for companies who do things the right way. Why? Because it puts the spotlight on what we do best: creating high-quality, original content that establishes our expertise and gets you noticed.

We’re talking about content that solves your target audience’s problems, offers fresh perspectives, and leverages valuable data. Not some word vomit produced by Chat GPT just because you think you should blog. To understand how to create better people-first content, check out this resource by Google.

Don’t get me wrong, AI can be a handy tool, but it shouldn’t be used to write all your content. Google’s getting smarter every day, and they can sniff out that AI-generated fluff a mile away. Focus on real content, content with a heartbeat, and you’ll be golden.

How Digital Space Marketing Can Help You Win with Benefactor

At Digital Space Marketing, we’re SEO and AI experts. We know what Google wants, and we know how to create content that gets you results – more eyeballs from your target audience and more top 3 position rankings. What we recommend:

1. Content Audit and Revamp: Review your content and identify any low-quality content. Create/ edit/ re-fresh, engaging content that makes you a thought leader in your industry.

2. Data-Driven Content Strategy: Don’t guess at what people want to read… Use SEO tools to understand exactly what your target audience is searching for. Then create content that directly addresses those needs, backed by real data and insights.

3. Human Expertise is Your Secret Weapon: Benefactor loves human expertise and unique thoughts. Have your team or content writers weave their industry knowledge and unique insights into your content, making it stand out from the AI crowd.

4. Building Trust and Authority: We’ll help you establish your website as a trusted authority in your field. This means focusing on E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) – the holy grail of Google ranking factors.

5. Creating a User-Friendly Experience: Don’t forget about your visitors! Optimize your website for a smooth user experience, ensure lightning-fast loading speeds, and craft clear calls to action that keep users engaged.

6. EEAT: Create content to improve EEAT signals. EEAT stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritative, Trustworthy. To learn more about this check out the search engine journey article here.

The Future of SEO: Working with AI, Not Against It

The Benefactor update isn’t the end of AI in SEO by any means. It just means AI needs to be used the right way, not to just flood the internet with nonsense, repetitive information. Here’s how we can leverage AI in your SEO strategy:

• Brainstorming: Use AI tools to spark creative content ideas and identify trending topics that resonate with your audience.
• Content Optimization Master: AI can help you optimize your content for relevant keywords and improve readability, ensuring your message is crystal clear.
• Data Analysis Powerhouse: Utilize AI tools to crunch vast amounts of SEO data and identify areas where your content can be even stronger.

Remember, AI is a tool, but it can’t replace human creativity and strategic thinking (at least right now).

The March 2024 Google Core Update is an opportunity to take your SEO to the next level. By focusing on high-quality, user-centric content, leveraging human expertise (remember EEAT), and embracing data-driven approaches, your website can become a magnet for organic traffic.

Schedule a Call with Our Team to Get Started Today!