It's official: March core update is over

SEO
21

I think it's a bit too soon to act.

I am looking at the search results and there is no way these result can be permanent unless Google is on the path of self-destruction. The quality of search results is simply too bad right now.

I started a locally focussed website in December and created content for which there were no correct answers on the internet. I wrote about 10 of these articles and they all quickly rose to top 3 positions (mostly 1st position). The keywords are low volume and non commercial, but because there were no answers online until I wrote them, I would get daily phone calls regarding that information. The articles rose quickly to the top undoubtedly because the user behaviour should that these were the correct answers.

Since March 5th, most of these have disappeared from Google completely, Along with the remaining articles that were meant to bring me commercial leads.

If these results are indeed final, that means there is no correct answer on Google for these questions and that the quality of the information and user satisfaction no longer matters. These articles are present on all the other search engines on Page 1. Those that are still in Google are in the same positions as before (See image attached below).

I believe (perhaps foolishly) that things are still shaking out for one to already go about overhauling what they have built so far. I'm going to wait it out until the end of May to decide what's what.

GSC.JPG
22

I just watched the vid too. Absolutely brilliant. Reminds me of the old days!

Now where did I put my black hat? šŸ˜†

23

@lebogang22 Yup, my thinking all along has been to wait til the end of May (Iā€™ve mentioned in my first reply to this thread checking stats daily from 23rd - 27th May and then you KNOW exactly what to expect from Google for your website).

However, in truth, weā€™ve been saying since September 2023 that the SERPs make absolutely no sense.

Sure, we have the update coming on Sunday and you would hope that ā€œParasite SEOā€ gets rid of all the high authority websites that simply have spam reviews on them (SOME will disappear, I honestly donā€™t think Reddit, Forbes, Quora, and Forums are going anywhere).

The ā€œMass AI-Content Spamā€, I think a lot of this has already been dealt with March 5th - March 19th during the SPAM update, but still more to come.

And the ā€œexpired domain absueā€, well people have been purchasing expired domains with a good backlink profile and then 301 redirecting numerous domains to the new ā€œmoney siteā€, so this could see some websites that have decent authority, but have come from nowhere in the last 12 months, disappear.

How much difference will all of this make to the SERPs in the next week or two, well, we can all hope, but I donā€™t think itā€™s going to make that much of a difference at all.

Iā€™m not entirely sure what you mean by ā€œlocally focusedā€, but for Local SEO, always check out Jacky Chou - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS1LT_WoYAIHW5KcUNxXYEw

I actually remember Jacky from a few years ago from the BlackHatWorld forum, but he is an extremely intelligent guy and has gone from strength-to-strength.

As I say, Iā€™m not sure what type of ā€œlocalā€ stuff youā€™re doing, but Jacky has load of Local SEO Case Studies.

He publishes a video every single day, but also has hour-long Q&A sessions and podcasts.

His main ā€œlocalā€ business model is rank and rent, which he now has down to a tee.

You purchase an exact-match domain and go for a small area, so as an example

Best Lawyer Manhattan, Best Lawyer Queens, Best Lawyer Bronx

And get these as .coms

He then submits to all local directories, pays for a $60 Local SEO Fiverr gig and usually ranks very quickly.

He then phones up all the lawyers in that part of the city, tells them heā€™s ranking number one for that specific term, which produces 250-500 visitors per month, and then ā€œrentsā€ out the website to a law firm for $500-$1,000 per month.

REPEAT

Heā€™s got over 100 domains, so you can work out how much heā€™s making with this business model.

But, some very good local SEO advice, and SEO advice in general from Jacky

(The only thing about Jacky, he doesnā€™t care about ā€œdoing things rightā€, he just wants to make money, plus he freely shares everything he does, although heā€™s recently admitted that heā€™s selling out, as heā€™s lost about $6,000 in DAILY income, so wants to make some money back from selling a course, but at least heā€™s honest, LOL!!)

24

@partha Wow! Thanks Partha.

Iā€™m actually going to give this rank and rent thing a go.

By local, all I meant was focussing on where I am (South Africa) and creating content around nuanced queries.

But what you have mentioned up above has definitely piqued my interest!

25

[quote data-userid="57" data-postid="111"]

The quality of search results is simply too bad right now.

[/quote]

I totally agree with you @lebogang22 and usually after these updates it's only the SEO community who moan for a while before calming down.

But this time we have the general public noticing too. There is tentative evidence of people going elsewhere to find what they're looking for. Bing, Duck Duck, even Ecosia and this morning I saw some noting an increase in Yandex traffic.

Every dog has his day ... even the Google big dog :-)

26

@partha AS always, thank you.

My prompts are devised around this post is 2000 words, keep the main points and condense it down to about half, build curiosity, and have the reader check out the original for more information. I continue to refine these to ensure I keep the original intent.

27

The domain for my main website was previously used as a MUD game for fans of the series I write about. I was naively unaware of this at the time I bought it, but didn't think it would have much impact. Even with the March updates, I didn't think I'd be tagged or punished for it being an expired domain since the subject matter was appropriately similar. Indeed, I still don't think that's why my site has been dead on Google since March 5th - I have far too many affiliate links and some posts are weak (though not all) - but I'd appreciate any thoughts on this.

As it is, I am sprucing up the content and hoping to see a shift before the end of this month. Otherwise, I think I'll follow your suggestion to rebrand, transfer my good content to a new domain, and start again with that one. Not that I was making much money from it, lol (at least I was making some!). I need to decide if my heart is still in it, too. Decisions, decisions!

It may be a blessing now that I'm a little more savvy. I've held back on socials with the current brand, so it's an opportune time to re-strategize and give the site a fighting chance. Not sure how it will work out with AdSense, though, which is another worry. In honesty, I'm wondering whether to venture away from affiliate marketing altogether and put all my effort into writing instead.

Anyway, this is my first post here - my membership of Wealthy Affiliate is also up for consideration, so it's good to see some familiar names. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, Partha! You'll be sorely missed over there.

Russell

28

[quote data-userid="86" data-postid="330"]

Even with the March updates, I didn't think I'd be tagged or punished for it being an expired domain since the subject matter was appropriately similar.

[/quote]

I'd say it's highly unlikely the domain was hit due to being an expired domain. Domain names come and go all the time. Google would be mad to red-flag a domain purely because it expired.

[quote data-userid="86" data-postid="330"]

Indeed, I still don't think that's why my site has been dead on Google since March 5th - I have far too many affiliate links and some posts are weak (though not all) - but I'd appreciate any thoughts on this.

[/quote]

If your site has been dead since March 5th then you were hit by the big core update which took out 10'000s of small publishers like me and you. Google supposedly went after low quality content but many site owners who are experts in their field were also hit.

On the flip side, large authoritative sites have taken over the SERP and Google even signed a deal with Reddit so guess who figures highly on page one now ... rhetorical question.

[quote data-userid="86" data-postid="330"]

I need to decide if my heart is still in it, too.

[/quote]

This is definitely more than a passing comment :-) A lot of webmasters who've spent years building their websites have been annihilated ... down to zero revenue overnight. it's all gone and they're flailing around wondering what the hell happened. Needless to say, many are giving up.

But this creates more opportunity for those who stick it out and weather the storm :-)

[quote data-userid="86" data-postid="330"]

I'm wondering whether to venture away from affiliate marketing altogether and put all my effort into writing instead.

[/quote]

Why not? Diversification is the name of the game. I think affiliate marketing can still be hugely profitable, just not via Google (at the moment) ... paid traffic is an option. Controllable and scalable.

But I'm loathed to give Google my hard-earned cash šŸ¤¬

[quote data-userid="86" data-postid="330"]

my membership of Wealthy Affiliate is also up for consideration

[/quote]

I ducked out of WA end of last year but signed up for a free trial recently to try and get hold of Partha (unsuccessfully). It's interesting receiving the email sequence for new sign-ups ... if you didn't know, you'd think everything was hunky dory in the Google organic traffic / affiliate marketing world.

Somewhat disingenuous, in my opinion.

Anyway Russell, hope that helps a bit :-)

-Rohan

29

@rohanm

Hey Rohan, what an awesome response, thank you!

Yes, I suspected the expired domain might not be the issue but this core update has left me critical of my work and rather paranoid, lol. I'm not alone and it will be interesting to see how this all develops. Just a shame to be stung by it and potentially losing a lot of work. The Google gods are cruel!

Stilll, I'm balancing my time between websites and a writing project (in addition to my daily job). I just need to sit down and go over my scheduling, and shift my emphasis somewhat. I also need to look into Medium and see what I can contribute there, though I need to reconcile what I want my personal brand to be in that space. I'm leaning towards the writing aspect rather than pushing my websites. Basically, I need to book some time off and plan properly!

Anyway, I really appreciate your response and look forward to hearing from you more! I wish you the best in all your endeavours!

Russell

30

@rohanm

"I ducked out of WA end of last year but signed up for a free trial recently to try and get hold of Partha (unsuccessfully). It's interesting receiving the email sequence for new sign-ups ... if you didn't know, you'd think everything was hunky dory in the Google organic traffic / affiliate marketing world.

Somewhat disingenuous, in my opinion"

I am considering leaving to, after all those years. At least my premium plus is over next month and I'm going down to regular premium. The premium plus classes haven't given me anything extra at all. I've learned more from Partha and Diane than anyone else. Once you have your website done and learned about setting up social media and such (which I already had done long ago before even Jay started to teach them, like a Facebook page and such), there isn't anything interesting new to learn there. Besides one or 2 more technical things maybe. And site support is terrible.

(and I got attacked in a dm by Carson about it when I ranted on the platform about their hosting and site support, a person who is behind the scenes of WA, but never answers anyones questions at all, or that I never had any contact at all with)

I can never join the live classes, as they are at 2 Am for me, yet I saw the opportunity once to ask Jay about how to monetize my Facebook groups,one is getting larger by the day. Jay answered 'Do not bother', wow!

Then I asked the question again on the platform, and I got some FANTASTIC tips by AndyCalvin,so again someone from the community! This made it possible that my newsletter subscriptions are on the rise, but yet Jay said 'don't bother' pfff. I could go on ranting hahaha.

Like, on another google update, again Partha helped me out a lot, and the numbers were rising, Kyle just told me to "go after the high end miniaturists products", thinking that would "surely help me". While he doesn't know my niche AT ALL! All these high end artists are not on Etsy at all (that's one of my affiliate companies), but they have their own large following lists on Instagram and their own stores. It's like saying to Picasso: 'hey, why don't you sell on Etsy' and to his affiliates: 'promote Picasso on your blog, you will earn big money'!

I was astonished!

I am an 'ambassador' there, yet I don't feel like I have ever really 'helped out' anyone there LOL. People seem to think that being an ambassador there will get you more income or something.

For people just starting out, yeah they are great, and in the first half year I learned a lot, because I didn't know anything at all about this type of work, but after that I have waisted so much time on these "live classes" . And for the "AI writer credits", I don't need to bother either, it just doesn't spit out good information for either of my niches. Like, at all. It was a good marketing trick though hahaha

And yeah, since the google updates, they are heading in the wrong direction for sure, 'just use longtail keywords people', my gosh!

Look at me, I wasn't going to rant about WA here, but here I am LOL

Lizzy

31

@russellgr Hey Russell,

[quote data-userid="86" data-postid="350"]

this core update has left me critical of my work and rather paranoid, lol

[/quote]

Yep ... it's really easy to blame yourself for this madness but it's not you. Google has just totally lost the plot. Blinded by profits, they've abandoned the lifeblood of their business ... original, expert content.

Someone on SE Roundtable shared this video where the owner of Retro Dodo (ironic) laments on the demise of his website ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq7KErC6aTc ... warning: that won't cheer you up but proves it's nothing to do with your expert content!

[quote data-userid="86" data-postid="350"]

Stilll, I'm balancing my time between websites and a writing project (in addition to my daily job)

[/quote]

I hear ya! I'm still working the 9-5 too :-) 8 hours a day working for the other man for a pittance! I really want to break free and I'm often up before 5am to try and get some web work in!

[quote data-userid="86" data-postid="350"]

I also need to look into Medium

[/quote]

I think it's definitely worth publishing on Medium. I just got a Medium article ranked on Google ... nice to see my content on the first page again after months of being absolutely nowhere, even if it isn't my own website!

Thanks for your kind words Russell and best of luck to you in your endeavours too :-)

32

@ohnoo_not_her Hey Lizzy,

Like Partha, I didn't really want to bad mouth WA but I honestly think they take advantage of the newbies big time. I guess it had its place for me. I was really excited when I found WA and it did keep my motivation levels up during the first 6-8 months. Then you start realising it's (quite a lot of) money for old rope.

Just one example is how they bang on about how amazing Jaaxy is and it's next to useless for ranking these days. I mean, that's a method that worked maybe 20 years ago but who uses QSR in the 21st century? Lol.

[quote data-userid="22" data-postid="357"]

I've learned more from Partha and Diane than anyone else.

[/quote]

The only reason I stayed as long as I did was because of Partha and Diane. Implementing Partha's potions taught me so much more than what I learned from WA. The membership was worth it just to see what new wheeze he'd come up with ... although all the blogs are available to read publicly anyway!

(@partha - I'm assuming you've archived all your content somewhere? There's gold in those words!)

[quote data-userid="22" data-postid="357"]

Once you have your website done and learned about setting up social media and such

[/quote]

... and that's something you can easily teach yourself from the thousands of tutorials online.

[quote data-userid="22" data-postid="357"]

And site support is terrible.

[/quote]

I had the WORST experience with their site support. They treated me like a second class citizen. I got really annoyed because I have some experience in the web hosting game and I knew what I was talking about. They just tried to fob me off with lame excuses but I knew I was right. I ended up telling them what I needed them to do ... lo and behold, when they did what I said, it worked!

[quote data-userid="22" data-postid="357"]

I got attacked in a dm by Carson about it when I ranted on the platform about their hosting and site support

[/quote]

Wow ... that sucks! Really unprofessional.

[quote data-userid="22" data-postid="357"]

Jay answered 'Do not bother', wow!

[/quote]

I always thought Jay was more fluff than substance. He was my sponsor and I never heard a peep from him. I could rarely get past the first 5 minutes of his videos without switching off ... lol. "Ohhhhhh kaaaaaay .... allllriiiight" etc etc ... šŸ˜“

[quote data-userid="22" data-postid="357"]

People seem to think that being an ambassador there will get you more income or something

[/quote]

It reminds me a little of a cult. Keep people hooked in with these distractions like your WA ranking and the dream of being an ambassador ... none of it will increase your income unless you're promoting WA of course! Even then, I wonder how many referrals come via WA blogs. I don't think their Google index saturation is massive.

[quote data-userid="22" data-postid="357"]

And for the "AI writer credits", I don't need to bother either, it just doesn't spit out good information for either of my niches. Like, at all. It was a good marketing trick though hahaha

[/quote]

When I saw how they embraced AI without a second thought, that was it for me. I knew that wasn't going to end well. As I mentioned elsewhere, we're rapidly approaching a place where AI is feeding AI and the results are less than stellar, shall we say.

It's a real shame but Google seem to have been totally sidestepped by AI content. They just don't know what to do about it. Look at the carnage in the SERPS now.

But just yesterday, I received another follow up email from 'Kyle' telling me how there is still opportunity everywhere if you just trust in the 4 step system, or whatever it is.

I'd have a lot more respect for WA if they were just honest with their users about the current state of play. Stop giving people false hope. But that doesn't sell subscriptions!

[quote data-userid="22" data-postid="357"]

they are heading in the wrong direction for sure, 'just use longtail keywords people', my gosh!

[/quote]

Precisely what Google are advising content creators NOT to do šŸ¤£

[quote data-userid="22" data-postid="357"]

Look at me, I wasn't going to rant about WA here, but here I am LOL

[/quote]

It's cathartic ... lol

Have a great day Lizzy and I hope this forum is all anyone will need when they have IM questions ... Ok 3 minutes to 9 - 5! Slavery awaits ... lol