Google Announces March 2023 Broad Core Update

Google recently confirmed a broad core algorithm update is currently being rolled out. This is the first algorithm update for 2023 and the first one in over half a year.

Google announced in the tweet that it would update its ranking release history page when the rollout is complete. 

What will be the result of the Google March broad core update?

Per usual, Google has not given much information on what will happen as a result of the core update. We will likely be seeing the results of the core update in the next few weeks and can provide more content then.

However, there are ways to adjust your site and content if is hit during the update.

What should I do if my site is hit by the algorithm update?

Google has given advice for those affected by core updates in the past:

1. Focus on content

• Ask questions about the quality of your content, like is the content original, comprehensive, descriptive, and share-worthy?
• Ask questions about the expertise of your content, such as does the content come off as trustworthy and like it was written by an expert?
• Ask questions about the presentation and production of your content, like does it have spelling errors, a lot of ads, and display well on mobile?
• Ask questions about how it compares to other articles, like does it provide value even alongside other articles in the same niche and is it written for a reader or to rank?

2. E – E – A – T

• Experience: does the content present as if the writer has experience in the topic, such as actually using a product?
• Expertise: is the writer an expert in the topic and has a high-level of knowledge in it?
• Authority: does the content creator have a reputation amongst others in this genre and is the content a go-to source for others?
• Trustworthiness: can a reader trust that the content creator and the content is legitimate, transparent, and accurate?

3. Recovery

• There may be small updates that Google does not announce after a core update that ends up helping a site recover, but it’s not guaranteed that a site will recover once an algorithm has finished rolling out
• Search engines do not look at content the way humans do, but instead looks for signals that can be used to understand how humans might assess content

What else should I know about broad core updates?

Ultimately, Google is attempting to serve better search results with these updates, so ensuring your content is the most quality and that you consider things like mobile-friendliness is what is most important.

We won’t know the true outcomes of the Google March 2023 algorithm update until it is finished and even in the weeks that follow, so keep an eye on your analytics and rankings. We recommend not changing anything immediately if you see a change because it is likely that more developments will come. We especially advise that you don’t make any grand, sweeping changes if you do make updates. Wait until the core update has passed to see how your site has been affected, and then consider how you might tweak your content or website. However, as stated before, changing your website or content isn’t guaranteed to help it re-rank, and could actually be even more detrimental to your website.

It is expected that the update may take up to two weeks to finish.