The 2024 Google Algorithm Updates: Recap

With Google’s March 2025 Core Update currently rolling out it’s still too early to get a good gauge on how websites are being impacted. That’s why at Black Kite Marketing, we decided to take a look back at the major Google updates from 2024. In this article we are going to cover the major 2024 Google Algorithm Updates, their impact on SERPs and what actions you need to take for Google to favor your website over the competition’s.

Google’s algorithm updates in 2024 brought some of the most significant changes to search rankings in recent history. With multiple core and spam updates, the search giant reinforced its commitment to high-quality, user-first content while cracking down on spammy and low-quality sites. Here’s a breakdown of the major updates and their impacts on search engine results pages (SERPs).

March 2024 Core Update: The Biggest in Google’s History

The March 2024 Core Update was the largest algorithm update Google has ever released, impacting multiple core ranking systems.

Key Highlights:

Aimed at improving search quality by reducing low-quality and unoriginal content, particularly AI-generated content.
Emphasized user experience factors like page speed and mobile-friendliness.
Rolled out over 45 days, from March 5 to April 19.

Impact on SERPs:

45% reduction in low-quality, unoriginal content appearing in search results.
Major ranking shifts, with some websites seeing improvements while others experienced declines.
Reinforced the importance of ongoing content audits that identify issues like what slows a page down, layoutshift and other core web vitals

March 2024 Spam Update: Strengthening Google’s Spam Policies

Alongside the core update, Google also launched a March Spam Update to combat manipulative SEO tactics.

Key Highlights:

Introduced three new spam policies:
- Scaled Content Abuse: Targets bulk-created low-quality content.
- Expired Domain Abuse: Prevents ranking manipulation using expired domains. Many people buy established domains and leverage that authority to push their content. This often leads to bad user experience because the new content is not relevant to the rest of the website.
- Site Reputation Abuse: (Active from May) Penalizes sites with poor reputations.
Enhanced SpamBrain, Google’s AI-powered spam prevention system.
Rolled out over 15 days, from March 5 to March 20.

Impact on SERPs:

Websites violating spam policies saw ranking drops or complete removal from search results.
Increased volatility in rankings, urging compliance with Google’s evolving guidelines.
Improved search quality by eliminating spammy sites.

June 2024 Spam Update: Enhancing Spam Detection

Another spam update in June focused on eliminating spam tactics that were still slipping through the cracks.

Key Highlights:

Targeted websites violating Google’s spam policies.
Improved SpamBrain to detect new types of spam.
Completed in 7 days, from June 20 to June 27.

Impact on SERPs:

Removal of auto-generated, low-quality, and manipulative content.
Sites engaging in spammy tactics saw decreased visibility.
Reinforced the importance of following Google’s spam guidelines.

August 2024 Core Update: Supporting Small and Independent Publishers

This update focused on boosting useful content from smaller publishers in response to feedback from Google’s September 2023 Helpful Content Update.

Key Highlights:

Improved rankings for small and independent publishers producing valuable content.
Rolled out over 19 days, from August 15 to September 3.

Impact on SERPs:

Websites previously impacted by the September 2023 update saw partial recoveries.
Increased visibility for high-quality, original content from smaller sites.
Reinforced Google’s commitment to people-first content.

November 2024 Core Update: A Moderate but Notable Update

The November 2024 Core Update aimed at further refining search result quality.

Key Highlights:

Focused on ranking genuinely useful content higher.
Rolled out over 24 days, from November 11 to December 5.

Impact on SERPs:

Moderate impact compared to earlier updates, with varied effects across different industries.
Continued emphasis on user-focused content.
Some major websites saw significant ranking shifts.

December 2024 Core Update: The Final Refinement of the Year

Google wrapped up the year with a December Core Update, fine-tuning search quality.

Key Highlights:

Focused on improving content relevance and usefulness.
Rolled out just a week after the November update.
Completed in 6 days, from December 12 to December 18.

Impact on SERPs:

Major ranking shifts, with some sites improving while others declined.
Reinforced the need for helpful, reliable, and original content.

December 2024 Spam Update: Cracking Down on Spam Before Year-End

Google ended the year with another spam update to clean up search results.

Key Highlights:

A broad spam update aimed at refining overall spam detection.
Followed closely after the December Core Update.
Rolled out in 7 days, from December 19 to December 26.

Impact on SERPs:

Massive reduction in spammy content, leading to deindexing and ranking drops for violators.
Increased ranking volatility during the rollout.
Reinforced Google’s push for high-quality, user-first content.

Key Takeaways from 2024 Google Algorithm Updates

1. Content Quality Is More Important Than Ever

Google’s core updates consistently rewarded valuable, well-researched content. Starting with GenAI based content is acceptable, but this approach still requires HI (human interaction)/ human-in-the-loop.
Low-quality, or spammy content faced significant ranking penalties.

2. Spam Prevention Became More Aggressive

Multiple spam updates removed bulk-generated and manipulative content.
SpamBrain improvements made it harder for black-hat SEO tactics to succeed.
It would be a good practice to remove old content that may have been using old outdated techniques (e.g. keyword stuffing, low quality backlinks, duplicate content, ect.)

3. User Experience Matters

Core Web Vitals include factors like page speed, mobile-friendliness, and site reputation played a bigger role in rankings.
This is where technical SEO plays a significant role.

4. Adaptability Is Key for SEO Success

With updates rolling out frequently, regular content audits and SEO adjustments are crucial for maintaining rankings.

2024 Google Algorithm Updates: Your Action Plan Now

As Google’s algorithm landscape continues to evolve, quality content has become the non-negotiable foundation for search success. While GenAI content provides a starting point, human oversight remains essential. Google’s core updates are systematically demoting low-quality content while rewarding well-researched pieces.

Simultaneously, Google’s enhanced SpamBrain is aggressively targeting manipulative tactics. As a result, it is crucial to:

Periodically run technical audits
remove outdated content using questionable techniques like keyword stuffing
disavow poor backlinks or reach out to lost domains

Don’t overlook technical SEO. Your Core Web Vitals scores directly impact rankings, with page speed, mobile optimization, and site reputation carrying significant weight. The most successful SEO practitioners in today’s environment aren’t those with the biggest budgets, but those who embrace adaptability through regular content audits and strategic adjustments.

Take action now by conducting a comprehensive content audit, removing or upgrading underperforming assets, and investing in technical improvements. The sites that will dominate search results in the coming months will be those that prioritize genuine value, technical excellence, and consistent optimization.

Final Thoughts

Navigating Google’s algorithm changes can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Black Kite Marketing, we specialize in helping businesses adapt, grow, and maintain their search rankings in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Need expert SEO strategies tailored to the latest Google updates? Call us today at (516) 259-1813 to learn how we can boost your online presence.

Let’s optimize your success—contact Black Kite Marketing now!