Google’s recent announcement of its March 2024 Core Update has significant implications for physicians with their own websites. As SEO for doctors continues to evolve, maintaining a high-quality, patient-centered online presence is more crucial than ever for healthcare professionals. This latest update from Google aims to enhance the quality of search results by reducing “unhelpful” content by a staggering 40%.
Here’s what physicians need to know to ensure their websites continue to rank well and reach patients effectively.
Improved Quality Ranking
The core of the March 2024 update is an advanced enhancement in Google’s ranking algorithms, designed to prioritize the most helpful and high-quality content. For physicians, this means that Google’s refined ranking systems are now better equipped to assess whether webpages offer valuable patient information, provide a positive user experience, and are created with human users in mind rather than solely for search engine optimization (SEO).
To align with these changes, physicians should focus on generating original, informative content that addresses patients’ needs and questions. Content should be more than just medically accurate; it should be engaging, easily understandable, and designed to offer real value to readers.
New Spam Policies and Scaled Content Abuse
Google is also introducing updated spam policies to remove the lowest-quality content from its search results. This includes taking a stand against the abuse of content generated at scale, whether through automation, human effort, or a combination. For physician websites, this emphasizes the importance of originality and the pitfalls of relying on mass-produced content.
Physicians should audit their websites to ensure that all content is unique, patient-focused, and not overly reliant on automation for creation. Content that genuinely helps patients understand their health concerns, treatment options, and wellness strategies will be favored.
Site Reputation and Expired Domain Abuse
Another focal point of the update is the crackdown on site reputation abuse and expired domain abuse. This is particularly relevant for physicians who might contribute content to other websites or host third-party content on their own sites. Google will now penalize content that appears to exploit a site’s reputation without providing meaningful information.
Physicians should be cautious about where they publish their content and be vigilant in monitoring third-party contributions to their own sites. Ensuring content alignment with the overall mission of providing trustworthy, high-quality patient education is key.
What Should Physicians Do Next?
- Review Your Content: Assess your website’s content through the lens of value and user experience. Ensure that information is not only medically accurate but also engaging, helpful, and tailored to your audience’s needs.
- Embrace Originality: Steer clear of mass-produced content strategies. Instead, focus on creating unique, high-quality content that reflects your expertise and compassion as a healthcare provider.
- Monitor Third-Party Contributions: If you host guest posts or third-party content, ensure it meets the same high standards you set for your own content. It should be relevant, helpful, and enhance your site’s value to patients.
- Stay Updated: Keep abreast of Google’s guidelines and updates. SEO is an evolving field, and staying informed will help you adjust your strategies to maintain or improve your website’s ranking. Signing up for our newsletter is a great way to do this.
The March 2024 Core Update is a reminder of the importance of quality and relevance in the digital age. For physicians, adapting to these changes is not just about maintaining visibility online but also about reinforcing their commitment to providing valuable health information.
By focusing on creating genuinely helpful content, physicians can ensure their websites remain a trusted resource for patients navigating their health journeys.