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Yesterday at SMX Advanced, I interviewed the Google executive who announced the March 2024 core update on the main Google blog. I asked Elizabeth Tucker a boatload of questions around SEO, the core update, the helpful content update, the search data leak and of course AI Overviews. Heck, I even made a comment about Reddit ruling the Google Search results.
You can listen to the full interview for free if you register for SMX Advanced – it is now on demand. You can also read the excellent recap by Danny Goodwin at Search Engine Land named 13 SEO takeaways from Google’s Elizabeth Tucker at SMX Advanced. Since I am offline today, I wrote this right after the interview went live and tried to include any SEO industry comments below.
Here is what I asked:
- More about what Elizabeth Tucker does at Google
- What should content creators do to build content that Google wants to rank well
- What are some big misconceptions and red flags SEOs have about Google ranking
- Why the March core update took so long
- Was this the biggest core update yet
- Why the delay in telling us the core update was complete
- 40% vs 45% reduction figure explanation
- How Google defines low-quality, unhelpful content
- What is up with the volatility we saw in May/June
- What is different with the core update and the helpful content update
- Why are there no recoveries with the September 2023 helpful content update
- How many systems are in core updates
- Questions on the Google Search data leak
- Did we catch Google lying to SEO
- Why can’t we get AI Overview data in Search Console
Those were some of the questions I asked and some answers I clearly didn’t get but I tried. I also tried to get as much in within the 30-minute slot I was given. I hope some of you find it useful.
Here is some of the feedback I saw on this interview:
Google’s Elizabeth Tucker to @rustybrick:
“Think about what we are trying to do … and where we are going and aim for that. … Think about content that’s helpful, satisfying and has good experiences.”#SMX #SMXAdvanced
— Danny Goodwin (@MrDannyGoodwin) June 11, 2024
Key question to ask yourself:
“Is this helpful satisfying content [and] are people gonna have a great experience?”
– Google’s Elizabeth Tucker to @rustybrick #SMX #SMXAdvanced
— Danny Goodwin (@MrDannyGoodwin) June 11, 2024
“Big updates to multiple core systems” leading to a “45% decrease in unhelpful content” Elizabeth Tucker is a Director of Product Management at Google #SMX with Barry Schwartz @rustybrick pic.twitter.com/mAY7GHTHve
— Brendan O’Connell (@BrendanOConnel) June 11, 2024
“We really do have to be careful when we’re rolling out changes to these large-scale systems that have to operate around the world for billions of queries a day in all languages.” – Google’s Elizabeth Tucker to @rustybrick #SMX #SMXAdvanced
— Danny Goodwin (@MrDannyGoodwin) June 11, 2024
Google March 2024 core update was “unprecedented”. Google’s Elizabeth Tucker told @rustybrick it was the biggest core update in Google history #SMX #SMXAdvanced
— Danny Goodwin (@MrDannyGoodwin) June 11, 2024
“Search Quality Raters Guidelines are foundational for third party feedback” Elizabeth Tucker, Director of Product Management at Google #SMX with Barry Schwartz https://t.co/bC4KEem7Gj@rustybrick pic.twitter.com/mbrqlabqCf
— Brendan O’Connell (@BrendanOConnel) June 11, 2024
“However, I will say I don’t know of any inaccurate statements that a Google spokesperson has ever made”
That was interesting!!
— Gagan Ghotra (@gaganghotra_) June 11, 2024
Google’s Elizabeth Tucker said at #smx she is not aware of any statements Googlers have made that were inaccurate but signals have changed over the years pic.twitter.com/7eBUmbRcxX
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) June 11, 2024
Google’s Elizabeth Tucker calls out @searchliaison as doing an amazing job as the conduit between SEOs and the Google Search team at #smx pic.twitter.com/pYZ710Gzus
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) June 11, 2024
Google’s Elizabeth Tucker says Google hears the feedback on the helpful content and core update and is working hard to send traffic to publishers #smx pic.twitter.com/A2xHTVCSaB
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) June 11, 2024
Elizabeth Tucker Director, Product Management, Search Google with @rustybrick at #SMX Advanced
“I view SEO as a vital part of every web system.”
1. Helping create website so that Google can understand them and do search.
2. Holding Google accountable via feedback. pic.twitter.com/YZnVYstjkZ— Jeannie Hill (@essentialskill) June 11, 2024
Watching this great @smx interview with Barry & Elizabeth.
Google’s March Core Update focused on two things:
– addressing spam abuse (issuing manual actions)
– big updates to multiple core systemsThe big updates stemmed from user complaints about low-quality, unhelpful… https://t.co/R0B2dLtW0D
— Lily Ray 😏 (@lilyraynyc) June 11, 2024
Forum discussion at X.
Note: This was pre-written and scheduled to be posted today, I am currently offline for Shavout.