In a few days, Google will implement an important update to its search engine policy. This new spam guideline specifically targets reputation abuse, also known as 'parasite SEO.' Starting May 5, websites that use low-quality content from third parties to manipulate their rankings will be subject to stricter scrutiny.
Details of the new directive
Google announced this policy change for the first time in March. The core update of March 2024 and the accompanying spam updates formed the basis for this new guideline. Starting May 5, Google defines reputation abuse as third-party content that is produced solely for ranking purposes without strict oversight from the website owner. Google labels such content as spam.
Impact on businesses and organizations
Many SEO specialists have complained about the negative effects of parasite SEO on the quality of search results. With these measures, Google aims to improve the quality of information for users. This step compels organizations to revise their content production and monitoring, especially for websites with high authority.
Possible solutions and precautions
For organizations that regularly publish third-party content, it is crucial to carefully assess this content to prevent Google from marking it as spam. Google clearly distinguishes between misleading content and advertisements or editorials intended for regular readers. As long as this 'native advertising' is clearly recognizable as such and does not mislead readers, it poses no issues.
These changes promote transparency and reliability in search results. After May 5, it will become clear how effectively Google's new measures address the issue of reputation abuse.