What To Do After Google’s March 2026 Core Update
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The March 2026 Google Core Update has introduced significant volatility across search results, with early analysis suggesting a notable change in how Google evaluates content quality and relevance.
A core update is a broad change to Google’s search algorithm that affects how websites are ranked, rather than targeting specific sites or issues. While ranking fluctuations are expected during these updates, this March 2026 rollout appears to reinforce a longer-term shift.
Stronger Emphasis on Information Gain and Originality
One of the clearest patterns emerging from the update is a renewed focus on what SEO professionals call “information gain.”
Information gain is the degree to which a page adds original value beyond what already exists in the search results. AKA — it’s completely unique content.
In practical terms, this means content that offers:
- First-hand experience
- Original insights or opinions
- Proprietary data
- Subject-matter expertise
In contrast, pages that primarily rewrite existing information (e.g., AI articles) or rely on generic ideas are more vulnerable to lower rankings. For businesses, this reinforces a simple idea: content must add value rather than simply repeat what competitors are saying.
Increased Weighting of Brand and E-E-A-T Signals
The update also appears to further prove Google’s reliance on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) signals.
Because of this, well-established brands and official organisations are showing stronger resilience in rankings, particularly in competitive or informational queries. A focus on E-E-A-T suggests Google is increasingly evaluating websites on a site-wide trust level rather than page-by-page optimisation.
In other words, the authority of your brand (e.g., how consistently it demonstrates credibility across content and general web presence) is becoming more influential. For smaller businesses, this makes brand-building and consistent messaging across your website, content marketing, social media, and any other digital channels more important than ever.
SEO & Overall Digital Presence
Another clear trend is that individual SEO tactics on their own are becoming less effective.For example, technical optimisation, keyword targeting, links, and content volume alone are no longer enough to secure stable visibility.
Instead, rankings are increasingly influenced by a combination of:
- Content quality and depth (the expertise we mentioned above)
- User experience and site structure (e.g., fast loading pages)
- Brand authority and trust signals
- Topical relevance and intent matching
This reflects a broader shift toward holistic search performance, where SEO overlaps heavily with web design and brand positioning alongside optimised content.
For businesses, this means SEO cannot be treated as a standalone channel. You cannot just post one keyword filled blog and be done with it! It’s now deeply connected to how your website is built and how your brand communicates on all channels.
What This Means for Businesses
Rather than reacting to volatility with short-term changes and small blog edits, the most effective response is to focus on long-term content quality and authority building across your digital presence.
Pro Tip: Pages that clearly demonstrate expertise and reflect real business experience are the ones most likely to remain stable over time.
What should you do next? Try reviewing existing content for depth, strengthening service pages, offering real case studies, and prioritising content that reflects genuine knowledge rather than generic optimisation.
The message from Google is clear: Sustainable visibility is increasingly tied to authenticity, authority, and value, not shortcuts and keyword stuffing.
Nail your content strategy and brand presence with help from the experts. Contact Re:View Creative now to learn more.
