Google’s March 2024 core update continues to impact many websites. However, there’s one crucial aspect website owners need to address: scaled content abuse. Estimates suggest that nearly 70% of websites affected by the update were penalized for this very reason.

These websites manipulated search engine ranking algorithms by providing low-quality content with minimal value to users. Their sole focus was on impressions and clicks, often relying on poor AI-generated content targeting high-volume keywords. Google is cracking down on these practices, deindexing pages that game the system with such tactics.

This article will provide deep knowledge into scaled content abuse, explaining in detail and offering tips for recovering from penalties and achieving better rankings through genuine methods.

What is Scaled Content Abuse?

Imagine you use a free keyword tool and search “Fantasy Cricket” and find out that it is a high search volume keyword but with a very high competition. Then you see related keywords like “Fantasy Cricket Tips and Tricks,” “How to Make a Fantasy Cricket Team,” and “How to Win in Fantasy Cricket.” These keywords have lower competition and decent search volume. High search volume makes you want to rank for them, so you provide keywords to AI and start writing out low-quality AI content for each keyword, creating three separate pages with incomplete information. This scenario exemplifies scaled content abuse.

In essence, it involves identifying a group of related keywords and using AI to write content for each, creating separate pages solely to manipulate search engine rankings.

In the “Fantasy Cricket” example, how could you have avoided this penalty?

Consider the user searching for “Fantasy Cricket.” They might also be interested in “Fantasy Cricket Tips and Tricks,” “How to Make a Fantasy Cricket Team,” and “How to Win in Fantasy Cricket.” Instead of separate pages, create a single comprehensive page that addresses all these aspects related to “Fantasy Cricket.”

How to Avoid Scaled Content Abuse?

Avoiding scaled content abuse is straightforward – it’s not rocket science! Here’s what you need to do:

• Avoid the “Quantity Over Quality” Mindset: Stop producing low-quality content solely for ranking purposes. Abandon the practice of generating hundreds of pages daily just to chase clicks and impressions.
• Focus on User Intent: When researching keywords on Google, analyze the top-ranking articles to understand the user’s intent behind the search term. Once you grasp that intent, write content that genuinely caters to your audience’s needs. Thus, following the helpful content policy.
• Comprehensiveness over Word Count: Don’t get hung up on specific word counts. Aim to comprehensively cover all relevant information for the chosen keyword within a single, well-structured page.
• Turn Related Keywords into Topics: Think of keywords as topics for your page, not targets for keyword density. Write naturally, describing and educating your audience on every aspect of the topic.
• 2024 Trending Content Formats: Google favors engaging content formats like videos, statistical graphs, and case studies. Consider incorporating these formats within your articles to enhance their value and user experience.
• Seek feedback and Refine:  Once your content is published, share it with others and actively solicit feedback. Listen to user reviews and implement changes based on their insights to continuously improve your content.

Struggling to recover from Google’s March 2024 Core Update?

Content Ladder can help! We’re a team of SEO experts who stay ahead of the curve on Google’s algorithm changes. We specialize in crafting high-quality, human-focused content that ranks organically and engages your audience.

Stop chasing penalties and start building genuine authority. Contact Content Ladder today for a free consultation!