Learn how to write content that meets E-E-A-T standards for Google and recover from Core and Spam updates. Boost rankings and traffic with proven strategies.

Understanding E-E-A-T and Its Role in Google’s Algorithm
If you’ve noticed a sudden decline in your website’s performance or rankings, especially after a Google Core Update or Spam Update, you’re not alone. Many content creators face significant drops in traffic despite having high-quality, original content.
One of the key factors behind these changes is Google’s focus on E-E-A-T—Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness—which is central to its ranking algorithm. In this post, we’ll explore how to write content that aligns with E-E-A-T standards and recover from traffic loss caused by Core and Spam Updates.
Why E-E-A-T Matters in Google’s Search Algorithm
Google’s algorithm is designed to reward content that offers real value to users. Let’s break down why E-E-A-T is crucial in this process:

- Experience: Content that reflects direct personal experience or practical knowledge is prioritized. Google values content backed by real-world examples, case studies, or firsthand insights.
- Expertise: Google favors content created by authors with proven knowledge in their field. For topics requiring specialized expertise (like health, finance, or law), your content should be authored by qualified professionals.
- Authoritativeness: Google assesses a site’s authority based on reputation and credibility. High-quality backlinks, citations, and recognition within your niche can improve your site’s authority.
- Trustworthiness: Trust is foundational to Google’s rankings. Your website should be secure, provide accurate information, and display clear author information and privacy policies to establish trust.
Creating content that embodies these four elements will help you align with Google’s ranking standards and boost your visibility, especially after Google updates.
The Impact of Google’s Core and Spam Updates on Rankings
Core Updates:
Core updates are rolled out several times a year, significantly affecting how Google ranks websites. These updates focus on rewarding high-quality, in-depth content that meets user intent. Websites that fail to meet these evolving standards often see a drop in rankings.
For example, after the December 2024 Core Update, many websites—including my own—saw dramatic traffic drops. My website’s impressions fell from 3300 to much lower figures, and clicks dwindled from 5 to just 1 or 2, despite consistently publishing well-researched, human-written content.
Spam Updates:
The Google Spam Update rolled out from December 19, 2024, to December 26, 2024, following closely after the December Core Update. This update was the third spam update of 2024 and was much more widespread than previous updates. It was not specifically targeted at link spam or site reputation abuse, but instead, focused on identifying sites that violated Google’s broader spam policies.
Spam updates focus on improving SpamBrain, Google’s AI-powered system that helps identify and filter spam. When Google updates this system, sites that don’t comply with their spam policies may see a drop in rankings or may even be excluded from search results. It’s crucial for website owners to ensure that their content is not only high quality but also adheres to Google’s spam policies.
Many website owners noticed ranking drops following this Spam Update, which could have been related to issues such as over-optimization, keyword stuffing, or low-quality backlinks. This update has reinforced the need for websites to adhere to best practices and avoid spammy tactics that may violate Google’s guidelines.
How to Recover from Google’s Core and Spam Updates: A Step-by-Step Approach
If you’ve noticed a drop in rankings after a Core Update or Spam Update, don’t despair. By focusing on the following steps, you can recover your site’s traffic and ensure your content meets E-E-A-T standards for Google.
Step 1: Perform a Thorough Website Audit
The first step in recovering from a Google update is conducting a detailed audit of your website. Here’s what you should focus on:
- Content Quality: Assess whether your content is valuable, comprehensive, and well-researched. Google rewards content that truly helps users.
- Backlink Profile: Review your backlink profile. Are your backlinks coming from authoritative sources? Low-quality or spammy links can hurt your rankings.
- User Experience (UX): User experience plays a key role in your site’s performance. A slow-loading site, poor mobile responsiveness, or confusing navigation can all negatively impact rankings. Ensure your site is mobile-friendly, loads quickly, and offers intuitive navigation.
By performing this audit, you can pinpoint the root causes of your traffic drop.
Step 2: Optimize Content to Align with E-E-A-T Standards
Once you’ve completed your audit, it’s time to optimize your content. Here’s how you can align your content with Google’s E-E-A-T standards:
- Demonstrate Experience: Show that your content is backed by real-life experience. Add case studies, user testimonials, and practical examples to prove that your content is grounded in reality.
- Enhance Expertise: Write in-depth articles that reflect specialized knowledge. Google favors content that dives deeper into a subject, offering users more valuable insights than basic articles. Don’t just scratch the surface—offer real, useful information.
- Establish Authoritativeness: Build your site’s authority by acquiring high-quality backlinks from reputable sources. Additionally, make sure that your author information is clearly displayed, especially for articles requiring expert knowledge. Websites with recognized authority in their field tend to rank higher.
- Increase Trustworthiness: Ensure your site uses HTTPS and includes clear privacy policies, terms of service, and contact details. Avoid misleading titles or content that could be seen as clickbait, as this can undermine trust with both users and Google.
Step 3: Refresh and Update Existing Content
Outdated content is one of the main reasons for ranking drops after a Core Update. Google rewards fresh content that remains relevant and valuable to users. Here’s what you can do:
- Update outdated information: Ensure your content reflects the latest facts and statistics.
- Expand on thin content: If some of your posts are lacking depth, go back and expand them with more detailed information, addressing all user queries.
- Remove low-performing content: If some pages provide little value to your audience, it might be time to delete or consolidate them.
Keeping your content up-to-date and relevant is a key factor in improving rankings and recovering traffic.
Step 4: Diversify Content Types
Google increasingly rewards websites that provide a variety of content formats. If you’ve been focusing primarily on text, consider adding other types of content:
- Videos: Embedding informative videos that explain or expand on your topics can significantly increase engagement and time on page, both of which are favorable ranking signals.
- Infographics: These can simplify complex data and make your content more visually appealing.
- Podcasts: Offering a podcast version of your content can help broaden your reach and attract users who prefer audio over written material.
By diversifying your content formats, you can appeal to a wider audience and increase your site’s authority.
Step 5: Build a Strong Community and Engage with Users
Community engagement is an often-overlooked factor that can significantly impact Google rankings. Encouraging user interaction, such as comments, shares, or discussions, can help you build a loyal audience. Here’s how to foster this engagement:
- Engage with readers: Respond to comments on your articles and interact with users through social media or email.
- Create a community: Encourage users to join forums or discussion groups related to your niche.
- Email newsletters: Stay in touch with your audience by offering them regular updates, valuable tips, and promotions.
Building a trustworthy and engaged community will help you stay competitive and improve your rankings.
Step 6: Monitor Performance and Make Data-Driven Adjustments
Once you’ve implemented the necessary changes, it’s important to track your progress. Use tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics to measure the performance of your content. These tools can help you:
- Track keyword rankings, impressions, and click-through rates.
- Identify which content is performing well and which needs further optimization.
- Make necessary adjustments based on data, especially in response to future Google updates.
By continually monitoring your site’s performance, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure long-term success.
Useful Resources for Diagnosing and Recovering from Google Traffic Drops
If you’re facing a traffic drop after a Google Core Update or Spam Update, here are some valuable resources that can help you diagnose and address the issue:
- Diagnose Traffic Drops: A good first step is to understand what might have caused the drop in traffic. Check out this guide on debugging search traffic drops: Debugging Search Traffic Drops.
- Google Updates History: Get a complete list of all Google updates to see if your drop correlates with a specific update. Google Updates History.
- Google Search Essentials: Learn the key principles of how Google Search works and best practices for improving your site. Google Search Essentials.
- SEO Starter Guide: This guide provides an introduction to search engine optimization (SEO) and helps you build a strong foundation for your site. SEO Starter Guide.
- Helpful Content FAQ: Understand Google’s policies on helpful content and how to optimize your content to meet those expectations. Helpful Content FAQ.
- Creating Helpful Content: Learn more about creating content that Google considers helpful for users. Creating Helpful Content.
Conclusion: Long-Term Recovery Requires Consistency
Recovering from Core and Spam Updates may take time, but it is certainly possible. By focusing on high-quality content, adhering to Google E-E-A-T standards, and continuously improving your user experience, you can overcome the setbacks caused by these updates.
Patience, persistence, and a focus on providing value to your audience will ensure that your website not only recovers but thrives in the long run.
Final Thoughts: Google E-E-A-T standards
If you’ve experienced a drop in traffic, don’t worry. By following these steps and focusing on E-E-A-T, you can recover from the effects of Google updates and position your website for success. Over time, your commitment to quality content and user satisfaction will help your site grow stronger, more trusted, and more authoritative.
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