Google important updates December 2024

The December 2024 update comes at a critical time for artificial intelligence and SEO, marking a turning point in the evolution of search algorithms.

Detailed Technical Features

1. Advanced Artificial Intelligence

• Implementation of state-of-the-art language models
• Significant improvement in understanding context and search intent
• Deeper integration of generative AI into results

2. Content Evaluation

• More sophisticated algorithms to detect AI-generated content
• Prioritization of original and high-value content
• More complex credibility verification systems

Impact on Different Sectors

Media and Journalism

• Greater emphasis on verified journalistic content
• Reduced visibility of sites with clickbait content
• Prioritization of journalistic sources with high reputation

E-commerce

• Better understanding of purchase intent
• More accurate assessment of reviews and user experiences
• Integration of product performance data

Blogs and Digital Content

• Penalization of shallow or duplicate content
• Reward for deep and specialized content
• Greater importance of added value in each publication

Technical Aspects of the Update

Affected Systems

• Core Search Algorithm
• Google Discover
• Featured Snippets
• Knowledge Graph
• Local Search

Key Metrics

• Time on page
• Click-through rate
• Scroll depth
• Content engagement
• Contextual relevance

Webmaster Recommendations

Content Strategies

• Create original and in-depth content
• Demonstrate expertise and specialized knowledge
• Include verifiable data and references
• Maintain a clear and navigable structure

Technical Optimization

• Improve loading speed
• Implement updated metadata schemas
• Optimize for mobile devices
• Ensure a smooth user experience

Emerging Trends

New Ranking Signals

• Greater weight given to user experience
• Valuing the authority of the author
• Growing importance of practical experience (Experience)

Complementary Technologies

• Deeper integration of machine learning
• Advanced semantic analysis
• Next-generation natural language processing

Short-Term Predictions

Expected Changes

• Reduction 15-20% visibility of low-quality content
• Increasing importance of specialized content
• Increasing complexity in evaluation systems

Ethical Considerations

Transparency

• Google seeks greater clarity in its algorithms
• Reducing bias in search results
• Protection against misinformation

Google's Importance of Discussion Forums in its December 2024 Update

Google has incorporated structured data from discussion forums, suggesting greater recognition of this type of content. However, the update does not specifically focus on giving more importance to forums in general.

Characteristics of Valued Forums

Google looks for forums that:

• Offer useful and relevant information
• Provide authentic user experiences
• Have original and quality content

Evaluation Criteria

The update prioritizes forums that:

• Genuinely respond to search intentions
• Provide real value to users
• Do not seek to manipulate search results

Popular forums that rank well on Google after their December 2024 update

In this latest Google update, the most popular forums have taken on a special importance, displacing web pages that were in the highest positions of the search engine to the background.
This type of forum has a huge activity, with a large number of experts in specific subjects, who can provide answers, in a more valuable way, to specific topics in a more up-to-date manner.

Below we show the forums that are having the best positioning in Google:

1. Reddit

• Description: One of the largest discussion platforms in the world, with thousands of "subreddits" covering almost any imaginable topic.
• Relevance: Its structure allows for significant interaction and user-generated content, making it highly attractive to Google.

2. Quora

• Description: A question-and-answer site where users can ask questions and receive answers from experts in various fields.
• Relevance: The high quality of answers and the variety of topics make it a valuable resource that Google indexes well.

3. Stack Overflow

• Description: A forum dedicated to programmers and developers where they can ask technical questions and share knowledge.
• Relevance: Its focus on technical Q&A makes it a reliable source for Google.

4. ForoCoches

• Description: A very popular Spanish forum about cars, but it covers a wide range of topics.
• Relevance: Its large community and the amount of user-generated content make it stand out in searches.

5. Digital Point

• Description: A forum focused on digital marketing, SEO, web development, and monetization.
• Relevance: It attracts industry professionals, generating relevant content that Google values.

6. Warrior Forum

• Description: A forum dedicated to online marketing where entrepreneurs share strategies, tips, and resources.
• Relevance: Its focus on digital marketing makes it popular among those looking to enhance their online presence.

7. The Student Room

• Description: A forum for students in the UK covering academic, university, and social topics.
• Relevance: It provides a space for discussions about education, attracting a specific audience.

8. Bodybuilding.com Forums

• Description: A forum focused on fitness, nutrition, and bodybuilding.
• Relevance: Its active community generates valuable content about health and wellness.

9. XDA Developers

• Description: A forum for Android developers and mobile technology enthusiasts.
• Relevance: It offers tutorials, technical support, and discussions about mobile devices.

10. MacRumors Forums

• Description: A forum dedicated to Apple products where users discuss hardware, software, and news.
• Relevance: Its specific focus on Apple technology attracts a loyal community.

What kind of importance will be given to backlinks by 2025?

The importance of backlinks in the December 2024 Google Update is characterized by the following aspects:

Quality over quantity

Google is adjusting its approach to value quality of backlinks more over quantity. Links from authoritative sources relevant to the site's content will be valued more than a large number of links from lower-quality sites.

Relevance and authority

Backlinks from high-authority websites relevant to the content niche are much more valuable. Links are sought as "votes of confidence" from trusted, topic-related sites.

Naturalness

Backlinks that are obtained naturally by creating valuable content that others want to link to are prioritized. Artificial strategies or buying links may be penalized.

Continuous review

Google is putting emphasis on periodically reviewing sites' backlink profiles to ensure they are helping, not hurting, SEO.

Part of a comprehensive strategy

Although backlinks are still important, they are considered as one more factor within a comprehensive SEO strategy that includes content quality, user experience and other elements.

Ranking a website with 20 backlinks Vs a website with 1000 backlinks

Starting in 2025, would a website with, for example, 1000 backlinks from different domains and generally low-value content rank better than a website with 20 backlinks from different domains and very valuable content?

As of 2025, a site with 20 backlinks from different domains and highly valuable content would rank higher than a site with 1000 backlinks from different domains and low-value content.
Here are the main reasons:

• Quality over quantity: Google has evolved to recognize and value quality links over artificial or low-quality ones. Quality of backlinks is much more important than quantity.
• Relevance and authority: Backlinks from high-authority websites relevant to the content's niche are much more valuable. A few quality links from respected sites can have a significant impact on SEO.
• Valuable content: Google highly values ​​the quality of content and how well it serves online users. High-quality content establishes the brand as a reliable and authoritative source of information.
• Penalties for low-quality links: Poor-quality links can lead to direct ranking penalties by diluting the domain's overall authority.
• Long-Term Impact: Focusing on quality content and backlinks provides long-term sustainable growth in search rankings.