I am pleased to introduce myself as MD. Azhar is a digital marketing and trainer at Web Training Institute, Hyderabad. He has more than 15 years experience in the field. I was asked a few weeks ago to write a post on Google’s new “Helpful Content Update” which went live August 18, 2022. It’s an exciting moment for me, as I share with you my findings!
As a conclusion, I’ll offer some suggestions to ensure that this update doesn’t negatively affect the performance and ranking of your website content. In this article, I’ll examine the latest Google updates and what Danny Sullivan of the Google Search Central Blog has to say.
Google’s machine-learning algorithms have evolved significantly over the last two years, as many of you are aware. This update represents a major change in Google’s methods for ranking content. Google has always taken into consideration a variety of factors when ranking content. Consider factors like the number of links, the search volume, the length of the content and the overall user experience. Also, consider technical SEO factors as well as Core Web Vitals.
Google has increased its focus on quality content with this update. It is important to remember that the previously mentioned factors are still valid. Google will not only consider these factors in the future. Google now considers the “helpfulness” of the content in ranking content.
Google’s ranking of content has changed significantly. Site owners, content creators, and webmasters should be aware of this. Google has released several algorithmic changes that refer to helpful and high-quality content. Between 2020 and 2022. Google has placed many websites that have spammy content or poor quality on its “blacklists”.
If you want to maintain the ranking and performance of your website, as I’ve stated previously in my blog, you need to strictly adhere all Google algorithm update guidelines. Google is primarily focused on providing a better experience to its users. Google will look after your website’s overall performance and ranking in search engine results when you concentrate on your target audience. Google has said this several times.
If they do not follow the updated guidelines, all websites will be affected, including affiliate websites and blogging websites. This includes service websites, business websites, ecommerce sites, etc. Google has stated clearly that this update will affect all types of websites.
The first paragraph in the Helpful Content Update released is a good example.
Google Search always works to connect users to useful information. We’re launching a “helpful content” update that is part of a larger effort. This will ensure that people are seeing more helpful, original content, written by people for people, in search results. Below is more information about the update, and what creators should be considering.” – Danny Sullivan, Google Search Central Blog.
The main ongoing efforts by the Google search team are summarized below:
This will allow users to find the answers they need without having to navigate between different websites. They can find the answers they need without having to visit multiple websites. This is part of the “Helpful Content update.”
Google also wants to make sure that users see only original, unique content, which is why it is important that content is authentic.
Google considers content created using AI tools, such as GPT+3 and Open AI tools, to be spam. Google will now always favor original content written by subject matter experts. Google, as mentioned earlier, prefers to promote content that adheres to E-A-T guidelines.
It is a far cry from content that’s been scraped, rewritten, or paraphrased without any added value.
According to a tweet by Google CEO Larry Page and a podcast produced by Google Search Central as well as John Muller’s Google SEO Office-hours Hangout, non-human content is not beneficial for users who experience it live. Google won’t rank such content, even if it contains some facts.
The second paragraph in the Helpful Content update has been released.
” Focus people-first content. This helpful content update aims at better rewarding content where users feel they’ve enjoyed a satisfactory experience. Content that does not meet a visitor’s expectations will not perform as well.” – Danny Sullivan, Google Search Central Blog.
Content creators must think about the needs of users and their searches, rather than Googlebot’s.
This update will end the trend where websites simply put generic information up without addressing the expectations of the users. Content creators who rely on SEO to rank in search results will be unable to maintain a stable ranking over the long term.
Your website must therefore have high-quality, well-structured content as well as a functional website structure. Then, only the SEO factors are considered.
Google’s updated algorithm includes a Content Quality Checklist in the form questions for content creators.
If you answered “YES” for all the questions, then this update will not negatively impact your site. Comparatively speaking, you will notice an improvement in the overall performance of your site.
Examine each of them in turn to gain a better understanding.
- Google’s main objective is to measure the direct traffic to your site and the existing audience. Google determines how long audiences spend viewing content and if they find it valuable.
- As part of Google’s E.AT algorithm content pieces are evaluated based on their Expertise Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness. This means that the content should have been written by subject-matter experts. Authors must demonstrate Expertise and Authority within their niche and audiences should feel trust in the content.
- What is the primary focus or purpose of your website?
- This question is about whether you have a website with a niche-specific primary content that targets a particular audience. Make sure the whole website is focused around the same subject or that one category is dedicated to providing content that falls into the same niche to site visitors.
- Are your readers satisfied with the content you provide? Will someone feel they have learned enough to achieve their goals after reading your content?
- Does someone who reads your content feel satisfied?
- Does the user feel satisfied after visiting your site and reading its content? Is the answer given to the question that brought the user to your website satisfactory? The customer’s satisfaction after leaving the site will play a minor role. Google will take into consideration your bounce rate and dwell time.
- Keep in mind the guidelines we provide for both core updates and product reviews.
- Google will ask you if you have followed the guidelines for the core vitals update as well as all updates to product reviews. Google also recommends you read all the policy guidelines prior to requesting indexing.