The Helpful Content Update Will Target Unoriginal, Low-Quality Website Content
For years, Google has consistently put in the effort to improve the search experience. From various spam and product review updates to ongoing algorithm updates and beyond, they have strived to help make search results trustworthy with reliable resources.
Now, to permanently target websites that do not contribute high-quality, original content, they are releasing a permanent sitewide algorithm update named the Helpful Content Update.
Important Details You Need to Know
- The update is being released this week, and, like most updates, will take two weeks to roll out.
- However, similar to the Page Experience Update, it will be continuous and affect sites from then on.
- Currently, it will only affect English websites on search results, and not Google Discover or other Google platforms.
- According to Search Engine Roundtable, Google will update your site’s score constantly, but if you are negatively impacted, it can take several months to recover.
What Does Google Deem as Helpful Content?
To help push content writers to have a people-first mindset, Google states that if you can answer yes to the questions below, it means you are more than likely on the right track:
- Does your site’s content show first-hand expertise and insightful knowledge of the subject? For example, comprehension that comes from using a product or service, or visiting a place?
- Does your website have a primary focus or purpose?
- After finishing reading your content, will the reader feel that they’ve learned enough about the topic to help achieve their goal?
- Will the person reading your site’s content feel like they’ve had a satisfying experience?
- Do you have an intended or existing audience for your website or business that would find the content useful if they came directly to your site?
- Are you following Google’s guidance for core updates and for product reviews?
What Some Experts Are Saying
Following Google’s announcements, many well-known SEOs were granted exclusive access to interviews with Google’s Search Liason, Danny Sullivan. Below, you can read some of their predictions, insightful bits of advice, and more:
- Google’s Helpful Content Update – What You Need to Know (Marie Haynes)
- Google’s Helpful Content Update Introduces A New Site-wide Ranking Signal Targeting “Search engine-first Content”, and It’s Always Running (Glenn Gabe)
- Google’s ‘Helpful Content Update’ to Devalue ‘Search-Engine First’ Content and Elevate Authentic, Expert Voices in Search (Lily Ray)
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