Google has just announced a new update to its search engine algorithm that will affect how websites are ranked in search results.
This update called the "helpful content update," is designed to give more weight to websites that provide high-quality and useful information to their users.
I'm not going to lie - these Google updates are super frustrating and demoralizing. SEO practices that used to work like a charm suddenly become worthless, and you're left scrambling to figure out what the new rules are.
But even though this update is yet another curveball from Google, there's no need to panic.
In this post, I'll explain what the helpful content update is and how it will affect your website's ranking.
Are you wondering if your website is affected by this change? Keep reading to find out!
What is the Google Helpful Content Update?
This update from Google was rolled out at the end of August 2022. It caused quite a stir, and content creators are still scrambling to figure out what to do next - I'll keep you updated with any new developments as I hear about them!
The helpful content update is designed to improve how Google ranks websites in search results by giving more weight to websites that provide high-quality and useful information.
This means that Google now prioritizes content that was created and written for humans instead of content that was designed and written for search engine rankings.
Basically, Google no longer cares as much about SEO-first content as it does about human-first content.
According to TechCrunch, "The company’s tests have shown that the update will improve the results users find when searching for content like online educational materials, as well as arts and entertainment, shopping and tech-related content."
What does this mean for you and your blog or website?
Your content should be helpful for people searching for information on Google and not designed to rank high on search engines.
Your content should be high-value and high-quality, meaning that it offers info people actually need.
Google will no longer show your website in search results if it's deemed to be full of low-value content.
To do this, Google will be looking at two main factors: engagement and time on site. Engagement refers to how users interact with your website after landing on it from a search engine.
Time on site measures how long a user spends on your website before leaving. Google wants to see that users are spending time on your website and engaging with your content, which is an indication that it's helpful and useful.
If you want your website to rank high in search results, you need to make sure that you're creating helpful and useful content that will engage your readers.
What can you expect?
You might be noticing that your rankings have either plummeted or are no longer as high as they used to be.
This is likely because your website has been affected by the helpful content update, and you no longer have the same amount of helpful content as you used to.
If you want your website to rank well again, you need to make some changes and upgrades and wait it out.
In some cases, you might see increased traffic or higher rankings in SERP. This could be a result of your website having more helpful content than other websites in your niche.
If you see a decrease in traffic, it's likely because your website doesn't have as much helpful content as it used to.
AI-generated content
I love creating AI-generated content. However, this is important - I edit, add, remove, and use the AI-generated content in a smart way. You should ALWAYS double-check any info before publishing.
The reason for this is that AI-generated content is often low-quality and not very helpful for readers. Google's new update will likely push websites with AI-generated content even lower in search results, so it's best to avoid it altogether.
How to Create Helpful Content
Creating helpful content is not as difficult as it may seem. Just remember to keep these three things in mind:
Be clear about what you're trying to help with - What problem are you solving?
Make sure your content is well-written and easy to understand - No one wants to read a wall of text.
Include plenty of relevant images, videos, and infographics - many people are visual learners, and these can help break up your text.
The best way to improve your website's ranking is to create more high-quality and helpful content. This could be in the form of blog posts, tutorials, guides, or even videos.
Whatever form your content takes, make sure that it's helpful and useful for your readers.
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