Google’s August 25th update has been shaking up all website owners. Described as a Google’s helpful content update, it has website owners scrambling to determine how to make their content more unique and resourceful. While there is still some speculation about precisely what this new algorithm targeting helpful content looks like, we know a few things so far. In this blog post, we will discuss six of them. Keep reading to learn more!
What Is The Google’s Helpful Content Update?
A new algorithm called Google’s Useful Content Update would reward websites for producing educational and helpful content. This involves writing that is clear, concise, and pertinent to the reader.
Google claims that this change will simplify finding the information individuals need and increase searcher satisfaction. One aspect of Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance its search results is the Helpful Content Update. Google wants to keep people returning to its search engine by providing more relevant and helpful results. Therefore, if you want this update to aid your website, write both instructive and helpful material.
On August 25th, 2022, the helpful content algorithm update was first introduced, focusing on websites with much unsatisfactory or unhelpful information.
During the 15-day rollout period that ended on September 9th, 2022, some websites experienced adjustments in their rankings while others experienced no change at all.
How Does The Update Work?
The update works by looking at two main factors:
- How much time users spend on your website after clicking on your result from the search engine results page (SERP).
- How many searchers click back to the SERP after visiting your website.
If users spend a lot of time on your website or click back to the SERP after visiting your site, this signals to Google that your site is helpful and informative. As a result, you will be rewarded with higher search engine rankings.
What You Should Know About The Google Helpful Content Update From Now On?
How can you ensure that your created content is helpful for google users that rank high in the search engine results pages (SERPs)?
Check out our list of the six details about the Google helpful content update for 2022 below:
Keep your discussion on point
With this update, Google may be trying to encourage content writers and website owners to focus only on their zones of expertise.
Publishing articles outside of your niche might sometimes be considered creating material for search engines.
Suppose you have a website about dog food, and you see a possibility to capitalize on a high-volume keyword related to cupcakes. Maybe your article is very helpful, but existing visitors that come to your websites expecting articles about dog food are unlikely to find it helpful.
Besides, Google advises questioning yourself the following related questions:
- Is the content primarily made with search engine traffic in mind rather than with human readers in mind?
- Do you write content about topics because they seem to be popular rather than write about your present visitors?
- Do you select a topic for writing that you have no real knowledge of?
Deliver most reliable answers to searchers’ questions
Google always tries to teach us that content is helpful when people learn something from it.
When creating material for readers, try to address any issues that may have brought them to your website in the first place.
Besides, Google advises questioning yourself the following related questions:
- Do readers feel compelled to recheck their searches for more accurate information after reading your content?
- Will individuals who read your content feel they have discovered enough about a topic to assist them in gaining their goal?
Avoid combining several topics on one website
A website can’t serve everyone’s needs. If anyone tries to cover many topics on a website, it will be very confusing for visitors as well as for search engines to understand the site.
Try to build a site for a niche. You can create a different website for a different topic.
Besides, Google advises questioning yourself the following related question:
- Are you producing lots of content on different topics in hopes that some of it might perform well in search results?
Demonstrate first-hand expertise and a depth of knowledge
Making valuable, top-notch content has always been crucial. But now that Google has updated its algorithm, it’s more crucial than ever.
One of the most acceptable ways to provide your readers with something of value is to write about subjects you have firsthand experience with. You are the only one who is an expert in your field, abilities, and goods or services.
Besides, Google advises questioning yourself the following related questions:
- Does your content leave readers feeling like they need to search again to get better information from other sources?
- After reading your content, will someone leave feeling they’ve learned enough about a topic to help achieve their goal?
When writing, put the reader before the search engine
It’s vital to make sure you don’t write content, particularly for search engines rather than people, in light of the helpful content algorithm adjustment.
But far too frequently, those who create digital material worry excessively about “writing for SEO,” mistakenly putting search engines above the people who will actually read the information.
Most importantly, Google makes it abundantly clear that they do not want us to write for them.
They need us, or the company we write for, to comprehend a subject thoroughly enough to provide a comprehensive, understandable response that the intended audience can read, comprehend, and, yes, find online.
Besides, Google advises questioning yourself the following related questions:
- Is the content primarily to attract people from search engines rather than made for humans?
- Are you using extensive automation to produce content on many topics?
- Are you writing to a particular word count because you’ve heard or read that Google has a preferred word count?
- Does your content promise to answer a question that has no answer, such as suggesting there’s a release date for a product when one isn’t confirmed?
Comply with Google’s recommendations for other major updates
With this suggestion, Google tries to teach us that the recommendation about core updates and product reviews also applies to helpful content updates.
It will increase your possibilities to benefit from the helpful content update if you have followed Google’s advice for core updates and product reviews update.
Besides, Google advises questioning yourself the following related question:
- Are you keeping in mind our guidance for core updates and for product reviews?
Want To Increase The Visibility Of Your Business On The Search Engine?
It isn’t easy to produce SEO-friendly content that appears at the top of search results. It needs a knowledgeable team that continuously monitors Google’s SEO ranking criteria and algorithm updates.
Thankfully Gigabit is dedicated to helping businesses succeed online, and we have the experience and expertise to help you reach your goals.
Contact us today to learn more about our SEO services and how we can help you improve your online visibility and drive revenue to your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Google penalize content produced by AI?
The helpful Content Update mentions unhelpful content; it does not mention taking any specific action against AI-written content.
They do, however, state that only content created by humans will be successful.
When did Google begin its helpful content update?
On August 25th, 2022, the helpful content algorithm update was first introduced, focusing on websites with a lot of unsatisfactory or unhelpful information.
When did Google’s useful content update become fully operational?
During the 15-day rollout period that ended on September 9th, 2022, some websites experienced adjustments in their rankings while others experienced no change at all.
What should website owners do?
Remove any content that is not useful.
What is meant by “people-first content”?
My view is that it simply refers to content that prioritizes the requirements and experience of the reader over ancient practices like keyword stuffing and other unethical ranking strategies.
Content creators that put their audience’s needs first focus on producing engaging content while simultaneously applying SEO best practices to provide additional value to searchers.