A quick guide to Google’s Helpful Content Update
The latest search algorithm update from Google has started to be implemented a little earlier than originally stated by them on the 18th August. The stated aim of this latest change was to help remove AI or computer dictated, or directed if you will, mass content.
In order to help the vast majority of website owners and companies who do not live in the world of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)and to whom, for many, this has completely passed them by, they have given a list of questions. If you answer, honestly, YES to more than one of these then you may be penalised, although the manner and result of this are yet to be seen.
- Is the content on your website written primarily to attract people from search engines, rather than made for humans?
- Are you producing lots of content on different topics in the hopes that some of it might perform well in search results?
- Are you using extensive automation to produce content on many topics?
- Are you mainly summarizing what others have to say without adding much value?
- Are you writing about things simply because they seem trending and not because you’d write about them otherwise for your existing audience?
- Does your content leave readers feeling like they need to search again to get better information from other sources?
- Are you writing to a particular word count because you’ve heard or read that Google has a preferred word count? (No, they do not).
- Did you decide to enter some niche topic area without any real expertise, but instead mainly because you thought you’d get search traffic?
- Does your content promise to answer a question that actually has no answer, such as suggesting there’s a release date for a product, movie, or TV show, when one isn’t confirmed?
From our customers’ point of view, this does not effect what we do or the advice that we give, as the basic rule has always been to offer content that is relevant to your audience and to present this in the format that the search engines can use. Try to be too clever and ‘cheat the system’ and eventually you will be found and penalised.
Creatively Yours…
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