{"id":3448,"date":"2022-09-08T14:00:10","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T19:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalstristg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=3448"},"modified":"2024-06-11T14:29:34","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T19:29:34","slug":"googles-helpful-content-update-explained-in-2-parts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.digitalstrike.com\/googles-helpful-content-update-explained-in-2-parts\/","title":{"rendered":"Google’s Helpful Content Update, Explained in 2 Parts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another day, another <\/span>Google update<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The latest <\/span>core update<\/span> to the <\/span>Google algorithm<\/span> for <\/span>SERP<\/span> is here. Curious as to what that means for you and your business? Check out our <\/span>in-depth<\/span> review of the <\/span>new helpful content update<\/span>, how it affects you, <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> how we’re helping our clients thrive during this time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 1 – The <\/b>Algorithm Update<\/b><\/h2>\n

Google’s latest helpful content update prioritizes <\/span>original content<\/span> that connects <\/span>searchers<\/span> to relevant and accurate information, creating an overall <\/span>satisfying experience<\/span> to users.<\/span><\/p>\n

Specific <\/b>Algorithm Changes<\/b><\/h3>\n

Google’s <\/span>search algorithm<\/span> will now include a helpful content <\/span>ranking signal<\/span>, specifically a <\/span>site-wide<\/span> signal that Google weighs in among other <\/span>classifiers<\/span> to better rank a <\/span>web page<\/span> or site. This <\/span>new signal<\/span> relates to how helpful\u2014or not\u2014content is to <\/span>a user’s specific search intent<\/span><\/a> (whether someone is looking to learn something, make a purchase, etc.). The primary goal of this update is to encourage <\/span>content creators<\/span> to put people first and machines second.<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, this update only applies to <\/span>English<\/span>-language searches, although Google plans to <\/span>roll out<\/span> this update to other languages in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2 – Quality Content Boogaloo<\/b><\/h2>\n

Let’s dig into what putting people first really looks like when writing content (and beyond).<\/span><\/p>\n

What Counts as “Helpful Content”?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Let’s start by identifying what helpful content is <\/span>not<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unhelpful content<\/span>, according to this new update, prioritizes anything other than what human readers want. It can include <\/span>low-quality content<\/span>, or content that is inaccurate, duplicated, poorly written, doesn’t answer a query, and\/or unnecessarily long, written for the purpose of hitting an arbitrary <\/span>word count<\/span> instead of staying concise and on topic. It can also include content that is unoriginal, or content that merely summarizes what someone else has said and doesn’t add anything new or of value to a topic.<\/span><\/p>\n

The saying “one bad apple ruins the bushel” applies to Google’s latest content update. Namely, <\/span>low-quality content<\/span> can negatively impact your <\/span>entire<\/span><\/i> web site’s ranking in <\/span>Google search<\/span> results. Having even a few low-quality <\/span>web pages<\/span> can tank your entire site’s domain authority and individual <\/span>web pages<\/span>‘ <\/span>SERP<\/span> rankings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Irrelevant content doesn’t offer readers the <\/span>satisfying experience<\/span> they crave. To get the <\/span>SERP<\/span> results you want and give readers what they are hungry for, offer up a smorgasbord of good, helpful content for your readers to <\/span>E A T<\/span> up.<\/span><\/p>\n

E A T<\/b> Helpful Content<\/b><\/h4>\n

Remembering to <\/span>E A T<\/span> (Expertise Authority Trustworthiness) can help you <\/span>produce content<\/span> users actually want to consume.<\/span><\/p>\n