Important Google Updates!
The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and staying on top of the latest updates is crucial for businesses and marketers alike. One of the most anticipated updates from Google is the Google Helpful Content Update, which was rolled out in September 2023. This update brings a range of changes that impact how content is classified and ranked by the search engine giant. In this article, we’ll dive into the key elements of the Google Helpful Content Update and explore what you need to know to navigate these changes effectively.
Improved Classifier
Google has made significant improvements to the classifier used in its helpful content system. While the exact details of these improvements are not explicitly mentioned, it’s clear that Google is continuously refining its algorithms to better understand and evaluate the quality and helpfulness of content. This means that your content’s classification and ranking may be influenced by the new and improved classifier.
Hosted Third-Party Content
One notable addition to Google’s documentation on the helpful content update is the section on hosted third-party content. Google advises website owners who host third-party content on their domains to exercise caution. If the hosted content is largely independent of the main site’s purpose or lacks close supervision or involvement from the primary site, Google recommends blocking it from being indexed. This is not entirely new advice, as Google has previously expressed concerns about third-party content hosted on subdomains or subfolders. It’s important to ensure that any third-party content aligns with your site’s purpose and quality standards to maintain a positive impact on your search rankings.
Content Written by People or Machines
Google has revised its stance on content creation, specifically regarding the involvement of humans versus machines. The search engine giant has removed the phrase “written by people” in its documentation and now emphasizes content that is created for people. This change suggests that helpful content doesn’t necessarily have to be generated exclusively by humans. The focus is on delivering valuable content that meets the needs of users, regardless of whether it’s produced by people or machines.
Self-Assessment of Content
If you’ve noticed a negative impact on your website’s traffic following the helpful content update, Google suggests performing a self-assessment of your content. This involves evaluating the quality and helpfulness of your content to identify any areas that may need improvement. If you find content that doesn’t meet Google’s criteria for helpfulness, it’s important to either fix or remove it. On the other hand, if your content aligns with the update’s objectives, it may even benefit from the changes and receive a boost in search rankings.
Expert Review and Expertise Questions
Google has emphasized the importance of having content written or reviewed by experts or enthusiasts who possess demonstrable knowledge of the topic. While this is not a new concept, Google has updated its documentation to explicitly include the option of content being reviewed by experts. This highlights the significance of seeking expert opinions and insights when creating content that aims to provide value and expertise to users.
Changing Dates of Content
The practice of changing the dates of web pages to make them appear fresh is a common strategy employed by some website owners. Google has addressed this tactic in the helpful content update, cautioning against misleading users by changing dates without substantial changes to the content itself. This is an important reminder to prioritize content quality and relevance over cosmetic changes to improve search rankings. It’s essential to maintain transparency and integrity when presenting content to users.
Adding or Removing Content for Search Engines
In line with the helpful content update, Google advises caution when adding or removing significant amounts of content solely for the purpose of improving search rankings. This implies that simply adding new content or removing older content without a genuine reason may not yield the desired results. Instead, focus on producing high-quality, relevant content that provides value to users. Google’s algorithms are designed to prioritize content that exhibits unique expertise and experience, so it’s crucial to create content that aligns with these principles.
Future Updates and Ongoing Work
While the September 2023 helpful content update brings significant changes, Google has indicated that there is more to come. In earlier announcements, Google mentioned plans to deepen its understanding of content created from personal or expert perspectives. Additionally, the search engine giant aims to improve how it ranks search results overall, with a greater emphasis on unique expertise and experience. Although these updates aren’t part of the September 2023 release, they provide insight into Google’s long-term goals and priorities.
See first source: Search Engine Land
FAQ
1. What is the Google Helpful Content Update, and when was it rolled out?
The Google Helpful Content Update was rolled out in September 2023. It brings a range of changes that impact how content is classified and ranked by Google’s search engine.
2. What improvements have been made to the classifier in Google’s helpful content system?
Google has made significant improvements to the classifier used in its helpful content system. While specific details are not provided, it’s clear that Google is continuously refining its algorithms to better understand and evaluate the quality and helpfulness of content. This can influence how content is classified and ranked.
3. What advice does Google provide regarding hosted third-party content?
Google advises website owners who host third-party content on their domains to exercise caution. If the hosted content is largely independent of the main site’s purpose or lacks close supervision or involvement from the primary site, Google recommends blocking it from being indexed. It’s important to ensure that any third-party content aligns with your site’s purpose and quality standards to maintain a positive impact on search rankings.
4. Has Google changed its stance on content creation by humans versus machines?
Yes, Google has revised its stance on content creation. It has removed the phrase “written by people” in its documentation and now emphasizes content that is created for people. This change suggests that helpful content doesn’t necessarily have to be generated exclusively by humans. The focus is on delivering valuable content that meets the needs of users, regardless of whether it’s produced by people or machines.
5. What is the recommended approach for website owners who have seen a negative impact on their traffic following the helpful content update?
Google recommends performing a self-assessment of your content. This involves evaluating the quality and helpfulness of your content to identify any areas that may need improvement. If you find content that doesn’t meet Google’s criteria for helpfulness, it’s important to either fix or remove it. Conversely, if your content aligns with the update’s objectives, it may even benefit from the changes and receive a boost in search rankings.
6. How does Google emphasize the importance of expertise in content creation?
Google highlights the importance of having content written or reviewed by experts or enthusiasts who possess demonstrable knowledge of the topic. While this is not a new concept, Google’s documentation now explicitly includes the option of content being reviewed by experts. This underscores the significance of seeking expert opinions and insights when creating content that aims to provide value and expertise to users.
7. What does Google caution against regarding the practice of changing dates on web pages?
Google cautions against changing the dates of web pages solely to make them appear fresh without substantial changes to the content itself. This practice can be misleading to users. Google encourages prioritizing content quality and relevance over cosmetic changes to improve search rankings. Transparency and integrity in presenting content are essential.
8. What advice does Google provide regarding adding or removing content for search engines?
Google advises caution when adding or removing significant amounts of content solely for the purpose of improving search rankings. Instead, focus on producing high-quality, relevant content that provides value to users. Google’s algorithms prioritize content that exhibits unique expertise and experience, so it’s crucial to create content that aligns with these principles.
9. What does Google indicate about future updates and ongoing work related to content evaluation and ranking?
Google has mentioned plans to deepen its understanding of content created from personal or expert perspectives. Additionally, the search engine giant aims to improve how it ranks search results overall, with a greater emphasis on unique expertise and experience. While these updates aren’t part of the September 2023 release, they provide insight into Google’s long-term goals and priorities.
Featured Image Credit: Daniel Romero; Unsplash – Thank you!
