In August, Google changed the rules of the game. It launched the Useful Content Update , a new algorithm update in which original and informative pieces are valued more than recycled content.
In this new landscape, website owners need to focus on creating experiences that are targeted first and foremost at people , with helpful articles containing first-hand experiences and information. The first launch focused on English-language sites as a pilot, but it will now be available in all languages.
So, in the first week of December, Google launched the Helpful Content Update worldwide . To do this, they are going to use a special system to
classify content written by humans and for humans.
The New System: Explained
What’s the difference between Google’s August update and the announcement made in December? Well, the latter has two main focuses: improving the previous system and working across languages.
Remember that every search engine runs on an algorithm in the background. The technology helps to identify the type of content and then classify it.
In Google’s case, the new Useful Cameroon Email List 371983 Contact Leads Content Update will reward sites that develop unique value. The more you work to differentiate yourself from other creators, the better.
New changes may take about two weeks to take effect, so you’ll likely start to see some changes in your organic traffic soon.
But is Google really focused on helping its users?
In Google’s history, it is well known that the priority is the intention or the needs of the user, at least that is what is disclosed.
The Office Steve Carell GIF – The Office Steve Carell Michael Scott GIFs
However, we can see some divergence in other research. For example, according to a Semrush survey, most people have to rewrite their query to find the right answer. Therefore, not everyone is satisfied with the SERP results .
On the other hand, we have to understand that the Useful Content Update is very new. In the coming months we will probably see more improvements.
How can it affect sites?
Any update will always impact site metrics. In the case of the Rock Content blog , we had a decline during August and September after the first Useful Content Update of this semester. Therefore, something similar should probably happen in the last weeks of December.
Some major news sites also saw interesting movement in their traffic. For example, The New York Times regained lost visibility after the first update, but later lost it significantly, only to regain it again with the latest update. In this particular case, the August update had a negative impact and the September update had a positive effect.
Source: Search Engine Journal
During the last week of December you will probably see some changes in your traffic, but if you are already focused on offering unique content, you will most likely recover your visits in the first weeks of January.
The practices you won’t see again
There are still some questions about how the system will work and how Google’s technology will work to classify content.
Although it is already known that there are some not so good practices that will disappear forever.
Posting “Mashup” Articles
A common mistake when trying to rank in the SERPs is to “mix” all the content that is ranking high into other content. Basically, it is rewriting what is already being said without adding anything new.
We understand that reviewing what is already going well is good for your strategy, but if you try to be different, add another perspective and share your own experience, the user (and now Google itself!) will thank you.
And as a reward, it will rank you higher.
Writing just to rank for a keyword
Keyword research is a common step in any SEO strategy. However, we now need to be more savvy when choosing what type of term we are going to work on.
Some creators choose to focus too much on keywords with high volume and difficulty, just because it is popular or important. This is not enough.
Now it’s time to choose queries that make sense for your specific audience.
Do not use specialized editors
Outsourcing your content creation is actually a good practice, especially if you work with a large number of pieces. But one thing you need to be very careful about is making sure that the freelancers you hire know what they are writing or talking about.
If they are not experts, but are passionate about the topic, you can pair them with the real experts on your team, so they can advise and mentor
the editors with valuable information.
For example, I really like animals and I like to learn new things about them, so it would be a problem for me to write an article on how to keep my dog healthy without help. Although I am not a veterinarian, it is my duty to do good research and ask a real expert to give me some ideas for that article.
Creating content for SEO positioning is a practice that still has a lot to do. Answering your audience’s questions and doubts is going to be vital to succeed in the digital arena.
Do you want to stay up to date with the best Marketing practices? I suggest you subscribe to The Beat , Rock Content’s interactive newsletter. There you will find all the trends that matter in the digital Marketing landscape. See you there!
