Google’s search algorithm is all about giving users accurate, relevant, and helpful content. Recently, the Helpful Content System got an upgrade – and as with any Google update, it’s absolutely critical to align your website with its recommendations if you want to rank well and get found online! Here’s some insight into what the Helpful Content System is, what the latest update means for your website, and what to do to boost your rankings, from our digital SEO agency in Melbourne. 

What is Google’s Helpful Content System? 

Google’s helpful content system is a sophisticated framework designed to provide users with valuable and relevant information across its various platforms and services.

• AI and machine learning integration learns from users – Built upon advanced algorithms and machine learning, this system aims to understand user intent and deliver high-quality content that meets their needs. By analysing factors such as search queries, user behaviour, and content quality, Google’s helpful content system continually refines its understanding of user preferences, ensuring that the most useful and reliable information is presented in search results, knowledge panels, and other relevant formats.

• All about user satisfaction – This system places a strong emphasis on user satisfaction, striving to present content that not only answers specific queries but also offers comprehensive and insightful information. Google’s helpful content system also considers various signals generated by your website, such as authority, relevance, and credibility, when evaluating the quality of web pages and determining their ranking in search results.

• Cross-device and cross-platform application – In addition to search results, this system extends its influence to other Google services, such as Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Discover. By leveraging the power of machine learning, Google can personalise content recommendations and tailor them to individual users’ interests and preferences.

• Focus on safety and security – Google’s helpful content system also puts a spotlight on user safety and security. It actively works to combat spam, low-quality content, and malicious activities to provide a safe and trustworthy online experience for users.
  

What does the latest update do?

The latest update adds more sophistication to the process of detecting helpful vs. unhelpful content, with more signals than ever for the algorithm to detect and assess. It makes it more difficult to dodge if you’re putting out spammy content – essentially content that has been created to boost search engine rankings rather than help or inform Google users.

That’s in response to people getting frustrated when using Google when they land on unhelpful webpages that rank well because they were designed to rank well – not because they are good or useful.

If the system is penalising you, you won’t be notified – all you’ll notice is that your search rankings will start dropping! So, it’s best to go through your content and your content creation process to make sure it’s there for people – not SEO. 

How to boost your web rankings and SEO with the Google’s Helpful Content System 

So, in summary, this system prioritises content based on whether it is people-first and uses SEO practices. In the latest update, there is a much more sophisticated targeting to penalise content that doesn’t meet this criteria.

Examples of content that will be penalised includes keyword-stuffed articles that simply repeat the answers found on the top results of the search engine result pages (SERPs), as well as repetitive AI generated content. This is content that is primarily generated for search engine algorithms, not the people using the search engine.

Content that will be boosted includes that which answers users’ questions in a relevant and accurate way and contains original insight from people who understand the subject matter well. The best content will be specific to your industry or niche, be helpful and inspire the reader to take action, be fresh and up to ****, and be relatable.

So, to help you get there, ask the following questions to make sure you’re providing helpful content:

• When someone has read your content, will they feel they have learned enough to make a decision or reach their goal?
• When reading my content, does the user have their question answered as fully as possible in line with the most up-to-**** information?
• Does my content sound generic and flat rather than coming from personal expertise and experience?
• Does the user have an easy time reading my content, with fast page load speeds, useful visuals, and accessibility aids?

Best practice content creation – every time 

Want the experts to take your business online and make sure your customers hear all about it? Our teams are up-to-**** on the latest changes to Google updates as well as how to work the most powerful platforms andcreate content that delivers maximum ROI. We cover every digital marketing service you need, from web design and content creationto blogs, email marketing, PPC, and social media marketing, and our aim is to give you a digital marketing strategy that works – and that your customers ****.No fuss, no big price tags, and no so-called quick fixes – just good small business digital marketing done right.