To Improve Search Results, Google Will Roll Out The Helpful Content Update

Google says it’s doing more to penalize low-quality content created purely for search engine optimization purposes. It will roll out various enhancements to Search in the coming months targeted at making it simpler for users to access useful content intended primarily for humans instead of the focus of algorithms.

Beginning next week, Google will roll out the Helpful Content Update. This is intended to degrade unoriginal content considered of poor quality. It will strive to surface higher-quality educational materials, as well as more helpful entertainment, retail, and technology-related information.

For example, the company argues that when people search for information on a new movie, they are more likely to find results that have original and fresh info, rather than those that give aggregated reviews with no distinct viewpoints or insights. In general, the goal is to provide more results that contain in-depth insights and higher-quality content. Google adds that this strategy, like its other algorithms, will be refined over time.

In terms of what its search engine emphasizes, the company has provided some guidelines to content providers. Google has always advised them to create content that is intended for people while still sticking to SEO best practices. The company recommends that they consider if their intended audience would find the information beneficial, as well as showing first-hand experience and in-depth understanding of a subject.

It advises against using “heavy automation” to generate content on a wide range of themes, as well as writing with a set word count in mind after hearing that’s what Google searches for. Removing unwanted content from other areas of a website will also assist.

Additionally, Google is considering another Search change with the purpose of exposing unique and high-quality product reviews. This step, which will be implemented in the coming weeks, follows a number of updates Google implemented last year to provide more relevant and in-depth evaluations in search results.

Google’s goal to improve search is continuing. Last year, the company claims it made hundreds of adjustments to its Search systems. It stated that they were based on the findings of hundreds of millions of quality checks, some of which included feedback from human reviewers.