What is “Google’s Helpful Content Update?
Google recently revealed details pertaining to their newest search engine update called the Helpful Content Update. This update aims to ensure that high-quality, informational (helpful) content appears on search results, as opposed to filler content clearly written with an SEO checklist in mind.
Google wants you to write content for people, not search engines. They have found a troublesome link between SEO-first content and user dissatisfaction. With this update, Google aims to increase the quality of written content across the board.
They say that websites with lots of unhelpful content will be less likely to perform well on search results. If you are the owner of one of these websites, Google recommends you either vastly overhaul your existing content or remove it entirely.
Google is asking for feedback by asking users, “How easy was it to find what you wanted on this site?”. This means that the content on your website should be quick and easy to find.
RankMath has put together a detailed guide on how to protect your site along with a video about Google’s Helpful Content update here.
Google has provided us with a helpful list of questions they want us to ask ourselves. These questions exist to steer us in the right direction. You can find Google’s blog post here.
When did it roll out?
The helpful content update started rolling out on August 25, 2022, and was completed about 2 weeks later.