What is Google Search Helpful Content Algorithm?
Google constantly aims to improve the quality of search engines, which is why they keep on improving algorithms that powered Google Search Engine. Recently, Google has released a Helpful content update in September which reassures its commitment to provide high quality search results that are useful for the people.
The helpful content update aims to improve the quality of search results by analyzing different factors as highlighted by Google on their algorithms update guide. The major highlight of this content update is to emphasize the importance of valuable and informative content written for the user. People these days publish content to rank higher in the search engine therefore ignoring the main purpose of, to be helpful for the Google user. If your website is offering high quality content that satisfies your audience’s needs then you don’t need to be worried. On the other hand, if your web page serves the content just for Search engine ranking then you might get in trouble with this update.
What does the September 2023 Helpful Content update focus on?
- Relaxing the restrictions regarding machine-generated (AI) content.
- Providing hosting for third-party content on subdomains (or on the main domain)
- Modifying content publishing dates to showcase freshness.
- Supplying extra advice on actions to take in case your website experiences a decrease in traffic following a Helpful Content update.
AI Generated Content
In the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), people are frequently using AI powered tools to generate content. Google has relaxed its guidelines to support high quality AI based content that serves the purpose.
Guideline before update:
“Google Search’s helpful content system generates unique signal utilized by our automated ranking mechanisms, aiming to enhance the visibility of distinct and helpful content written by the people, for the people, within search results.”
Google Blog
Guideline after update:
“Google Search’s helpful content system generates unique signals utilized by our automated ranking mechanisms, aiming to enhance the visibility of distinct and helpful content written for the people, within search results.”
Google Search Helpful Content Update
Renting Your Domains or Sub-domain
Another important issue addressed by Google is hosting third-party content on your website. People are using high quality websites to publish their content on either the main domain or subdomain so that they can pass on the ranking signals.
There are several websites or news agencies who might be renting out their subdomains for this purpose even when the content is not relevant to the main website. Google has updated their guidelines for the publishers and discouraged them not to do so and blocked the content from being indexed.
How can you recover from the impact of Google Search Helpful Content Update?
If your website got affected after September 2023 Helpful Content Update, Google has provided few guidelines to assess your website.
Creating Helpful People First Content (Self assess)
Key takeaways from helpful content update:
- Write informative content based on people’s first intention.
- Your authority and knowledge on the content
- Is it helpful and knowledgeable for the readers?
If you are facing any issues with this update, feel free to reach out!