On September 28, 2023, Google announced the completion of its September 2023 Helpful Content Update rollout. The update, which began rolling out on September 14, 2023, is designed to “better ensure people see original, helpful content created for people in search results.”
The helpful content system is a machine-learning model that identifies content that is likely to be helpful to users. The system takes into account a variety of factors, including the content’s expertise, experience, and authenticity.
According to Google, the September 2023 helpful content update includes an improved classifier that can more deeply understand content created from a personal or expert point of view. The update also places a greater focus on content with unique expertise and experience.
The helpful content system is applied site-wide, meaning that if a site has a significant amount of unhelpful content, it may be impacted by the update. However, Google has stated that the update is not intended to penalize sites, and that sites that have been impacted can recover by improving their content.
What does this mean for website owners?
If you are a website owner, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your content is aligned with Google’s helpful content guidelines:
- Create content for people, not for search engines. When you are creating content, focus on writing for your target audience and providing them with valuable information.
- Be an expert in your field. The more expertise you have on a topic, the more likely your content is to be helpful to users.
- Be authentic. Share your own personal experiences and insights in your content.
- Avoid creating content that is primarily for the purpose of ranking well in search engines. This includes things like keyword stuffing, thin content, and content that is not relevant to your target audience.
If you are concerned that your site may have been impacted by the helpful content update, you can review Google’s guidance on how to recover. You can also submit your site for review to get personalized feedback from Google.
Overall, the September 2023 helpful content update is a positive development for website owners and users alike. By rewarding websites that create high-quality, helpful content, Google is making search results more informative and useful for everyone.
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