From time to time you’ll receive a Google Core Update. This is nothing more than a change to the primary search ranking algorithms. They update this in order to continue to improve the experience one receives as a user to ensure the information displayed is relevant, factual, educational. On June 3rd, Google went live with the last update. Since this can occur every few months, sites don’t often see a change in their search engine ranking.
On August 1st, Google provided more input in this core update, and I’m going to share those details with you in simplified terms.
Google Core Update
Google originally notes that this update requires no fix to your site if you see a decline in your rankings. This is still true as of yesterday’s PR piece by Google. BUT, they are giving more information on what new focus this update is affecting. So why might you see a drop, or rise, in rankings? This Google Core Update is designed to asses content differently. What does that mean?
“One way to think of how a core update operates is to imagine you made a list of the top 100 movies in 2015. A few years later in 2019, you refresh the list. It’s going to naturally change. Some new and wonderful movies that never existed before will now be candidates for inclusion. You might also reassess some films and realize they deserved a higher place on the list than they had before. The list will change, and films previously higher on the list that move down aren’t bad. There are simply more deserving films that are coming before them,”
So this means you should be trying to offer the best content you can. Well, that’s vague.
So, let’s take a look at HOW you can try to offer the “best content you can.”
Your content should:
- Provide original information, reporting, research, and analysis
- Give a substantial, complete, or comprehensive description of the topic of search (keywords)
- Supply the reader with insightful analysis or interesting information that is beyond obvious
- Should avoid copying or rewriting other sources and should instead, give substantial value and originality
- Produce a headline/page title that is descriptive and helpful that is relevant to the content discussed
Some “bonus” scores as I like to call it, can come from being bookmarked, shared, linked to, or referenced. So developing interest and engagement in your work is perfect for any Google Core Update, particularly as newer ones rollout. Google is always improving its’ standards and user’s experiences.
So consider content that is going to be valuable. That drives someone to use you as a resource. A knowledge hub. Strive to make articles that they would want to share. They’re informative, original, easy-to-read, and have visuals. Also, make sure your data is accurate and cited correctly.
You Might Need an Expert
With each Google Core Update, I suspect that content will need more expert-level care. Which is necessary to provide the best user experience. The goal isn’t to keep you from doing it yourself, but to keep those unethical, highly inaccurate, or clickbait links away from users.
But why an expert?
Well, it can be very hard for a non-content writer to present information in a way that produced a feeling of trust. Google looks at indexed pages to compare what information about the author and the publishing site is available. There’s a strategy for online marketing and that’s a lot of moving parts, and expertise. It’s more than good SEO and site design.
Readability is mildly factored in, although it’s more for bounce rate and user experience. But having well-written content that’s optimized for readability and SEO is going to provide the best results, and can affect your Google rankings. Opinions are different from factual data, like stats or research studies. It’s important all of these elements are done correctly in your content to achieve the best results.
Remember to EAT
Like any mindset for SEO, remember to EAT make content that is filled with Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
That’s it for everything I know so far about the latest Google Core Update. This isn’t likely to affect most people at all, or significantly. But if you’re concerned, it’s always a good reminder to remember to add new content and get creative.
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