Google’s Helpful Content Update: How it Impacts Your Website?

Google’s helpful content update, also known as the December 2022 SEO update, was a significant algorithmic change that impacted many websites across the internet. Two main points of Help Content Update were

• Write to solve the Pain Points of Your Users
• Do not Write for the Search Engines

In point 1 you have to focus on the primary purpose of your website. Additionally, make sure you are providing enough information to the visitors of your website to satisfy their needs.

In point 2 you have to make sure that you are not just focusing on the keywords to attract the users from Search Engines, you are not writing just to add the content to your website, you are not writing to increase the length of your content, you are not writing to keep your website fresh, and you are not writing just because the topic is trending right now.

In short, you have to make sure you write what you are expert at, you write your experience, and you write what your opinions are about anything. Because Search Engines are more interested into information that can add value to the lives of your users.

Also Read: March 2024 Core Algorithm Update

Understanding the Helpful Content Update

The helpful content update was designed to improve the user experience by prioritizing helpful and informative content. The update aimed to reduce the prominence of low-quality content and spammy websites in search results. Google has always focused on providing users with the most relevant and high-quality content; the helpful content update was another step towards achieving this goal.

The update used a variety of signals to determine whether a piece of content was helpful or not. These signals included factors such as the content’s depth, the author’s expertise, the content’s relevance to the user’s search query, and the overall quality of the content. Websites that provided valuable and engaging content were rewarded with higher search rankings. On the contrary, those that did not, were penalized.

What Was the Need for the Helpful Content Update?

The need for the helpful content update was driven by the growing amount of low-quality content and spammy websites appearing in search results. Many website owners used black hat SEO techniques to manipulate search rankings and attract more traffic. This often resulted in users being presented with irrelevant or misleading content. This had negatively impacted their search experience.

Google recognized this. It knew it needed to take action to improve the quality of search results and provide users with more helpful content. The helpful content update was one of several algorithmic changes the company has implemented recently to achieve this goal.

The Impact of the Helpful Content Update

The impact of the helpful content Google update was enormous, especially for websites that relied on spammy SEO tactics and low-quality content. It resulted in a significant drop in search rankings and organic traffic for many such websites. Some sites even experienced a 90% loss in traffic. However, on the other hand, websites that offered informative and genuinely helpful content experienced a surge in search rankings and traffic.

The update was a positive development for website owners who focus on creating high-quality content, which prioritizes user experience. It encouraged website owners to create informative, user-friendly content, thereby making the web a more informative and helpful place for users. The update’s impact was a step forward for improving the quality of content on the internet and creating a better user experience.

What to Do When Your Website is Impacted by Helpful Content Update December 2022?

If the helpful content update impacted your Website, there are several steps you can take to recover your search rankings and traffic.

First, review your content to ensure that it is genuinely helpful and informative. Look for ways to improve the depth and quality of your content and ensure that it is relevant to your target audience. Consider investing in professional content creation services if you need help developing high-quality content.

Next, review your SEO strategy to ensure you follow best practices and avoid any black hat tactics. This may include removing low-quality or spammy content from your site, improving your site structure and navigation, and building high-quality backlinks from reputable sources.

Finally, be patient and monitor your site’s performance over time. It may take several weeks or even months to recover from the impact of the helpful content update. However, following best practices and providing genuinely beneficial content to your users can improve your search rankings and traffic over time.