Hit by Helpful Content Update? Read this

The Helpful Content Update (HCU) is a Google algorithm update that aims to prioritize high-quality, helpful content in search engine results pages (SERPs). It includes a site-wide signal, suggesting that removing low-value content could be beneficial. The impact on SEO has been divisive, with some in the SEO community reporting significant negative effects on their rankings, while others have not mentioned substantial issues. The update encourages the creation of content that provides substantial value, original information, and focuses on a people-first approach.

Identifying low-value content in light of the HCU involves assessing whether your content provides a substantial, complete, or comprehensive description of the topic. Google's guide suggests asking questions like "Does the content provide substantial value when compared to other pages in search results?" Long-form articles with more comprehensive information tend to perform better, with the average word count for top-ranking articles on "Helpful Content Update" being 1773 words. However, the definition of low-value content can be subjective, and there is a debate about whether brevity might sometimes be preferable.

Combining SEO Tools with Brain 2.0, which implies using human intelligence and critical thinking, is crucial because relying solely on tools can lead to misuse, such as overstuffing schema similar to outdated keyword stuffing practices. The risks of not using human oversight include producing low-quality content that may be heavily penalized by updates like the Helpful Content Update (HCU). It's important to use tools wisely and ensure that content is checked and provides real value to avoid negative impacts on SEO.

The significance of site-wide signals in the Helpful Content Update (HCU) is that Google now considers the quality of content across the entire website, not just at the individual page level. This shift indicates that it may be beneficial to remove or improve low-value content across your site to maintain or improve search rankings. Previously, metrics like Domain Authority (DA) were viewed skeptically since PageRank was calculated at the URL level, but the HCU's site-wide signal suggests that domain-level metrics could now be more relevant.

To ensure content aligns with Google's E.E.A.T. guidelines, which stand for Expertise, Experience, Authority, and Trust, it's important to create content within your area of expertise and demonstrate authority on the subject. Google's developer documentation suggests looking for evidence of these factors, which may act as a 'hygiene' factor rather than a direct ranking factor. This means having a certain level of authority on a subject may be necessary before Google will recommend your content. It's also recommended to consider the audience for your content and focus on creating people-first content that adds original information, reporting, research, or analysis.