Google has previously spoken about what you can do to improve your site if you were hit by an algorithm update. Now, after the most recent June core update, Google has reiterated its position, but this time they added a bit of advice: Focus on putting out strong content.
What Do I Need to Fix?
Sites that experience these core update hits will always be looking to fix what went wrong. Google is saying there may not be anything to fix. What happens then, is we end up fixing the wrong things. By doing this you end up hurting your site even more. So what can you do to rank better, if there is “nothing wrong”?
Content Needs to E-A-T
If you are asking yourself, why have my rankings tanked? Why am I not showing up in searches? What’s wrong with my site? The answer is quite simple really. Google is now changing the way they gauge overall content.
Once upon a time, Google looked at content a bit differently. Word count and duplicate content were the prime ranking factors. But all that has changed. For the past few years, Google has been focusing on E-A-T. Duplicate content and word count are still taken into consideration, but it’s all about Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust. Google wants to make sure your content is fresh, updated, and timely. They want you to provide the best possible content you can.
Google is now more than ever looking for content that is relevant and up to date.
Strategy
How do you stay relevant? Simple: evaluate and update your content. Ok, while it isn’t as easy as evaluating your content and updating it, here are some ways you can do that:
- Is this the type of content you would share with others?
- Is it good enough to be referenced?
- Is the content insightful and compelling?
- Would you consider the content authoritative?
- Is the content optimized for mobile devices?
- Does the content look to be written with an expert and trustworthy voice?
- Doe the content bring value and is it relevant?
If you have experienced a drop in your site’s ranking following a recent Google core update, make sure to analyze your content, along with other factors you think may have affected your site. If there is a fix, your content is more than likely where you want to start.