What's new in SEO? ??

1. Google HELPFUL Content Update

Google announced the September 2023 Helpful Content Update that began on 14th September and completed rolling out on 28th September. The update appears to loosen up on machine generated content while warning about 3rd party content hosted on websites or their subdomains.

The update includes an improved classifier and brings several significant changes to the Helpful Content System, designed by Google to promote people-first content and demote content written for search engines.

It works in tandem with other systems to rank websites based on the quality and usefulness of their content.

One particularly interesting update to their guidance is that they imply content does not need to be written by people, as long as the content is helpful to users ??

The original guidance:

"Google Search's helpful content system generates a signal used by our automated ranking systems to better ensure people see original, helpful content written by people, for people, in search results."

The updated guidance:

"Google Search's helpful content system generates a signal used by our automated ranking systems to better ensure people see original, helpful content created for people in search results."

For more info on the Helpful Content Update: Click here

2. Google October 2023 Core Algorithm Update

As one Google Core update ends, another one begins...On 5th October Google announced they were rolling out another core algorithm update, the third one this year which officially completed on 19th October. Google introduced the previous two in March and August.?

Each Core update aims to improve rankings by promoting quality content. They target primary search algorithms to improve results and demote low-quality sites.

Those impacted should focus on helpful content, positive user experience, and incremental improvements.

Best Practices For Recovery

For publishers concerned about core updates, the best practices are:

• Focus on helpful, factual content that establishes expertise and authority.
• Optimise sites for positive user experience across devices.
• Routinely check search analytics and performance.
• Make incremental improvements over time vs. reacting only during updates.
• Remember that quality content and sites are rewarded in the long term.

For more info on the October Core Update: Click here

3. Google October Spam Update

Released on 4th October, Google finished rolling out the October 2023 Spam Update which targeted thin and misleading content.

In its announcement, Google says the latest spam update was initiated based on user feedback. Many people reported increased spam results when searching in their native languages. With this update to its spam detection capabilities, Google hopes to improve search results for users worldwide.

Google utilises automated systems and human reviewers to identify and demote spammy pages and sites.

One such system is SpamBrain, which leverages AI and machine learning to stay on top of emerging spam tactics.

Some examples of what Google classes as “spammy” or misleading:

• Hidden text or links are invisible to users but visible to search engines.

• Automatically generated content with little added value.
• Large-scale, unpermitted article scraping.
• Pages overloaded with distracting ads.
• Thin affiliate content focused heavily on monetisation.
• “Doorway” pages and other attempts to trick search engines.
• Aggressive or misleading commercial tactics like false claims.

For more info on the October Spam Update: Click here

4. Google Has Reduced Visibility of FAQ & HowTo Rich Results

Google will be showing fewer rich results on search, in particular limiting FAQ & HowTo rich results on desktop devices. The update was provided on 8th August.

FAQ rich results will only be shown for “well-known, authoritative government and health websites.” For other sites, rich results will not be shown regularly.?

HowTo rich results will only be shown for desktop users, and not for users on mobile devices.

There's no need to remove existing Structured Data:

Google have confirmed that having unused Structured Data does not harm SEO

For more info on the Rich Results changes: Click here