Self-Assess Your Content
Evaluating your content using specific criteria helps determine its helpfulness and reliability. Beyond self-evaluation, seek feedback from trusted individuals unaffiliated with your site for an honest assessment.
Additionally, review any traffic drops you’ve experienced. Identify which pages and types of searches were most affected and analyze them against key quality questions.
Content and Quality Questions
- Does the content offer original information, research, or analysis?
- Is the topic thoroughly and comprehensively covered?
- Does the article provide insightful analysis beyond the obvious?
- When referencing other sources, does the content add substantial value and originality instead of merely copying or rewriting?
- Does the main heading or title accurately summarize the content without exaggeration or sensationalism?
- Is this a page you’d bookmark, share with a friend, or recommend?
- Would this content be appropriate for inclusion in a printed magazine, encyclopedia, or book?
- Does the content offer significant value compared to other search results?
- Are there any spelling or stylistic errors?
- Is the content well-produced or does it appear sloppy and hastily made?
- Is the content mass-produced or outsourced to a large number of creators, resulting in a lack of attention to individual pages or sites?
Expertise Questions
- Does the content present information in a trustworthy manner, such as through clear sourcing or evidence of expertise?
- Is there background information about the author or site, enhancing trustworthiness?
- Would researching the site leave an impression that it is a well-trusted authority on its topic?
- Is the content written or reviewed by someone who demonstrably knows the topic well?
- Are there any easily verifiable factual errors in the content?
Provide a Great Page Experience
Google rewards content that offers an excellent page experience. Ensure that your site provides a comprehensive great experience across various aspects rather than focusing on just one or two elements.
Focus on People-First Content
People-first content is created primarily for the audience, not to manipulate search engine rankings. To evaluate if your content is people-first, consider the following:
- Do you have an existing or intended audience that would find your content useful if they visit directly?
- Does your content demonstrate first-hand expertise and deep knowledge, such as from using a product or service firsthand?
- Does your site have a clear primary purpose or focus?
- After reading your content, will someone have learned enough to achieve their goal?
- Will readers feel satisfied with their experience after engaging with your content?
Avoid Creating Search Engine-First Content
Instead of producing content primarily to gain search engine visibility, focus on creating valuable, people-first content. Warning signs of search engine-first content include:
- Content is made primarily to attract search engine visits.
- Producing大量内容 on various topics in hopes that some perform well in search results.
- Extensive use of automation to generate content across many topics.
- Summarizing others’ content without adding significant value.
- Writing about trending topics without relevance to your existing audience.
- Content leaving readers needing to search again for better information.
- Focusing on word counts based on perceived search engine preferences.
- Entering niche topics without real expertise, mainly to gain search traffic.
- Making false promises, such as stating unconfirmed release dates.
- Manipulating content dates to appear fresh without substantial changes.
- Adding or removing content solely to influence search rankings.
While SEO is important, it should complement people-first content, not dominate it.
Embrace E-E-A-T and Quality Rater Guidelines
Google uses various factors to rank content, focusing on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). Trust is paramount, with other aspects contributing to overall trustworthiness.
E-E-A-T is particularly critical for “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) topics, which affect health, financial stability, safety, or societal well-being.
Search quality raters provide insights on algorithm effectiveness by assessing E-E-A-T based on Google’s quality rater guidelines. While raters do not directly affect page rankings, their feedback helps improve ranking algorithms.
Review Google’s guidelines to self-assess your content’s E-E-A-T, identify areas for improvement, and align with the signals used by automated ranking systems.
Evaluate Your Content Using “Who, How, and Why”
Who Created the Content
Clear authorship enhances E-E-A-T. Ensure visitors can easily identify the content creator:
- Is the author evident to your visitors?
- Do pages include bylines where expected?
- Do bylines link to detailed author information, such as backgrounds and writing areas?
Accurate authorship information fosters trust and alignment with E-E-A-T principles.
How the Content Was Created
Transparency about content creation processes benefits readers:
- For product reviews, disclose the number of products tested, test results, and methodologies used, supported by evidence like photographs.
Including details about automation, AI generation, or assistance can help readers understand the creation process:
- Is automation use disclosed to visitors?
- Is background provided on how AI was utilized?
- Is the rationale for using automation explained?
Disclose AI or automation use where appropriate to maintain trust.
Why the Content Was Created
Clarify the purpose of your content:
- Is the content created primarily to help people and provide useful information?
A clear, user-focused purpose aligns with E-E-A-T and Google’s ranking objectives. Conversely, content aimed mainly at manipulating search rankings violates Google’s spam policies.