How Much More Helpful Content Can I Put Into a Blog Post?
Hi All
I'm sure you're all aware of the recent Google updates that have shaken up the search landscape. The Google October & November 2023 core updates have made significant changes to how Google evaluates and ranks content on the web. As a result, many of us have seen fluctuations in our traffic and rankings, and some of us have even experienced drops or penalties.
Now, I’m not here to complain or whine about Google’s algorithm changes. I understand that Google’s goal is to provide the best possible user experience and to reward high-quality, helpful, and trustworthy content. I also appreciate that Google provides guidance and best practices for creating such content, and that they are transparent and communicative about their updates.
However, I do have a question that has been bugging me for a while. How much more helpful content can I put into a blog post? I mean, I’ve done everything I can to follow Google’s advice and to optimize my content and structure. I’ve provided original, well-researched, and accurate information. I’ve used clear and descriptive titles and headlines. I’ve organized my content with appropriate headings and subheadings. I’ve avoided excessive ads or pop-ups that distract from the main content. I’ve ensured that my content is easy to read and understand, and free of spelling and grammatical errors. I’ve updated my content regularly to reflect the latest information and trends. I’ve removed or updated outdated or inaccurate content. I’ve avoided deceptive or manipulative practices that may harm users or violate Google’s quality guidelines.
And yet, I still feel like I’m not doing enough. I still feel like there’s something missing. I still feel like I could do more to make my content more helpful, more useful, more relevant, more engaging, more appealing, more… you get the idea.
But what exactly can I do? What else can I add to my content to make it stand out from the crowd and to impress Google and the users? How can I go beyond the basics and the essentials and create content that is truly exceptional and remarkable? How can I achieve that elusive level of quality that Google is looking for?
That’s the question that keeps me awake at night. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. I’m sure many of you have the same dilemma and the same frustration. I’m sure many of you have the same burning desire to create the best possible content for your audience and for Google. By the way, they were rhetorical questions, unless you do want to throw your hat in the ring with ideas.
I just thought I would get it off my chest with like minded folk, who won't threaten to divorce me everytime I mention it.
Thanks for listening
Recent Comments
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Hi Darren,
Thank you for sharing this insightful, well-articulated, heart-felt post. You highlight a lot of pressing thoughts that are probably on everybody's WA minds.
You have worked extremely hard and I clearly understand your frustration. Google updates are not our friend. ParthaB has written about these updates and you probably have already read them.
Life seems very unfair at times.
What is our recourse after Google updates?
Rachele
Thanks for that, I guess history and other folks at WA have proved that we will just keep bouncing back time and again, and who knows what's coming next with the massive rise in chatgpt and the like. So, to echo what's already been said. Let's just carry on lol
Your question brought up in my mind a question I have had for some time but never really had a chance to ask for some reason and I think it relates to your question a bit. First, just a bit of background. So my full time job right now is that I practice optometry in my own private practice. I decided to embark on the affiliate business here at WA and so far enjoying it. However, one thing that worries me is that it seems like no matter how well one build out one's website and grows it that at anytime Google can change the algorithms and traffic can disappear overnight. So what does that mean for all the work put in? Is it a waste.
You see in my current business, I likely do not need to worry that one day I will no longer get business because the reality is that everyone needs eye care. Now that I have built up my reputation, people continue to come. There is no Google out there changing up algorithms that will take my patients away.
One of the reasons I got into this WA business is because I want to create something for myself such that in the future I can scale back the hours I spend in my practice or retire altogether and have an alternate source of income. But if that alternate source can dry up at a moments notice due to the whims of Google, then that does not make be feel too secure in this endeavor.
Perhaps the answer is to diversify, as someone suggested on this thread. Perhaps a second website? Perhaps merely having more blog posts so that at least many will rank high even if some do not. Furthermore, perhaps the rankings of different posts will change based on what people are searching for and that can change overtime in frequency. That is why I can understand what I have seen posted on WA that it is important to keep posting.
Still, I find the notion that one can lose traffic overnight anytime Google makes changes to be unsettling and at times question myself whether this business model is for me.
Yet I continue because I am intrigued by it and it is fun. So I still have an open attitude and remain optimistic for now.
What you say can happen , THEORETICALLY, however Wealthy Affiliates teaches you how to build a long term sustainable business. There may be times when you do get slammed by Google, but it should be recoverable
Something I just blogged about is that it makes sense to have multiple sources of readers. That is why people use email lists, social media, and videos to diversify their sources
thanks.. when you say should be recoverable: does that happen automatically with time or do you need to make major changes to get it to recover?
There is no point in my answering you this has been said by Partha here I Would Charge You $1000 For Doing This - Here’s How to Do it For FREE (Basic Site Audit)
Hi - I think you mentioned in a recent post, that your site is only a couple of months old.
With that being the case, you may not even have been hit by the recent algorithm changes, as you will barely be on Google's radar, as yet!
For the first six to eight months, Google "tests" your posts against your competitors, who are targeting the same topic.
During this period, your rankings will continually fluctuate, until they reach their final position.
So, you could have one post that is on page 1 for a couple of days and then vanishes, while another post appears to be stubbornly stuck on page 3, etc.
So, don't assume that if you have lost rankings, you need to change something, just yet.
However, it is good practice to ensure that you are meeting Google's helpful content requirements anyway.
So, you need to ensure that you are bringing something new and unique to the internet, that you have covered the topic with as much detail as necessary, and that the searcher doesn't need to look at somebody else's post.
Add unique features such as an infographic or table of information, and use unique images, not the usual ones you see on everybody's site!
Add a relevant YouTube video and a list of FAQs about the topic.
Get to the point quickly, don't write a long, rambling introduction.
Thanks very much for that. I was ranking around the 25 mark for a few posts and just above 50 for another dozen, but when the first update took place, I literally disappeared. I have literally be eating, sleeping (not sleeping) and breathing blog posts and getting them spot on. Thanks for thanks for your wonderful help
Have you looked at the top two or three relevant posts and see what they are doing that you’re not?
Yep, and I've also mentioned this last week somewere, because the ones topping the charts look like a four year old have written them. Very thin content, with general stuff. Really not good. This is why I mentioned previously that it looks like google pressed the upside down button and believe this is why the November update has occurred.
Agree in the sense that Reddit posts were ranking. The only thing to do then is to stay focused like you’re doing
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A very interesting blog.
Google says to not write for Google and says it wants you to write for the reader, their customers.
And I understand that they want search enquires to match the bloggers keywords and phrases. And hopefully tick the right boxes.
As content creators we know, or should, our readers. And we know if they are up to reading a 3,000 word blog or not. My niche is Teaching, specifically English as a Second Language ( ESL) and most of us like a good read. Note the word “ good”.
However I do believe that Google has still got people writing for Google and not their niche.
And why do I think that. Because they are telling us what they want.
A full answer, with relevant pictures and infographics and chuck in a video at the same time please( preferably your own).
So what do I do… I push out some big pillar posts. ( did a 3,000 word and a 2,000 word blog today) and then throw out some smaller posts that link.
My preference in reading is between 900 and 1,300 words. And I like having a video in there as well. And most of my ESL teachers in Vietnam feel the same way.
Over 1,500 words and you will lose me unless your writing style is equal to “Hemingway”…The person, not the app. Lol.
At the end of the day I do what Nick said, keep on writing and keep my fingers, toes and legs crossed. Lol.
Steve
Thanks for that. I was thinking of mixing it up with different word count with different fillings and let them take their pick lol
Sounds like a plan Stan, and a sound one at that.
Steve