How Compose.ly Defines Helpful Content

Picture this: You open your favorite search engine and type in “best dog treats.” You expect the results to show healthy and high-quality treats for dogs. Instead, the top result is an article about Snoop Dogg’s favorite snacks. Dismayed, you scroll down the page to find recipes for human desserts shaped like dogs and other irrelevant results. 

Google uses sophisticated algorithms to avoid this nightmarish scenario and provide relevant results. These algorithms crawl the internet to find the most trustworthy and valuable content for users. As technology evolves, the search engine frequently updates its algorithms to consistently provide the most helpful content. 

Writers and other creators must adapt to these evolving guidelines to continue producing high-ranking materials. Use these top strategies to help you keep up with the latest Google updates and provide the best user experience.

Google’s Latest Helpful Content Update

Google released a content update in March 2024 with revised guidelines that change the algorithmic rankings to prioritize meaningful and original content. 

These modifications prevent mass-produced content and spam from appearing when users query the search engine. In a press release, Google’s Director of Product Management, Elizabeth Tucker, predicts that this update and previous changes will “collectively reduce low-quality, unoriginal content in search results by 40%.” 

Modifications on the Previous Helpful Content Guidelines

The new Google helpful content guidelines change how the algorithms rank web pages. Here are four significant modifications: 

• More emphasis on credible, people-first content: Google uses multiple ranking systems to prioritize helpful content made for specific audiences. Ranking factors include descriptive headings, original analysis, and references to personal experience.
• Prevention of expired domain abuse: Some creators buy expired domain names and use them to share unhelpful content. This practice uses the reputation of the expired website to trick search engines into ranking the new, low-effort content. These websites will no longer rank in Google search results. 
• Punishment of site reputation abuse: The Google update discourages reputable websites from hosting third-party content that provides little to no value. 
• Stronger policies against scaled content abuse: The Google update takes action against websites that use artificial intelligence and other tools to mass-produce unoriginal content. 

How Compose.ly Adapts to the New Guidelines

It's important to tailor your practices to keep up with core updates like this. Compose.ly uses many strategies to adapt to the latest Google updates. 

First, we hire top writers with industry expertise. These creators draw on their personal experiences and in-depth knowledge to create helpful blog posts, white papers, and other content. It’s essential to rely on subject matter experts (SME) because Google search raters prioritize EEAT — experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. 

Additionally, our writers follow the latest search engine optimization (SEO) content strategies. For example, they conduct audience research and use keywords strategically. These techniques allow Compose.ly to produce helpful content that consistently appears in search engine rankings. 

We also help clients refresh old and outdated content. The updates can range from minor tweaks to major overhauls. These revisions keep content fresh and implement the latest SEO tactics to generate organic leads. 

7 Expert Tips To Rank With the New Algorithm Update

The new algorithm update has shaken up search engine rankings for many topics. You may have noticed that some of your content has vanished from Google results or dropped in the rankings. Don’t panic — these strategies will help you adapt to the changes and attract more search traffic. 

1. Optimize for Readability With a People-First Content Approach

Google algorithms favor original materials written for real people over spammy content for search engines. Creators should focus on producing accessible, people-first content for specific audiences. 

To start, research your target audience’s interests, needs, and preferences. Use this information to tailor your content accordingly. For example, thought leaders may prefer dense white papers with infographics and statistics. Meanwhile, busy mothers may gravitate toward witty, scannable blog posts with practical parenting tips. 

People-first content also provides original analysis and research. Use authoritative sources to support your claims, but avoid copying or rephrasing other creators. Instead, focus on creating in-depth and insightful content that users won’t find anywhere else. 

Finally, avoid factual, grammatical, and spelling errors. SEO writing tools like Cliche Finder and Grammarly can help you improve the quality of your content. Many content creators also hire editors to polish their writing. These resources will help you deliver a more satisfying experience for readers. 

2. Tackle User Experience Head-On

Understanding user experience (UX) will help you create meaningful and high-quality content. Follow fundamental UX design principles, such as: 

• Add images, videos, and other multimedia to engage and inform visitors. 
• Address your target audience with appropriate language and tone.
• Choose complementary color schemes that people with visual impairments can easily distinguish. 
• Add calls to action (CTAs) and internal links to guide users through your website.
• Use headings, lists, and short paragraphs to make your content easy to skim.

Combine high-quality content and user experience techniques to improve your Google search rankings. 

3. Leverage User Data and Insights To Create Relevant Content

Data analytics can help you create more relevant and valuable SEO content. Collect data about your users’ browsing habits, demographics, and interests. 

You can use many tools to gather this information, such as: 

• Google Analytics: This platform provides insights about user demographics, engagement, website traffic, and more.  
• Google Search Console: This tool lets you monitor your website’s search traffic. 
• Polls and surveys: Ask your users to share their preferred content, expectations, and pain points. 
• Social media analytics: Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms have built-in tools for analyzing how your audience engages with your content.  

This data can help you create more personalized and tailored content. For example, if you notice that 60% of your audience is from the East Coast, you can produce localized content to cater to this audience.

4. Ensure Originality With Subject Matter Expert Reviews

Recent Google SEO changes prioritize content created by experts. In SME reviews, a specialist who lends their knowledge and domain expertise will check your content. 

Compose.ly offers subject matter expert review services. Our team includes doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other highly skilled professionals. They’ll verify the accuracy and helpfulness of your niche content before you publish it. They’ll also help you keep up with emerging trends and developments so you produce the freshest content. 

5. Consider Your Target Audience’s Entire Search Experience

SEO best practices for content involve considering the user’s entire search journey. 

First, assess user intent. What are your audience’s motivations when they search for information related to your niche? Common intents include buying products, learning information, and solving problems. Align your content with your users’ needs to improve satisfaction. 

Content optimization strategies also improve the user experience. Incorporate relevant keywords that match your audience’s search queries. You should also include optimized title tags and meta descriptions so readers know what to expect when they click on your content. 

6. Align Your Content With Your Audience’s Awareness Levels

Helpful content meets your audience at their level. It doesn’t dumb down information or speak over their heads with industry jargon. But it can be tricky to strike the right balance, even for experienced content marketers. 

First, research your audience to learn about their knowledge level, interests, and experience. Social media listening tools, surveys, and focus groups can give you insights into these areas. 

Next, segment your audience based on their familiarity with your topic. Here are a few potential segments: 

• Beginners: These users have limited knowledge about your niche. They need clearly defined terms and introductory content. 
• Seasoned professionals: These experts have extensive knowledge about your topic. They typically seek cutting-edge research, emerging trends, and innovative products. 
• Problem solvers: They have specific challenges to solve. They often seek case studies, how-to guides, and tutorials. 

Your SEO optimization strategy should include content tailored to each group’s awareness level. That way, you can deliver valuable content to multiple audiences. 

7. Include Frequently Asked Questions in Your Piece of Content

Google search engine result pages (SERPs) often include frequently asked questions (FAQs). These results show common questions and snippets of answers from relevant websites.

Address FAQs in your content to increase the likelihood that Google shows your webpage as a featured snippet. Use keyword research tools to identify relevant questions and include them in your headings. You should also provide accurate and concise answers so Google can easily excerpt them. This strategy will increase your visibility and help drive more traffic to your website. 

Simplify High-Quality Content Creation With Compose.ly

The importance of content marketing has only increased with Google’s latest update. The search engine’s new algorithms emphasize the need for credible, high-quality content written by and for humans. More than ever, audiences crave engaging, user-centric content that caters to their interests and needs. 

Helpful, SEO-optimized content will help you climb the search rankings and build your audience. But you don’t have to produce high-quality content alone. Compose.ly's expert team crafts high-quality blog posts, case studies, white papers, and more. We’ll handle every step of the process, from keyword research to editing.