If you’re anything like me, you immediately jump into keyword research when starting a new SEO campaign. You want to make sure you’re targeting the right words and phrases so your website can rank as high as possible. But what if I told you that’s not the only factor Google considers when ranking webpages? In late March, Google released an update that affects how it judges “helpful” content. Dubbed the “helpful content update,” this change could mean big things for businesses who put emphasis on providing value through their content. Here are six things you may be doing wrong that are keeping your website from ranking high under this new criteria.’
1. You’re Not Focusing on the User Intent
One of the most important factors Google looks at when determining whether content is helpful is user intent. What are people trying to accomplish when they search for a particular keyword or phrase? If your content doesn’t align with what they’re looking for, it’s not going to be considered helpful – no matter how well written it is.
According to a reputable digital marketing agency – to make sure your content aligns with user intent, start by identifying the different types of searches that could be associated with your target keywords. Then, create content that addresses each type of search. For example, someone who searches for “shoes” may be looking to buy a new pair, learn about different styles of shoes, or find out where the nearest shoe store is. By creating content that covers all three of these topics, you can ensure that your website will be considered helpful for anyone who searches for “shoes.”
2. You’re Not Answering All the Questions
Another way to make sure your content is meeting Google’s criteria for helpfulness is to answer all of the questions related to your target keywords. People use search engines to find answers to their questions, so if your content doesn’t provide them with the information they’re looking for, it’s not going to be considered helpful.
Digital Marketing Services London recommends that to make sure you’re covering all of the questions related to your target keywords, start by doing a search on Google and taking note of the different types of questions that come up. Then, create content that directly addresses each question. For example, if someone searches for “How to make a website,” your content should answer that specific question. By providing detailed answers to common questions, you can ensure that your content will be considered helpful by Google.
3. You’re Not Providing Detailed Instructions
In addition to answering all of the questions related to your target keywords, it’s also important to provide detailed instructions on how to do something. People use search engines when they want to learn how to do something, so if your content doesn’t provide them with step-by-step instructions, it’s not going to be considered helpful.
SEO Agency Miami shared that to make sure you’re providing detailed instructions, start by identifying the different steps involved in accomplishing a task. Then, create content that covers each step in detail. For example, if someone searches for “How to build a website,” your content should provide detailed instructions on every aspect of building a website, from choosing a domain name to designing the site itself. By providing clear and concise instructions, you can ensure that your content will be considered helpful by Google.
4. You’re Not Using Lots of Images and Videos
In addition to providing detailed instructions, another way to make sure your content is considered helpful is to use lots of images and videos. People are more likely to engage with content that includes visuals, so if your content is devoid of images and videos, it’s not going to be considered helpful.
To make sure you’re using lots of images and videos, start by incorporating visuals into your existing content. If you don’t have any images or videos, try creating some yourself or sourcing them from free stock photo websites. Once you’ve added visuals to your content, make sure to include alt text so that Google can index the images and videos for relevant keywords. By using lots of images and videos, you can ensure that your content will be considered more helpful by Google.
5. You’re Not Making Use of Schema Markup
Schema markup is a code that you can add to your website to help search engines understand your content better. If your content doesn’t make use of schema markup, it’s not going to be considered as helpful by Google.
To make sure you’re using schema markup, start by adding the code to your website. Then, test your website to make sure the markup is working properly. Once you’ve verified that the markup is working, submit your website to Google Search Console so that your content can be indexed correctly. By making use of schema markup, you can ensure that your content will be considered more helpful by Google.
6. You’re Not Optimizing for Mobile
Finally, it’s important to make sure your content is optimized for mobile devices. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to search the internet, so if your content isn’t designed for mobile devices, it’s not going to be considered helpful by Google.
To make sure your content is optimized for mobile, start by testing your website on different devices. Then, make sure your website is responsive and that all of the content can be easily viewed on a small screen. SEO Services Toronto added that once you’ve made your website mobile-friendly, submit it to Google Search Console so that it can be indexed properly. By optimizing your content for mobile devices, you can ensure that it will be considered more helpful by Google.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your content will be considered more helpful by Google and that it will rank higher in search results. So if you want to win the SEO game, make sure you’re creating helpful content.
