{"id":117361,"date":"2022-08-31T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dacgroup.com\/google-launches-major-helpful-content-algorithm-update\/"},"modified":"2024-12-31T05:44:39","modified_gmt":"2024-12-31T10:44:39","slug":"google-launches-major-helpful-content-algorithm-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dacgroup.com\/en-ca\/insights\/blog\/local-search\/google-launches-major-helpful-content-algorithm-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Google launches major \u201chelpful content\u201d algorithm update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even during the laziest days of late summer, the world of local search keeps turning. In fact, this August brought more than its fair share of major changes and noticeable updates. Here’s all the helpful content you need to stay ahead of the game.<\/p>\n

“Helpful content” is Google’s new priority in search<\/h2>\n

Following in the steps of BERT<\/a> and EAT<\/a>, the latest Helpful Content update to Google’s algorithm<\/a> is to be a major one. While Google does carry out routine minor updates every month or so, these named updates differ from core algorithm tweaks. While the latter tends to affect only certain types of businesses with minor ranking fluctuations, a named Google update can significant change numerous aspects of Google’s first page of results.<\/p>\n

The helpful content update is designed to tackle pages generated by those who understand SEO but do not provide value to the user. That is to say, the update targets websites that are primarily written to cater to Google’s current algorithm rather than actual users. If you already maintain your site in a way that leads to better user experiences<\/a>, the helpful content update should result in far better rankings. This will be especially true in spam-heavy industries, such as locksmithing and insurance, which will hopefully see their illegitimate competitors fall in rankings.<\/p>\n

The full update rolled out from the end of August through the beginning of September. Businesses should keep a close eye on their rankings during this time. While legitimate businesses should only see a rise in rankings or no changes at all, Google is not infallible. Monitor how this update impacts your business and, as always, be sure to act if you see your rankings suffer.<\/p>\n

New “Featured in” section for hotels, plus the “Asian-owned” attribute for all business types<\/h2>\n

Google rolled out two much smaller updates during its month of major releases, expanding the unique feature-rich results of hotels and adding to its set of listing attributes. Firstly, search results for hotels are now starting to include a new “Featured in” section, which includes third-party reviews as well as news stories about the specific hotel being searched.<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

Image: Search Engine Roundtable<\/p>\n

Hotels and all other businesses also now have the option to include the “Asian-owned” label on their listings. Along with Veteran-owned, Women-led, and many other similar attributes, this label will help customers find the businesses most relevant to them within their own communities.<\/p>\n

Whenever new features and attributes are added<\/a>, remember that any additional information that describes your business can improve click-through rates and drive additional traffic. Embracing the “Featured in” section or selecting newly added attributes may either improve your ranking on existing queries or open up your eligibility for other searches. Either way, your updated listings are likely to earn more impressions. After all, a Google listing that contains every feature available to it instantly appears more professional and trustworthy.<\/p>\n

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