There Is No Such Thing As Helpful Content
That’s what creators should know about this.
Even Google tells you it looks for UN-helpful content.
Don’t just believe me, click on the image to see it in the Google Developer Docs.
How Google’s Helpful Content System Differs From Other Updates
Since 2023, based on one clue that revealed itself last April, I’ve been chasing down what exactly does the HCS target. I’ve run seo testing on this, field data, reached out to colleagues and found someone whose data I have licensed to put in here with my tested data. I’m about as certain as an seo tester can be that I’ve connected the dots on what might be classified as either helpful or unhelpful today. This is not a rehash of opinion. One specific area that surfaced in this research is HCS behavior around canonical and anchor URLs, a technical dimension most analyses overlook entirely.
Why SEO Problems Require SEO Answers, Not CRO Fixes
We can not solve an SEO issue with a CRO answer. My hope is this is the data that will free many from the frustration of it and loss of revenue from being decimated in search. The value will more than provide an ROI.
This is the beginning, showing you where to dig. Research is ongoing. You still have to bring your seo mind and cut your own meat. Part of sharpening that mind is understanding HCU’s connection to Gemini AI training—a layer of this system that changes how you interpret the signals entirely.
UPDATE: There is a tool now that can make these measurements and create a roadmap to connecting your expertise in a way that both search AND AI can understand. Go to VizzEx.ai the first horizontal content analysis tool for Helpful Content A tool for AI and Search visibility. Available for WordPress and HubSpot CMS. More on the way.
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