Google’s recent Panda / Farmer algorithm update has resulted in holy chaos for sites falling fallen foul of it’s insistence on quality. So what is ‘quality’… and what isn’t?
Here’s a list of questions Google suggests you ask yourself before uploading new content to your website or analysing your existing site to see if you can do better:
Google’s quality content questions
- Would you trust the information?
- Is it written by an expert or enthusiast who knows the topic well or is it shallow?
- Does the site include duplicate / overlapping / redundant content on the same / similar topics with slightly different keyword variations?
- Would you be comfortable giving your credit card information to the site?
- Does it include spelling, stylistic or factual mistakes?
- Are the topics created with the genuine interests of readers in mind or does it generate content by attempting to guess what’ll rank high in search engines?
- Does it deliver original content, information, reporting, research or analysis?
- Does it give good value when compared to similar pages in the search results?
- How much quality control has there been?
- Does the article describe both sides of a story?
- Is the site a recognised authority on the subject?
- Is the content mass produced by (or outsourced to) multiple creators or spread across a large network of sites, meaning individual pages / sites don’t get as much care and attention?
- Is it edited well? Or is it sloppy and rushed?
- Would you recognise the site as an authoritative source by name?
- Does it provide a complete, comprehensive description of the topic?
- Does it contain insightful analysis or interesting information beyond the glaringly obvious?
- Is it the kind of thing you’d bookmark, share or recommend?
- Are there too many adverts that distract from / interfere with the main content?
- Is it good enough so you’d expect to see it in a printed magazine, encyclopedia or book?
- Are the articles short, unsubstantial or otherwise lacking in helpful specifics?
- Are the pages produced with great care and attention to detail… or not?
- Would people complain about it for any reason?
