Having an actionable checklist is good, but even better is to understand the “why” behind each of the action points recommended.
With that said, if you want to skip all the explanations of why I am recommending each action, scroll down to the actual checklist in this article, or download the Checklist PDF using the button below.
But if you want to understand why I am recommending each of these actions, keep reading. You will have much better results if you learn the fundamentals of how content generation for SEO works.
Understand The Google Core Match 2024 Update: It’s Not a Crackdown on AI Content
Google Core Match 2024 update punished severely content that just regurgitates other content that already exists online.
On the contrary, it favoured content that provides original value and yet unpublished perspectives.
It also favored Authority sites and Big Brands. But we’ll focus on content on this blog post.
It has been mistakenly labeled as a crackdown on AI content.
This is not the case. In fact, thousands of sites with human written content were severely punished along with many more websites with AI generated content.
In fact, in February 2023 Google stated that AI content is not against their guidelines.
Fast forward 13 months and apparently AI content heavy sites get hit?
What’s going on here?
How about going straight to the source?
If you read Elizabeth Tucker’s (Director of Product Management in Google) blog post, you’ll notice that she doesn’t mention AI content.
She does mention, however, that they are targeting:
- Unhelpful content.
- Unoriginal content.
- Content that provides a poor user experience.
- Content that feels like it was created for search engines instead of people.
- Websites created primarily to match very specific search queries.
- Low-quality or unoriginal content at scale with the goal of manipulating search rankings where it is clear that automation is involved.
- Types of content with little value created at scale, like pages that pretend to have answers to popular searches but fail to deliver helpful content.
- Very low-value, third-party content produced primarily for ranking purposes and without close oversight of a website owner to be spam.
- Expired domain abuse
There is a lot to unfold in that list.
For now I want to zoom in on the fact that there is no mention of AI content in the entire blog post.
Isn’t that something? Why is no one talking about it?
Why is the Youtubesphere calling this a core update against AI content?
If I may, let me remind you what Dany Sullivan stated 13 months ago (bolding is mine):
…it’s important to recognize that not all use of automation, including AI generation, is spam. Automation has long been used to generate helpful content, such as sports scores, weather forecasts, and transcripts. AI has the ability to power new levels of expression and creativity, and to serve as a critical tool to help people create great content for the web.
Source: https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2023/02/google-search-and-ai-content
So it looks to me that Google is doing what it has always done: fighting low quality content, however it is produced.
And if you were Google, wouldn’t targeting an easily identifiable set of AI content footprints be a good starting point?
So What Should You Do?
This is where we get practical and take action.
If you are reading between the lines, you are understanding that what I am proposing is that AI content is not the problem.
The problem is low quality content.
My goal here is to give you actionable items that you can implement to make sure that your content is high quality (whether you use AI or not).
The March 2024 Google Core Update Proof High Quality Content Checklist
Follow this checklist to ensure that even if you use AI to generate your content, you do it for the purpose of creating high quality, original content, written for humans and not for search engines, that provides a satisfying user experience.
1 – Keyword Research: Identifying the right target keywords for your content
Do you know what keyword you are targeting in your article?
If you don’t, go back to your keyword research and decide on one.
Tools you can use: Ahrefs, Semrush, Google Autosuggest, AnswerThePublic
Prompts:
Act as an expert SEO and copywriter. Read this article and tell me what search keywords you think it is targeting.
Propose alternative keywords that based on your understanding of this article, should be targeted.
2 – Search Intent: Ensuring your content addresses the user’s search intent
Do you know the search intention for this keyword? Is your content addressing it? If it’s not, find the gaps and plan an outline to address the content gaps.
Prompts:
Act as an expert SEO and copywriter. Provide an outline based on your understanding of this article and the keyword being targeted with it. Your outline needs to improve the depth of the current article and propose new sections to make it more relevant, provide a better user experience, and address the search intention of the keyword being targeted.
3 – Content Redundancy: Cutting unnecessary and/or Irrelevant content
Does your content have unnecessary information that doesn’t specifically address the search intention? If it does, consider removing it. Sometimes this content may belong in a new article.
Prompts:
Given the fact that the keyword being targeted is KEYWORD, your understanding of this article, and your suggestions of expanded topics with your new outline, are there any topics in the article that are redundant, or addressing topics that are not necessary to satisfy the search intention of KEYWORD?
Do you recommend that I include such topics in a separate article? If so, which main keyword should I target with such a new article?
4 – Content Originality: Creating unique and valuable content
Is your content original or does it simply regurgitate content you can already find online?
If it’s not original, consider adding different perspectives, opinions, stories, stats, analysis, comparisons that are unique to your content and that you can’t find in the other top ranking pages for your keyword.
Prompts:
Judge this article with an extremely high bar. I want you to evaluate whether it offers truly original content or if it’s just regurgitating information that you can find online. If the latter, I want you to propose ways I can change it to make it truly original. Be as specific as possible with your recommendations.
5 – Rich Media Integration: Using images, videos, and other media to enhance content
Are you using images?
Do they add value to your content or are they simply royalty free images from resources such as Unsplash?
If you lack originality with images, consider using a tool like Canva to edit your images and use them to illustrate concepts and add to your content.
Tools: Canva, ChatGPT4, your Smartphone.
Are you using rich media?
Consider turning your article into a Youtube video and embedding it in your article.
Consider using the audio as a podcast episode and embedding in your article.
Tools: Video Recording tools such as Camtasia or Zoom.
6 – User Experience: Making your content user-friendly and engaging
Are you offering even more value and resources in your content?
For example, you could turn actionable content into a PDF checklist and offer it as a download, or allow your visitors to access extra resources. Find ways to reward your visitors for visiting your website.
Tools: Google Docs, Video Recording tools such as Camtasia or Zoom.
7 – Human Editing: Ensuring your content is polished and error-free
Did you human edit your content?
It goes without saying that you should always edit and proofread your content before publishing.
But this is even more important if you are using AI tools to generate all or parts of your first draft.
So especially if you are using AI tools, look out for:
7.1 – Hallucinations
Sometimes AI tools, and especially ChatGPT do what in the industry is called “hallucination”. It basically means that it includes completely made up and/or irrelevant information.
Action: Find them and remove them or fix them.
7.2 – Incorrect information
It’s up to you to verify any claims you make.
Action: Find any incorrect information and either remove it, or do your research and fix them.
Action: If your AI tool generates any specific figures, stats, prices, dates, etc. don’t publish them before you verify that they are accurate.
7.3 – Content describing content instead of actual content
Sometimes AI tools create content describing the content that you should publish, instead of actually creating it.
Generally this is your tool recommending you to include testimonials, case studies or call to actions.
Action: Find any such content and remove it.
Then decide if you are actually going to include such content.
7.4 – Typical ChatGPT format/layout footprints such as excessive bullet points, long paragraphs, unnecessary and redundant intros and mid-article summaries.
Action: Break paragraphs, add subheadings, turn lists into paragraphs, remove any unnecessary fluff or filler content.
7.5 – Typical ChatGPT content style footprints.
For some reason ChatGPT loves certain words such as “bliss”, and “allure”. These may vary from niche to niche. Once you produce enough content you’ll start identifying words that sound weird and come up consistently.
Action: Remove them and/or replace them for original words that adapt to the tone of voice you are using in your article.
Another thing it loves to do is to repeat itself.
Action: cut out everything that is not essential and adds value to the content.
Prompts:
Option 1 (if you have existing content with the style you want): I am going to paste an article written in the tone and style that I like. This tone and style carry the personality that I aim to imprint in my articles. I want you to understand this tone and style because in later steps I am going to ask you to write new content applying this same tone and style. Do you understand?
Option 2: I am going to ask you to write and edit content. But first I want you to understand the tone and style that you need to use. My style of writing is (friendly/professional/helpful) . I identify myself with bloggers such as (name), (name) and (name) or influencers such as (name), (name) and (name). I never use words such as (word not to use), (word not to use), or (word not to use). I don’t use passive voice, I don’t use adverbs, and I aim to write for a readability level 7 or 8.
8 – Local Optimization: Tailoring your content for specific geographic locations
Are you using US or UK spelling? Are you optimizing for local?
AI tools regurgitate generic content without personal or local characteristics.
If you are using British spelling you need to include this in your prompts. But ChatGPT sometimes ignores this instruction.
Action: paste your content in Google Docs and use auto correct with English UK as your language.
Are you optimizing for a local query?
Action: Include local contextual information that relates to your topic. Include local terms, language and references that only local people are using. This is something AI tools are not very good at doing.
9 – External and Internal Linking: Building a strong link structure for better SEO
Is your article linking to relevant external links and internal links?
Action: Find relevant pages in your website to link to. Find authoritative external sources to reference your content and link out to them.
10 – SEO Optimization: Title tags, meta descriptions, and other on-page SEO factors
Does your page include an SEO and Usability optimized page title and meta description?
Action: Write a relevant and unique Page Title and Meta Description.
11 – Run the Google helpful content update prompt
ChatGPT is familiar with the Google helpful content update.
So why not ask to review your content against these guidelines and find ways to improve on it?
Prompt:
Analyze this article and judge it based on the Google helpful content update. If it’s not compliant with the guidelines in the Google helpful content update provide specific actions I can take to make it so. Be as specific as possible.
Final Thoughts
The Google Core Match 2024 Update changed the landscape of content creation, particularly concerning the use of AI-generated content.
While it’s easy to misconstrue this update as a crackdown on AI, the reality is that Google continues to prioritize high-quality, original content that provides value to users.
As content creators, it’s crucial to understand that AI can still be a valuable tool when used responsibly and creatively to enhance the user experience.
Focus on content that is not only optimized for search engines but also genuinely helpful and engaging for your audience.
By following the content quality checklist provided your content stands the test of time and continues to perform well in search results.
The ultimate goal of any content, AI-generated or not, should be to serve the needs of your audience.
As long as you keep this principle at the heart of your content creation strategy, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the Google Core Match 2024 Update and beyond.
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