Aftermath of Google Helpful Content Update

Hey fellow bloggers! If you’ve recently noticed a significant change in your website’s traffic, you’re not alone. Google rolled out a substantial helpful content update that has affected many niche websites, including some of the big players.

I’ve personally experienced a 50% decline in traffic to my website, which was both shocking and disheartening. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what this Google helpful content update is all about, how it impacted my website, and most importantly, the steps I’m taking to recover.

So if you’re in the same boat, stick around—there’s a lot to unpack.

Google’s Latest SEO Shakeup

Let’s get into the details. The recent shake-up is because of the Google helpful content update rolled out on September 15. Interestingly, it’s expected to take two weeks for the update to fully propagate and show its complete impact.

The September 2023 helpful content update is rolling out with an improved classifier. It will take about two weeks to complete. We'll update our ranking release history page when the rollout is complete: https://t.co/hgjEkfpbA2

— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) September 14, 2023

Just a month before this, in August, Google released another update, commonly known as the Core Update. That update was a boon for many niche sites, including mine, which saw noticeable improvements in rankings and traffic.

However, the Helpful Content Update turned the tables entirely. While the Core Update seemed to favor niche-specific expertise, this new update has made platforms like Reddit and Quora surge in rankings.

My assumption is that Google wants to prioritize results that are most useful to users. According to Google, platforms like Reddit and Quora offer diverse opinions and user-generated insights, which can be valuable to users seeking answers or advice.

The catch? Many of us running niche websites find ourselves being outranked by these platforms, despite offering in-depth, specialized knowledge on the subjects we cover.

My Experience

Before the Helpful Content Update rolled out, my main niche site focusing on programming was doing exceptionally well, especially after the Google Core Update in August. Traffic was at an all-time high and it seemed like the site was finally getting the recognition it deserved.

But then came September 15, and my world turned upside down. My website’s traffic took a nosedive, losing approximately 50% of its previous numbers.

The most frustrating part? StackOverflow started to outrank my site for many of the keywords that I had previously dominated. While I have immense respect for platforms like StackOverflow, it’s sad to see my tutorials take a back seat in Google’s search results.

Like many of you out there, I’m disappointed as hell. All the hard work, research, and hours spent on creating quality content seemed to have been overshadowed overnight.

The Winners and Losers

Let’s talk about the aftermath of this Google update: Who came out on top and who’s licking their wounds? From what I can gather, the majority of us find ourselves in the losers category.

There’s been a sharp outcry from niche site owners and SEO experts, and for good reason. We’ve all invested time, money, and effort into creating specialized content, only to find ourselves bumped down in search rankings.

As for the winners, they’re the ones who’ve managed to maintain stable traffic despite the tumultuous changes. But here’s the thing: I haven’t encountered many niche sites that experienced a significant upward trajectory following this update.

Sure, there must be winners out there, but they seem to be few and far between. Most of the small-scale bloggers and niche site owners appear to be on the losing end, trying to grapple with this new reality.

Many site owners have taken to platforms like Reddit and Twitter to share their frustrations and reports of declining traffic. It’s almost like a support group where everyone is trying to make sense of what just happened and figure out the next steps.

Google's August Update Was Epic! 🎆

Google's September Update Sucks 😢

"It's better to have love and lost than to never have loved at all"

My plan: It remains the same, publish relentlessly, updates come and go – Stay strong, Stay committed, and let's crush! 💪🚀 pic.twitter.com/ir7jyIwfeT

— Dan (Niche Site Builder) (@Niche_Lion) September 20, 2023

My Immediate Response to the Update

When you’re faced with a situation like this, the knee-jerk reaction might be to overhaul everything on your site. But hold on—many SEO experts advise against making drastic changes right away.

The common consensus is to wait until the update fully rolls out, which could take up to two weeks, and then closely assess the impact.

For me, the first measure was almost like a self-care step: I stopped obsessively checking my analytics and Google Search Console. Each glance at the downward-trending graph was a stab to my morale. For the sake of mental health, I decided it was best to step back.

My second move was to revisit and update some of my older content from 2022. The goal was to make these articles more helpful and in line with what Google seems to be prioritizing now. It felt like a productive way to respond to the situation without making drastic changes.

Finally, I didn’t halt my content creation schedule. I continued to publish new articles as if nothing had happened but with a renewed focus on quality and helpfulness. Of course, for a complete assessment and any more extensive changes, I’m waiting until the update is fully rolled out.

What I’ve Learned from the Update

This experience has been a real eye-opener for me, shattering some of my long-held beliefs. I’ve always thought that if you create good, quality content, you’re essentially “Google-proof.” Well, this update proved me wrong. Google’s algorithms can change at the drop of a hat, and even the best of us aren’t immune to these fluctuations.

One major takeaway for me is the need to diversify traffic sources. Relying solely on Google for traffic is akin to putting all your eggs in one basket. Going forward, I’ll be looking to expand my reach through other channels like social media and email marketing. Diversification seems to be the key to weathering future updates with less damage.

Another lesson is the escalating competition in the content landscape. The bar is set high, and it’s continually rising. If you want to secure a spot at the top of search rankings, you need to produce top-notch content. There’s no room for compromise; you have to be the best to compete with the best.

So, there you have it. The Google Helpful Content Update has shaken things up, but it’s also taught us important lessons. We can’t rely solely on Google for traffic, and we have to keep upping our content game to stay competitive.