The long-lasting love story between Google and websites came to an end as Google shifted to UGC or user-generated content. While some websites are still heartbroken after this shift, everyone must learn that change is the only constant in life and that what everyone can do is adapt to the changing times. Let’s learn how you can utilize this change and acquire a thriving outcome from it.
Why Google Prefers User-generated Content More?
Google has started to prefer more User-generated Content than niche website releases. The answer to this has various aspects which will require some introspection in the Google shift. This has completely changed the navigation system of Google in the last 12 months.
1. Historically
If you retrospect you will see websites have been thriving on Google for a long while and for that writers just have to work on some simple steps, which were:
- Choosing a topic that is popular yet not treated well enough
- Picking a keyword that engaged more people
- Research, research, and some more research to form a unique article
- Publish frequently to keep resonating with the audience
Unique topics and popular keywords have been the best combo to win-win over your target audience. But, this has changed as Google prefers more user publications rather than website releases. With this shift platforms like Quora and Reddit have become the leading rank holders for Google.
2. Shift-wise
This surge of public domains started in July 2023 and since then, whenever you search for something platforms like Quora, Reddit, and YouTube will appear on your feed more frequently. According to the data between July 2023 and June 2024, the shift has increased 253.3% for Reddit, and for Quora, it has been a 133.4% increase. Yet, the master of became YouTube with an increase of 450% over an organic keyword. Amazon’s Alexa Answers site witnessed an 813% increase in SEO traffic for their site. This is good for them but what about websites concocting articles and researching various factors to concoct something readable for their audiences?
3. Priorities of Google
As per Google, this shift is solely because of the fact that these platforms have more authenticity and quirk than any other website you might find. The superficiality of many websites has been the reason for their downfall; they surely have given well-researched content but there wasn’t enough personalized nature to it. Now, Google is more up for authentic people and less for simple authoritative answers.
Reasons why Quora & Reddit Thrive on Google NOW
The reason platforms like Quora and Reddit winning over Google is for the following reasons. Everyone loves a bit of personality and eccentricity and these platforms are beaming with these qualities.
- Authenticity
- Engagement
- Google in-house fault
- Quirk and Wit
The time for simple and boring answers is gone, now if you are willing to have a better prospect for your well-researched and well-written content to rank better you will have to work on your authenticity, wit, and engaging writing skills.
How to Adapt the Change?
If you are willing to change this spectrum you need to fasten your seatbelt and ride along with this drifty Google shift. The following parameters are important to make more engaging and rank-worthy content for Google.
- Choose your platform, preferably moderating platforms like LinkedIn to share your content.
- Say not to Spam, Google is showing no tolerance for fake sites, so, be authentic.
- Focus only on your potential audience and work on building a community
It is all about a thriving ecosystem that will allow you to gain a better foothold in this game of Google ranks. To begin with, engage in communications, yes, you have written an article and published it and people have liked it a lot and they have commented on their thoughts. So, what’s next? You need to reply back, communicate, and make sure to acknowledge their perspectives. This is how you build your community, the thriving ecosystem for your content to get better engagements.
Best Practices to Manage Your Forum
This is something that has been described above, yet, to break it down even further, here are some pointers that will be considered as the best practices to engage an audience and gain better ranking.
1. Moderation – you cannot overlook the aspects AI has brought, and using this in moderation can be a great way to begin your journey. Not a complete AI-made content but a publication that has been suggested by AI and altered by your personalized taste and wit.
2. Cater to conversations – if you find a certain comment that engages your thoughts then proceed to answer to that comment and make sure to let them know what’s in your mind. A deep conversation will build your authenticity.
3. Influential Participation – online influencers and officials are everywhere, you just need them to engage in your website. Make sure they are commenting and you are engaging in a discussion with them. This is another great way to build authenticity.
Above all, for all website content creators, don’t lose hope, this might be a phase for Google and with time it will start valuing your publication once again if you work on your authenticity and keep your zest high. Always monitor your success and your releases and always have room for improvements. If you start to regularly work on your metrics then you will start to apprehend your potential audience effectively.
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