Summary
I discovered that the best way to understand how Google works is by running controlled experiments. You can do this by creating test pages with similar characteristics and introducing a new variable to some of them.
Try creating test pages with identical word count and optimization. Then, add a new element to some of these pages, like using NLP-friendly content, and observe the results. I saw better rankings and more traffic when I did this.
I learned a lot by studying Google's guidelines and patents. Digging through them can help you find useful tips for writing better content.
- One important discovery from Google's helpful content update is that writing to a specific word count because you think Google prefers it is not necessary. Google doesn't have a preferred word count.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest starting with some small and simple experiments to understand what works best for your content. Create a few test pages that are very similar, then change one thing on some pages, like using NLP-friendly content. Afterward, check if these pages get more visits or rank better on Google. This is a low-cost way to see what changes can improve your SEO.
A good way of getting more insights is to read Google's guidelines and patents. Though it may seem a bit difficult, these documents often have little tips that can help you write better content. It's like going on a treasure hunt for useful information that boosts your understanding of what content works best.
Also, don’t stress about hitting a certain word count because you think Google prefers it. Write as much as you need to get your point across. Google's updates suggest they care more about quality rather than quantity, so focus on making your content helpful and clear instead of long.
By following these steps, you can improve your SEO knowledge and skills without spending much. These strategies will help you make your business, project, or personal growth journey more successful by maximizing what you have and learning from what you discover.
Full Transcript
the only way to truly know how Google works is to run controlled experiments it works like this you have a set of test pages that solely exist for SEO experiments all these Pages have the same things in common they have the same word length optimization factors Etc then for half of these Pages you introduce a new variable such as writing NLP friendly content in your blog posts then you watch the results did the NLP group gain more traffic and rankings than the control in this case yes more featured Snippets better rankings more traffic next I dig through Google guidelines and patents for answers on how to write content if you know what you're looking for you can find some gems for example in Google's helpful content update release notes they ask are you writing to a particular word count because you've heard or read that Google has a preferred word count no we don't if you like content like this please let me know by optimizing the like button and I'll make more of it for you
