Google’s Advice for Struggling Sites: Focus on Audience and Content Quality

If your website is struggling to attract organic traffic from Google Search, Google’s Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, has some crucial insights for you. Here are the key takeaways on SEO and creating successful websites.

Table of Contents

Create High-Quality Content:

Sullivan emphasizes the importance of continuously producing high-quality content that resonates with readers. Though familiar, this advice remains central to successful SEO.

Key Points:

Expert Tip: Mike King, CEO of iPullRank, echoes this sentiment: “Making better content and promoting it to audiences that it resonates with will yield the best impact on those measures.”

Diversify Your Traffic Sources:

Relying solely on Google Search for traffic is risky. Sullivan advises promoting your content across multiple channels.

Why Diversify:

Sullivan’s Insight: “Great sites with content that people like receive traffic in many ways. This doesn’t mean social or email mentions will magically improve your Google ranking, but it indicates you’re building a site for people.”

A person typing on a laptop with the word "SEO" on the screen.

Build an Engaged Audience:

Building a dedicated audience that visits your site directly or through email and social media is crucial for long-term success

Sullivan’s Personal Example: “I like to do hikes. I found a great single-person hiking site a few years ago and signed up for the newsletter. Now I’m a regular and connected customer.”

Tips for Building an Audience:

Think Beyond SEO Hacks:

The era of SEO hacks and loopholes is ending. The future of SEO belongs to those who focus on all the critical elements and play the long game.

Tips for Building an Audience:

Sullivan’s Advice: “It’s your job to figure out how to grow an audience. Hoping Google Search will send you traffic or give you visibility is not a strategy.”

Adapt and Evolve:

Websites impacted by recent Google algorithm updates may see relief with future updates. However, Sullivan acknowledges that some issues may be on Google’s end.

Sullivan’s Take: “It might also be that, as I said here, it’s us in some of these cases, not the sites, and that part of us releasing future updates is doing a better job in some of these cases.”

Why We Care: While Google’s advice often boils down to creating helpful content, understanding that it’s your responsibility to assess and improve your content is crucial. Diversifying your traffic sources and building a loyal audience are essential steps to ensure long-term success.

Final Thoughts: Navigating SEO in the evolving digital landscape requires more than just focusing on Google. By producing high-quality content, diversifying your traffic sources, and building a dedicated audience, you can achieve sustained success.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, while creating high-quality content remains a cornerstone of SEO, Google emphasizes the importance of building a well-rounded strategy. Diversifying traffic sources and cultivating a loyal audience are essential for long-term success. By taking a holistic approach that prioritizes users over algorithms, website owners can navigate the ever-changing SEO landscape and achieve sustainable growth.