SEO: Will Google remove my articles from search results?
In a few words
Yes, Google can remove your articles from search results if they don’t comply with its guidelines, particularly in terms of quality, originality and usefulness to the user. Follow Google’s rules and the principles of useful content and E-E-A-T to avoid de-indexation:
- AI is a game-changer and a source of concern.
- Google has had to update itself to favor authentic, quality content.
- Misuse of AI to generate content may result in sanctions.
- Adopting E-E-A-T principles and creating useful content improves visibility.
- You can integrate AI as an assistance tool without sacrificing authenticity.
It gets complicated…
With the advent of AI and Google’s new SEO rules, writing content is becoming complex. I naively believed, like so many others, that AI would make my job easier, but it’s quite the opposite!
I honestly try to offer value to my readers, but I face these challenges: innovating while following Google’s strict rules.
I’m wondering: is my content at risk of being de-indexed? What dangers do I face? How can I stay relevant?
This article addresses these issues. It explores the challenges of AI for editors, in the face of Google rules. How to understand the risks of AI. How to adapt while maintaining quality and authenticity.
The Impact of AI and Google Rules on Content Writing
How do Google’s recent policy updates affect online content writing?
With generative AI, Google has had to adapt accordingly. Editors are faced with new challenges.
Observation: concerns in the face of the AI challenge
The editors are worried. For them, it’s a time of uncertainty and upheaval.
Some sites disappear, while others move up and down the rankings.
Writers are suddenly realizing that their usual methods of content writing and SEO optimization are no longer sufficient. We’re seeing an unprecedented rise in cases of websites being de-indexed for violating Google’s spamming rules. It’s a clear reminder that old tactics can lead to serious consequences.
All this creates an intense dynamic between Google, AI tools and editors. Google is continually adjusting its algorithms to maintain the quality and relevance of its search results; AI tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated; editors, the poor relations in this situation, are looking for themselves and trying out new strategies.
How AI has changed content writing
Editors have been quick to see the extraordinary potential of generative AI to make their work easier. AI promises to find ideas quickly, generate an outline and write articles at lightning speed. However, using AI exclusively for writing has proven to be very limiting.
As a result, ChatGPT has led to an avalanche of articles, to the detriment of quality and originality.
This untimely proliferation raised questions about content value, authenticity and quality. Articles with no real value for readers found themselves on the first page of Google.
As things stand, AI is not capable of writing like a human. It has difficulty “limiting itself” and having its own personality. It needs a lot of training for prompt engineering and fine tuning. Online solutions are springing up, such as Undetectable AI, which has made this a service in its own right: how to hijack AI detectors.
AI writes like a human with all the knowledge in the world, but who doesn’t know who he is or the context in which he’s writing. Humans intuitively contextualize without realizing it: they know who they’re talking to, how to talk to them, what their limits are, how much time they have to pass on information, how important the information is, and so on. He knows when to focus on the essentials and when to talk about the details.
Therefore, before using the AI, he needs to communicate this context to it, which sometimes he doesn’t realize himself.
Faced with this unexpected rise in content considered pollution, Google had to intervene. The platform found itself in a race against time to distinguish and regulate AI-generated content. Whatever one may think of Google, its business model remains to offer informative and relevant search results to its users.
A race against time has begun between Google’s detection of AI-generated content and editors’ use of AI. Editors need to think more deeply about how to integrate AI into their process, without sacrificing the uniqueness and value of their contributions.
What are the new Google rules?
See Google’s article: What web designers need to know about the March 2024 major update and new spam rules.
In March 2024, Google introduced a major update and new rules regarding spam.
Its aim: to significantly improve the quality of search results, reducing the visibility of content created to generate clicks in favor of content that users find useful.
Here’s a detailed look at the key changes and what they mean for web content creators.
Main update
This update is complex. It brings significant changes to Google’s strategies.
To assess the usefulness and reliability of content, Google has introduced a multi-system, multi-signal approach. Unlike previous updates, Google no longer relies on a single signal or system, but combines various indicators and innovative methods. Its implementation, which will take a month to complete, is causing major fluctuations in rankings.
New rules on SPAM
Google has also announced three new SPAM-specific rules to counter harmful practices.
These rules target :
- Misuse of expired domains
Buying and reusing expired domain names to manipulate rankings is now considered an abusive practice. This practice exploits the reputation of an old domain to gain higher rankings with low-quality content. - Large-scale content abuse (this is where AI comes in)
The creation of vast quantities of unoriginal content, designed to manipulate Google search rankings rather than help users, is now penalized. This rule extends the restrictions on automatically generated content to include any low-quality content produced en masse, whether by automated or manual means. - Misuse of a site’s reputation
Publishing content from another authoritative site to manipulate rankings by exploiting its reputation is another sanctioned practice. This can even include advertising content.
Affected sites are detected automatically, but are de-indexed by manual action on the part of Google employees. Spammers are notified on their Search Console account, where they can request a review.
For content creators, this means an increased need to prioritize originality, relevance and added value in their work.
For content creators: Challenges or opportunities?
Useful content and E-E-A-T
To respond effectively to Google’s requirements and avoid being identified as SPAM, you need to understand these 2 concepts that summarize Google’s recommendations:
Helpful Content
Creating “useful content”, according to Google, means focusing on content that responds directly to users’ needs and questions. The aim is to provide users with valuable information, answers to their questions, or solutions to their problems in a clear and accessible way.
Content is considered useful when it enriches the user experience, offers a unique perspective, or helps the user better understand a subject. It should be designed for humans, with an emphasis on relevance, usefulness and engagement, rather than on manipulating search engine rankings.
In the end, whether the content is generated by AI or a human is not the most important thing. As long as it helps readers answer their questions, Google is happy.
E-E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness, and Experience)
Google uses the E-E-A-T criteria to evaluate the quality of content on the Internet.
These criteria are :
- Expertise: The author’s level of specialized knowledge on the subject.
- Authoritativeness: The author’s and website’s credibility on the subject, based on their reputation in their field.
- Trustworthiness: The reliability of the information presented and the security of the site.
- Experience: The ability of content to demonstrate practical or lived knowledge, offering an enriched perspective based on personal or professional experiences.
Integrating the concept of useful content with the principles of E-E-A-T therefore means creating content that meets precise standards, while being directly useful, engaging and enriching for the user: that’s reasonable.
This implies a holistic – and let’s say, human – approach to content creation that values quality and relevance, while ensuring that each piece of content serves the needs of the target audience.
What does Google penalize?
Google is stepping up its anti-spam policy, specifically targeting :
- Misuse of AI and automation: For mass content creation, without adding value.
- Irrelevant links via authority sites: Use their reputation to artificially improve rankings.
- False information and fictitious authors: Sanctioning content that falsely claims to be an expert.
- Buying expired domains: Exploiting pre-existing authority for low-quality content.
- Plus well-known practices such as duplicate content, cloaking, carrier pages, hidden content and link spam.
What opportunities are there for copywriters?
Recommendations for useful content and the E-E-A-T principles are not only challenges to be met, they are also important opportunities for content creators.
Here’s how these opportunities can be exploited:
Promoting quality content
Google’s guidelines provide a valuable framework for content creation.
By doing your job authentically and focusing on quality, sites that use manipulative techniques will be weakened.
By aligning your content with the principles of E-E-A-T and the creation of useful content, you not only improve your users’ experience, but also strengthen your credibility. This, in turn, will build loyalty among your audience and enhance your reputation.
Optimization for better visibility
Using these principles allows you to optimize your SEO strategically.
You’ll be able to improve your page’s ranking in search results. This translates into greater visibility and user engagement. You’ll also increase organic traffic to your site.
Using AI: finding a new way of working
The use of artificial intelligence in content creation shouldn’t be ruled out – on the contrary!
But it requires a strategic approach.
As editors, we’re still in a learning phase. It will take time for us to fully master AI’s capabilities and determine the most effective techniques for integrating it into our processes. But in the end, we’ll make the most of it.
Adhering to the principles of useful content and E-E-A-T does not preclude the use of artificial intelligence.
And the opportunity is there: in an environment in crisis, those who succeed in combining Google’s guidelines and AI will be the ones to stand out. They will simply understand the importance of prioritizing content quality over simple mass production. Quality over quantity.
How I use AI
I’ve changed the way I work with AI and ChatGPT in particular. Finally, by seeing it as an assistant, to whom I have to explain everything precisely, and not as a writer who does the work for me, I’ve been able to develop a method that works for me.
Discover my writing process using ChatGPT >
What does the future hold for content creation and AI?
As AI becomes more sophisticated, capable of generating human text, one might wonder how far this technology will influence traditional copywriting. Copywriters will have to juggle more between originality and the use of AI to stay competitive.
For Google and its search engine, continuous adaptation to the advances of AI is a major challenge. Google is obliged to improve its algorithms to maintain the quality and relevance of its search results. It’s a race that could lead search engines to develop new criteria.
Google remains dependent on the editors. His bet is that they will continue to do their job so that advertisers will trust them and trust Google.
For me, the future is still uncertain, but Google has taken the right step. Even so.
Conclusion
Adopting AI, while adhering to Google’s strict guidelines, requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. Recent updates show that Google prioritizes quality and authenticity. It punishes abusive practices while opening up new opportunities for those willing to adapt.
Personally, and contrary to my expectations, I’ve learned that AI doesn’t necessarily simplify content creation.
I had to adapt.
Frequently asked questions
Will AI get me de-indexed by Google?
Yes, if the content generated violates Google’s guidelines, particularly in terms of quality and originality. It’s crucial to use AI in a way that complements an editorial approach focused on user value, in line with the principles of useful content and E-E-A-T.
Is the use of AI in copywriting against Google’s rules?
No, as long as the content is authentic, brings value to readers and meets Google’s guidelines for quality and originality. AI should be used as an assistive tool rather than a complete replacement for human effort.
Can AI save me time writing content?
Yes, AI can help brainstorm ideas, generate plans and deliver draft content. However, revision and personalization are necessary to ensure quality and originality.
What are the risks of using expired domains to improve my SEO?
Google penalizes the misuse of expired domains to manipulate rankings. This can lead to de-indexation or reduced visibility of your site in search results.
How do you stay relevant in a landscape where AI is omnipresent?
By focusing your efforts on creating content that responds directly to user needs, respecting the principles of useful content and E-E-A-T, and using AI strategically to complement your own expertise and creativity.
How can I use AI without breaking Google’s rules?
Using AI as a tool to assist with idea generation or plan development, while ensuring that the final content is polished, personalized and adds real value. Following useful content guidelines and E-E-A-T criteria is essential.