Google recently updated its “Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines,” a thorough 170-page manual designed to aid quality raters in assessing websites with precision. This update coincides with the latest Core and Spam updates from the search engine.
The revised guidelines offer valuable perspectives on Google’s criteria for establishing the trustworthiness of webpages and websites. Although quality raters do not directly impact search rankings, the document elucidates what Google deems important for maintaining a high-quality website.
In the latest update, as noted in the changelog on page 170 of the document, Google has “revised characteristics of untrustworthy pages and included illustrative examples.” This marks the first update to the guidelines since November 2023, emphasising the importance of these updates.
Regarding untrustworthy webpages and websites, the new information is detailed on page 35, Section 4.5, titled “Untrustworthy Webpages or Websites.” Google has broadened the range of characteristics that quality raters should consider when evaluating the trustworthiness of a webpage or website. The document now specifies that a page should be deemed untrustworthy if it contains “multiple or significant factual inaccuracies on an informational page that could lead users to distrust the webpage as a reliable source of information.”
To enhance clarity regarding these updates, Google has integrated illustrative examples into the quality raters’ guide.
Google updated their Search Quality Raters Guidelines document for the first time since November 2023 with:
“Updated characteristics of untrustworthy pages and added illustrative examples”
🤨 Evidence of fraudulent behavior
🤨 Evidence of criminal behaviorBelow are the… pic.twitter.com/4fcGicfsoK
— Carl Hendy (@carlhendy) March 6, 2024
These examples offer practical guidance for discerning untrustworthy pages and websites, helping quality raters to conduct more insightful evaluations.
The significance of trustworthy content is underscored by the updates to the Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines, particularly in light of the internet’s ongoing rapid expansion and evolution. Given the rising tide of misinformation, prioritizing trustworthy and accurate content is paramount for search engines.
For website owners and SEO professionals, it’s important to recognize the implications of Google’s ongoing updates of its algorithms and guidelines. Keeping abreast of these changes and strategies to produce high-quality, trustworthy content aligned with the search engine’s standards is imperative.
By doing so, they can improve their prospects of ranking prominently in search results while furnishing users with the dependable information they desire.
In summary, the updated Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines are an invaluable tool for comprehending Google’s criteria for website quality. As the search environment evolves, remaining informed about these guidelines and changing strategies accordingly will be important for sustained success.
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