Intro
Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, recently acknowledged on X (formerly Twitter) the feedback from the community regarding the March 2024 core update and general concerns about search quality over the past few months. While recognizing areas for improvement, Sullivan noted that changes won't happen overnight.
Key Points from Danny Sullivan’s Comments
- Recognition of Feedback:
- Sullivan has spent considerable time reviewing community feedback and engaging in internal discussions to address these concerns.
- Challenges with Content Recognition:
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Sullivan acknowledged that some "small" or "independent" sites producing high-quality content are not being adequately recognized by Google's systems.
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Conversely, there is also poor-quality content that is getting recognized, as well as excellent content performing well but not often discussed publicly.
- Areas for Improvement:
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Recognizing Great Content: Google aims to better identify and reward high-quality content from smaller or independent creators.
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Guidance and Reporting: Sullivan suggested that Google could improve its guidance and reporting to help creators avoid ineffective strategies and improve their content.
Steps Moving Forward
Sullivan emphasized that these improvements can't be implemented overnight and that his role is primarily advisory. He works with various teams to suggest, encourage, and recommend changes, but the final decisions rest with those teams. He also highlighted the complexity of balancing algorithm changes, which often involve trade-offs.
Sullivan’s Advocacy Role
Despite the challenges, Sullivan is committed to channeling external feedback to the relevant teams and advocating for changes that could benefit the entire ecosystem. This ongoing process includes exploring ideas like an automated action viewer in Google Search Console.
Community Reaction
The community has a mix of reactions, with some appreciating the transparency and others expressing frustration at the pace of change. However, Sullivan remains dedicated to taking feedback seriously and advocating for improvements.
Conclusion
Google acknowledges the feedback regarding search quality and is considering changes to better recognize high-quality content from smaller creators. While these changes will take time and involve careful consideration, Sullivan's commitment to advocacy and continuous improvement highlights Google's ongoing efforts to enhance the search experience. For now, SEO professionals and content creators should continue to focus on producing high-quality content and stay informed about potential updates and improvements from Google.
