Starting next week, Google is promising to show English users around the world more helpful and original content on that first page of search results.
Google regularly tweaks its search experience in an attempt to improve the results we see, even going so far as to rely on AI. Back in March, Google made product reviews more useful(Opens in a new window), but now the attention is turning to how helpful and relevant the search results are, with a renewed focus placed on "original, quality content."
Although we don't know specifically which day next week, Google's search results are set to change. A "series of improvements" will be launched that prioritizes content "made by, and for, people." The question is, will we notice?
This seems to be Google's way of saying aggregation websites have been placed on notice. The example given in a blog post(Opens in a new window) by Danny Sullivan, Google's Public Liaison for Search, is that of a search for information on a new movie. Sullivan explains how search results previously would bring up aggregated reviews from other sites which contain no original content, and therefore aren't very helpful. This is apparently changing next week, with Sullivan explaining, "With this update, you’ll see more results with unique, authentic information, so you’re more likely to read something you haven't seen before."
The changes to Google Search results are expected to have the biggest impact on online education, the arts, entertainment, shopping, and tech-related content. A further update is planned in the next few weeks, which is expected to further refine the product review results we see.
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