Use LongShot's Helpful Content Checklist to Create People-First Content for your Readers

Worried about the Google slap? Or if Google will penalize your AI-generated content.

Well, you don't have to be. There's no rocket science here.

With so much AI content online, Google has taken little time to tighten its grip, and for good measure. But the real problem is not AI content.

Google's main problem is that people create content for search engines rather than its users.

What Google wants is for users to create people-first content which delights readers. And it'll reward you by ranking your content high on the search engine.

Their update aims to reduce low-quality content and make it easier to find content that feels authentic and useful in the search rather than the ones created for ranking well in search engines instead of helping or informing people.

And that's where LongShot's Helpful Content Checklist arrives as your knight in shining armor.

If you follow the 21-point checklist, no matter the AI content, you'll be in the clear.

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HELPFUL CONTENT CHECKLIST

Follow this 21-point checklist to create user-focused content

1

Create Comprehensive Content

In-depth topic-based solutions are the key to creating comprehensive content. 

By providing everything readers need to know on a topic, you ensure they won't need to go to other sites for more information. A one-stop shop, if you will.

Hint: Using LongShot's Semantic SEO feature, you can analyze and answer the top user queries for a topic.

Helpful content - Create Comprehensive Content
2

Use Visuals to Diversify your Content

Imagine eating your favorite dish every day for the next week. Sounds awesome, right? Can bet you won't feel the same a week later...

Content is no different. Visuals are like spices that add taste and color to your blog. You've got screenshots, photos, infographics, charts, videos, memes, GIFs, etc.

Visuals break up the text and make it more appealing. It evokes certain emotions in your readers, making your content more memorable.

There are many cuisines to choose from, so why eat just one?

Generating Helpful content checklist - Use Visuals to Diversify your Content
3

Optimize Content for Humans Before Search Engines

Content optimized for humans will naturally rank higher in search engines. 

If humans love your content, search engines will follow.
But for that to happen, your content needs to be searchable. And that's why SEO becomes important for searchability. 

If your content is the best and nobody can see it, is it really the best?

Hint: Using LongShot's Semrush integration for SEO, you can research and analyze top keywords that satisfy your user's intentions. 

How to create Helpful content - Optimize Content for Humans Before Search Engines
4

Ensure Error-Free Content

The presence of too many grammatical errors can turn off some readers.

Errors of this nature can lead to confusion, leaving users frustrated and unable to continue.

There's a reason there are dedicated tools and even roles to ensure content is error-free.

This is why delivering error-free content is excellent for user experience since they are more likely to engage with error-free content.

Helpful content - Ensure Error-Free Content
5

Check Content for Readability

The thing that separates the good from the best is all in the presentation. As such, you must make your writing easy to read and understand. That's why understanding content readability is so important. 

Readers are likelier to stick with your content if it's easy on the eyes.

By using proper formatting for readability, you can make content skimmable. This also means removing jargon, making sentences & paragraphs shorter, and introducing header tags, lists, and visuals.

Hint: If you're using LongShot, aim for a Readability (Flesch-Kincaid) score of more than 60.

Helpful content - Check Content for Readability
6

Identify a Niche and Create Personalized Content 

This is the age of personalization. 

You win by creating content that speaks to your audience and continues the conversation happening inside their head. 

By creating personalized content, you can establish a connection with your audience and build trust. 

Hint: Using LongShot's Niches, you can choose from 15 unique niches to generate personalized content for your audience. 

Helpful content - Identify a Niche and Create Personalized Content 
7

Check Factual Accuracy of the Content

We've all heard the story of the boy who cried wolf. We all know what happens in the end...

Trust, Credibility, and Authoritativeness; what takes you years to build can disappear in a day.

There is a lot of misinformation, and it's easy to believe something that isn't true. For this reason, you must always verify the content's factual accuracy before publishing it. 

Hint: Using LongShot's Fact Checker, you can check the factual accuracy of your content.

Helpful content - Check Factual Accuracy of the Content
8

Create Original Content

Due to the abundance of information available, creating original content is important to avoid plagiarism.

When you create original content, you can be sure that you're not violating anyone's copyright and not plagiarizing someone else's work.

Original content helps build a style that distinguishes one writer from another. After all, it's not always about writing different things but writing them differently. 

And once the readers identify that, the only way is up.

Hint: Using LongShot's Plagiarism checker, you can ensure that your content is 100% original.

Helpful content - Create Original Content
9

Recycle Old Content

Content has a shelf life of a banana. 

With things changing every other week, the only way forward is to redefine your content regularly, adding patches to keep things relevant. You can include new takeaways and add new sections to your blog to update the content.  

Updating your old content can help improve your SEO, attract new readers and keep your existing readers coming back for more. 

You can show your readers that you are an authority on your topic and always provide fresh, relevant information.

Hint: Though you can use almost every other LongShot feature, LongShot's Chrome plugin Joom-In feature is perfect for updating older content pieces.

Helpful content - Recycle Old Content
10

Add Authoritative Links to your Content

Linking to authoritative or credible resources enhances user experience. It adds context and relevance to your content.

Adding internal links makes things easier for users and guides their journey. Your readers will want to read more of your content if they enjoy it. It's a win-win-win scenario for you, the reader, and the search engine.

Hint: Using LongShot's Facts generator, you can easily add relevant facts about your topic from top SERP results.

Helpful Content Checklist- Add Authoritative Links to your Content
11

Capitalize on Engaging Content with Experiences, Studies, Stats, etc.

Ever wondered why everyone loves stories?

For starters, they are personal, relatable, and add a lot of value.

You can tap into your audience's emotions and get them to connect with your brand.

Engage readers with interactive experiences, studies, and other data-driven research. Furthermore, it establishes authority and trust.

Helpful content checklist - Capitalize on Engaging Content with Experiences, Studies, Stats
12

Share Actionable Tips in your Content

If you solve your reader's problems, they'll help solve yours.

If you want people to read your content, include actionable tips they can use. Your readers will appreciate your value, whether it's helpful advice on overcoming specific challenges or simply tips for living a better life.

Ensure your tips are concise, easy to follow, and backed up by real-world examples.

Your readers can put what they read into practice and see results. They'll likely come back for more when they see that your advice works and are more likely to share it with others.

Helpful content - Share Actionable Tips in your Content
13

Use Content Templates

Content templates provide a well-organized structure and relevant content to your audience. 

This makes it easier for your users to find the information they need and help you create more engaging content.

And don't forget the time and effort you'll save while creating content from scratch. 

Having a pre-defined structure for your content ensures that all vital information is included and easy to find. And as for the reader, it makes things predictable for them in a good way.

Hint: Use LongShot's content recipes to create high-quality content that your readers love in a jiffy.

Helpful content - Use Content Templates
14

Share Useful Resources

An essential aspect of a helpful content piece is allowing users to take away important stuff.

This could include links to helpful websites, downloadable guides or templates, or even tips and tricks you've learned in the post, just like Hubspot.

Making your content truly helpful will encourage people to keep coming back for more.

Helpful content - Share Useful Resources
15

Create Focussed Content

Creating content with a clear idea from top to bottom makes for a very valuable read.

It all comes down to understanding the user's intention. Why do they search for the things they are searching for? What's their ultimate motive behind this?

When you understand that, you can continue the conversation inside their heads, enabling you to write a compelling headline, introduction, body, and conclusion.

Helpful content - Create Focussed Content
16

Add FAQs to your Content

FAQs allow your readers to see what others are asking about and address common questions and concerns. By doing this, you build trust and credibility with your audience.

Answering these frequently asked questions on your topic adds depth to the content. It directly answers the specific questions a user might have on a topic.

Making your content more user-friendly and helpful can ultimately lead to more satisfied readers.

Hint: Using LongShot's FAQ generator, you can quickly generate and answer frequently asked questions about a topic.

Helpful content checklist - Add FAQs in your Content
17

Ensure Fewer Distractions on your Blog Page

Focus is one of a person's most valuable assets.

Imagine seeing a headline that greatly interests you, but then you see a banner ad, and you're distracted. Or you start reading the post, but then you see a pop-up, and you click away.

There are too many sidebars, ads, and links to focus on the content.

It feels like a classic case of a squirrel and a dog, doesn't it?

Keeping your blog page distraction-free is undoubtedly a good idea. You can make your blog page less cluttered by not posting too many ads, links, or subscription requests.

Helpful Content - Ensure Fewer Distractions on your Blog Page
18

Mobile-Friendly Content FTW!

Blogs are generally about imitating your readers, like using the same platforms, doing similar stuff, etc.

With more people searching the web on their mobile devices, you must optimize your blogs for them. You could lose out on a lot of potential traffic if your website is not mobile-friendly.

A website that is not mobile-friendly will make it difficult for users to read the content. Sometimes, the text may be too small, the layout may be incorrect, and the user may need to scroll horizontally to read it. It may result in a poor user experience, and the user may leave.

Mobile-friendly or responsive content can be viewed and navigated easily on smaller screens. Oh, and Search engines love it!

Helpful content checklist - Mobile-Friendly Content
19

Make your Blog Easily Accessible

Upon entering your blog, the reader should be able to access other content pieces.

If you've written a valuable piece of content, the user would probably want to explore your other blogs. This is why you must provide breadcrumbs on your website to allow users to access other blogs.

You can also use breadcrumbs to navigate around a website and see the hierarchy of its structure.

Helpful content checklist - Make your Blog Easily Accessible
20

Fast Page Load Speed, Please!

How fast? Imagine fast and then make it faster.

Wait, how is that relevant to Helpful content?

Well, the page load speed directly affects the user experience.

Even if your content is the best online, the user will leave if it doesn't load in time.

Where's the patience, eh? Where's the speed, eh?

Parameters for Helpful content - Fast Page Load Speed
21

A Single Theme for a Single Audience Segment

If you're a fan of Tolkein, you know the significance of the phrase, 'One ring to rule them all.'

But that's not the case in blogging.

If you focus on writing for all, you'll write for none.

Your blog should focus on a single topic and cater to just one market segment. This allows you to zero in on the interests of your target readers and produce content that appeals to them.

Doing so will build a loyal following of readers who keep coming back for more of your expert insights and advice.

A Single Theme for a Single Audience Segment

TL;DR

Check out the views of 4 Professionals from 4 different Continents
on Google's Helpful Content update in August '22

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