Google’s guide to creating helpful, reliable, people-first content covers everything web publishers need to know to satisfy readers looking for information or insights. It’s one of the documents I refer to when writing posts that help future-proof my blog and writing blog posts that balance people-first approach and SEO.
However, it’s too long to use as a daily quality reminder, checklist for new posts, or as a guide during content audits. So, I summarized it into key points that I can quickly check.
This helps me ensure my writing follows people-first content and other principles of good writing, especially for posts intended for my audience and those who need the information it contains.
Based on my understanding, the guide provides two goals for content writers.
- First, build trust so people engage.
- Demonstrate the author’s credibility
- Convey the post’s purpose
- Reveal the content’s integrity
- Second, make quality content so people find value.
- Deliver original value in a clear, effective, and efficient way.
Together, they create a satisfying reading experience which is the guide’s ultimate objective.
Let’s Connect!
Join my newsletter and get my free gift. It’s a powerful Wisdom Sheet for content creation. Inside are valuable lessons from top writers and digital entrepreneurs. You’ll see ideas and practices used by the top 1% of creators. Start using them today to strengthen your mindset and take your work to the next level.
Now, listen to me talk to myself. I’ll go over how I understand the main points of the guide.
1. Credibility
First and foremost, you should write articles and blog posts only on topics where you’re credible.
And if you think you’re qualified, don’t just write the piece as it is. Win the readers’ trust from the start. Share your first-hand experience, authority, or education in a way that feels natural and humble.
Trust is especially important now. People are becoming more and more skeptical of online content because of the exponential rise of misinformation—thanks to generative AI and spammers who abuse it.
As a reader or content consumer myself, I might stop reading right away if it didn’t feel trustworthy!
So always ask yourself before you write anything: Are you credible?
- Experience — Have you had first-hand experience with the topic?
- Education — Do you have formal education or training related to the subject?
- Authority — Have you worked professionally in the field?
- Mastery — How long have you been involved with the topic?
2. Purpose
If possible, mention why you wrote the blog post in the first place. Or at least imply it.
It gives context to the topic which helps people understand it more quickly. This also helps readers see that the article has a purpose beyond selling something or showing ads.
As a reader, I find that really relieving—everything feels like a copy or ad these days!
One way to show why you wrote a post is by including it in the introduction and making it feel relatable and purposeful, like I did here. I shared that I had a problem, figured out a solution, and documented it in this post. That tells readers, especially those facing the same issue, that this post could help them. It gives them a reason to keep going.
Most importantly, sharing the reason behind the post creates a sense of honesty and openness. It feels more like a real conversation, which, in turn, sparks engagement.
3. Integrity
To solidify your audience’s trust in your content, you might want to explain how the blog post came together. You should, especially if your blog post presents new ideas, unconventional solutions, or unorthodox viewpoints.
It matters because it shows transparency and helps readers feel more confident in the content.
If I were in the reader’s position, I’d be more interested in the content if the author explained how it was made. I wouldn’tfeel like I was wasting time on something made up. I could see the results and try it for myself.
So how should you describe how you created the post? Or better yet, how should you highlight the integrity behind it?
- Explain the method you used to get results and how you came up with the solution.
- Mention the tools you used to write the content.
- Share your experience.
- Indicate your references.
4. Quality
Trust needs to be established right at the beginning of the blog post. Once that’s done, it’s time to deliver value.
When we talk about value, a unique answer to a question, a fresh perspective, or an effective solution to a problem play an important role in satisfying our readers.
But that’s not the only way we give them value. Time matters, too. It’s the one thing people spend every day and never get back.
If we can help them early on without making them scroll like they’re on a treasure hunt, if the content is so easy to follow that they don’t have to reread anything to get it, and if we’re clear and straight to the point with no confusion along the way, then we’re saving them time. And that alone is already giving them value.
With all this in mind, real quality content, the kind that benefits readers in multiple ways, comes down to four key traits. It should be clear, effective, efficient, and original.
After you finish your final draft, take a moment to review it. Read through and see if it reflects the four key traits of helpful, reliable, and people-first content.
Notes & Opinion
At first glance, following Google’s guidelines might seem like trying to please the algorithm for traffic. But when we examine what the guide is really aiming for, that’s not the case. In fact, it’s the opposite. These guidelines are designed to put content ahead of the algorithm.
Content built on these principles is exactly what algorithms should prioritize in search results. After all, these are the qualities real people are looking for: helpful, trustworthy, and high-quality content.
Honestly…
I’m grateful to Google for creating a guide that helps writers like me produce better content. The writing principles I’ve learned from it have been genuinely useful even in how I approach content for social media. That said, I’m still critical of Google for its actions against the publishing industry, from burying web content under ads to unfairly using publishers’ work to train its AI. I haven’t forgotten any of it.
Above all, whether you’re following Google’s guidelines or using a different approach to creating content, your top priority should be your audience. SEO still works, without a doubt. Even with the rise of AI, it will likely stay relevant in the years ahead. It just might not be as effective as it once was.
In the long run, your reputation is what will truly matter. So is the connection you build with your readers. Focus on both if you want to keep your online business stable and sustainable.
Technology changes, but the fundamentals stay the same.
Now comes the real challenge—how do we build a strong reputation and lasting connection with our readers?
There are several ways to approach it, but one step I’m taking is building a personal brand. It’s a practical move. Here’s why it’s worth investing in your personal brand.
Love this? Pin it and share it with your friends!
