Based on Google’s guide to creating helpful content, People-First Content is an approach to writing online content that focuses on providing readers with a satisfying experience by requiring writers to offer real value from their first-hand knowledge, expertise, and authority. Content created using this approach targets a specific audience and has a clear purpose beyond just ranking in search engines.
The Four Qualities
As a content writer, the people-first approach is one of the core principles that shape the way I work. It’s something I apply to every piece I write.
However, I don’t just create people-first content. I guarantee it is high-quality and truly valuable for the reader. The reader won’t just leave with the knowledge they need to reach their goal. They’ll also save time along the way.
How? I use four quality checks I picked up from Google’s docs and writers I follow on X. They are:
Originality
Isn’t it always the rare and one-of-a-kind things that end up being the most prized and overpriced?
From paintings in the Louvre to limited-edition shoes and cars, that’s how we assign value—and it applies to the content we publish too. That’s why creating original content matters.
Most importantly, originality is what gives people a reason to read what we create.
Think like your audience. They probably already know most of the information you’re sharing. So what can keep them reading? Maybe it’s your perspective, your stories, or your personality. Whatever it is, it comes down to the fresh, original value you bring to the table.
Here are the questions I ask myself to check if my piece is original. If I can say yes to even one of them, I move on to the next checkpoint.
- Does my content offer new ideas or perspectives?
- Am I providing unique insights, not just repetition?
- Have I added personal experiences or examples?
- Have I conducted original research for my content?
- Does my research provide new data or findings?
- Does my content fill an unmet need?
- Am I contributing to a conversation that hasn’t been fully explored?
Clarity
Readers lose interest quickly when they have to struggle through unclear writing. I know I do, and I’m pretty sure everyone else does too. That’s why I always make sure my writing is clear.
Most of the time, I check my post’s clarity only after finishing the first draft. I read it and ask myself this:
“Have I ever had to read a section of an article two or three times to understand it?”
If my answer is yes, I go back and make it better. If no, great! I move on to the next checkpoint.
Note: I only ask myself one question to check for clarity because over time, the main guidelines for clear writing have started to feel more natural to me. I still make mistakes, but I usually catch and fix them as I go.
Here are the key points I try to follow:
- There should be no grammar errors.
- Use language that’s easy to understand.
- Avoid jargon or complicated terms.
- Define unfamiliar terms if there’s a strong need to use them.
- Use active voice as much as possible.
- The sentences should flow smoothly and connect logically from one part to the next.
- Titles and headings should clearly reflect the content that follows.
Effectivity
Effectiveness is important because it shows that the content clearly communicates our ideas and meets its goal—for both the writer and the reader. The goal could be to entertain, inform, educate, or persuade. Without effectiveness, the content is pointless. It wastes the reader’s time and reflects poorly on our brand.
When checking the effectiveness of my content, I ask myself one of these two questions, depending on the type of content I created:
- “As a reader, did I feel the content provided what I needed without losing interest midway through?”
- “As a reader, did I achieve my goal and stay engaged throughout the article?”
Engagement is also an important factor in the effectiveness of content. That’s why I suggested checking for engagement in these questions as well.
The reader needs to stay interested to fully understand what I’m trying to communicate. If they lose focus, they might miss my point. They could skip paragraphs or just scan through. That can cause them to overlook key information.
Compared to other key points, the effectiveness of the content is not easy to measure or check.
You have to put yourself entirely in your readers’ shoes. You need to forget how your content flows, where the important details are, and which part of the article you think has the most impact. You have to approach it like you’re seeing the article for the first time, with no background or context.
Clearly, the best solution is to ask someone to read my content and then tell me what the article is about. If that’s not an option, I ask myself these questions:
- Did I clearly state the main idea, argument, or solution in the article? Proper formatting helps. Providing a summary for readers also makes a difference.
- Next, did I explain it thoroughly? Did I give context and examples? If I had to use jargon, did I link to articles that explain it?
- Then, did I write in a conversational tone? A conversational tone is one of the best ways to keep readers engaged.
- Lastly, does the content achieve its goal or purpose? For example, if the goal is to teach how to write people-first content, I check if there are actionable tips the reader—who’s a learner in this case—can use. If there are, they’re more likely to feel they got what they needed. That usually means the content is effective.
Efficiency
From a value delivery and user experience standpoint, efficiency means how straightforward and quick our content is in helping readers find what they need and understand the message we’re trying to share. When done well, it leaves a strong impression of our brand.
In other words, content efficiency is all about respecting our readers’ time. Everyone’s in a rush these days, right? They want quick answers, so we’ve got to deliver value fast.
When reviewing the efficiency of my posts, I ask myself one question:
“Does my post contain only relevant information that is direct to the point and formatted in a quickly accessible manner?”
I can only answer “yes” if the content helps readers reach their goal without wasting time on irrelevant details or fluff.
Alternatively, I’ll say “yes” only if I can’t find a better way to make the content more concise or improve its structure for easier readability.
Specifically, readers should find it easy to skim and quick to scan — yes, they’re two different things. Skimmable content is about general understanding; scannable content is about targeted retrieval.
- To make the post scannable, readers should quickly find specific information. Bold, italics, bullet points, and other visual cues help them locate it fast.
- To make the post skimmable, aim for readers to grasp the main idea without reading every word. Headings, shorter paragraphs, bullet points, and key takeaways help with this.
The Challenge
The challenge now is finding a balance between these four quality writing principles and other key factors like branding.
Branding plays a big role in keeping the blog alive and thriving over time. For this, I can ask myself: how can I add a unique branded touch to my content without losing its efficiency and clarity?
Another thing I think about is blending these writing principles with creativity and style.
For example, sometimes using figurative language and rhetorical devices can really boost the impact or make the content more persuasive. But I also know these techniques can confuse readers who aren’t familiar with terms like synecdoche or metonymy.
It’s a tricky puzzle, right?
Apparently, one way to solve it is by focusing on the audience. Find a balance that won’t leave them thinking, “What the heck am I reading?”
Consider their age, education, job, and how comfortable they are with the language. If you can, also figure out how they prefer to get information. Are they eager to learn, explore, and connect with you? Or are they just looking for quick, clear facts?
Remember, people first.
Lastly, finding the right balance between people-first content and SEO can be a concern, especially if you want to get the most out of your content creation efforts. See how I address this in my other blog post.
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