[SEO Rewind] Authenticity Rules: Google’s Latest Updates Explained

Plus, what Wirecutter and Reddit get right about content authenticity. [Weekly SEO Rewind with Loren Baker, Search Engine Journal.](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSVs2-ZVTW5BW0B06lZ3lmVF-Pw68FslpPW1zdMY84x1XCVW6dpxGQ35Yy29V-dD0j75jkB6W53JTq832XDprW7kcwdg3VsqFMW2hltcW85YhDKVVjWpx9hQfgBN19N9S65DPNyW3Yg5N692NfH7W3NtBBP6XC6vtN2RLq98XhLy8W2VGKWs8Crhy0V7YSHL3Gsn2sVssX-Z45sFw8W8j6p5p4d1Fy3W1PSmdm8dt7CXW6YGtJ98mvXGRf1lkd5P04) Hi there, This week has been quite eventful in the SEO world, and I had the chance to sit down with [Brent Csutoras](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSWl3hCZPW7lCdLW6lZ3q1W7yYM9N6J_PXSW72M_4884JVhLW3S10pJ6MmpfQN7t8wZ1gmVKzV28_ln6R0JgwW7lvvqm7cgFlXW30hgzW22rr9tW4qghBZ6lWg0JW4NHnv21dmxzqW4xVb3X6_99khN47_5t53zpwMN11NtJMfGvkTW8p-wlz45MqL-W7d37KF8VLFkrW58Rjgw4ppNWRW8kkZcp8N8b2rN757H6YksbkWW2xN5022YD7RNVfv4Q35bjXWPVKBcfD2drXfQW3T2md57N33twW43WhtW2KLRqNW1PJWS877PW4pN4HsJgGhLGd4f1qsMF-04), partner at Search Engine Journal, to dive into recent developments surrounding [Google's November Core Update](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSV85g8s-W50kH_H6lZ3lxVKJP4C1zrkN_VlsJtZ4yThMhW6Mnjds1FqCf2W96PbD746gCHcTlhYL64481xW1zTk__2hssdBW60tShT32K2GpW2DZTDT2JzJV8W624srq6C3TdcW5Hhb6S42PHFnW6rtcVc3C3RSSW48P4YN1DTTTBW7rBMWB3nD4_vW7D1MkY1ltwj5N1Vb6hxxLMXNW3MzQTq7HLnZRW8kSszk1dbbW_W7D5n3s1d2gw4W4d7-w81dszHdN7R-lmyqsl20W1qnQZT68Sw4FW31cpTb7v5fdzN1WxLrmJ4h4sW6c-Zlh7fmCFFW2gl6P16KbH9PN7Ch-CVZNMtdW4m08mS3fKs3KV111X76y2VHMN7NF3LnGrVfHW3jX6GF8PRkwgW5MnNfQ7cNGbCW8P-XCr1r522Gf7-4RpF04) and [site reputation abuse policy updates](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSV85g8s-W50kH_H6lZ3pYW7_v5JC8Gxq5BW7DsMNJ4s36QtW8Nx9JS5vLP_-W6QdTbv8VJV24W9j9ydN7CLw-7W8sr-N24btby3W5tv3dz46Crw3W1njHm15Xg6GTW274D162yW5-qW8jR4ks2Y95gtVwvr_Y83PRVcW8wDZ3Y1SF6WVW1MBmCN1v2dv7W7vgfRm4WkCcNW7J1CwZ5Nmk4MN4YyRn07cbSTW7lDfDt8G89NXN7MJGN0943jnVZpQH511HGWlW8Bzlvg8s-vybW5HMCl75D2typW6fysmj68NyRKW8Vy_rQ159p_9W91wVGC4dM8kyW93vD193NYWRpW48c3Qn530Hm8W4dy3v28ynPG-W8f0bp84g7Cy0W3T6H434xZfNbW8MrXp58VCFdRW6n3DSB5BBy33W3vCh4g663sNtf2w06_b04). [SEO Rewind with Brent Csutoras](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSVs2-ZVTW5BW0B06lZ3l9W27fhp01M514cW6YxtBK8mShYkW6p41wC4cbc4jW8Z2yNC6yXnL1W5D07-z7kVP7VVbQJ5X4g8X-KW3MC7cW3fn71sW1xCvbv5pbsgdW68n-n28B-T1BW7-h4gy1kx633W8LJVXK51CtHLW40KgVh5_pHwgW3YlJ296Cjl72W7rnbFN5Xmg9CW4pVDFC5B50lFW1c5yW16HNFWlW1WfBv1973hzXW77tbXJ4Zr4fqf73d9vj04) Google rolled out its latest core update on Veterans Day—seems like they have a knack for launching updates during holiday weekends, doesn't it? And shortly afterward, they [started a crackdown](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSWF3hCZPW7Y8-PT6lZ3lzV2sbJ84-CGh6N4YP864z7w_9N8j4_GCNtnK1W1KVL4j8Kfr7NW1JRK3c8ZWWlyW6wdhH07Bvr_ZW5tKg1K8M6DBtW5xCs7q99C-BZW7XpW7D1SsfPVN52TRcXDnzNVVX7Z_S4N3TyhW8jNsJ648Td40W2HwQ0b4PqBfCVPJMY46x50z1N4hc3ShxCqkvW8MF8BF55GSKYN53FtPQmGYB8W2cdK7z1bjtF8W4yw_Tw4dKQ-_W2DHssX80mn_cW1jN5mM5plXFwW4-0j0S33GCftW52xBy08YMmmCW86HW4M5bzywzW35nHX049c7FdVC_0gY6kFjn9f8qdRns04) on high-authority sites like Forbes, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. Brent and I discussed how these major publishers are facing significant impacts due to Google's new stance on site reputation abuse. For years, these sites have been hosting sections filled with affiliate-heavy content and listicles designed more to rank in search engines in order to drive clicks to affiliate links and not really bringing a real value to the readers. Brent brought up a good point that it is the first time that Google [made a statement](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSWY3hCZPW8wLKSR6lZ3pcW3jLSPY16MXgVW1gkdwJ5swBsYW1l7b1j4Ds62lVTg5F18mztbzN6Yl4rglwV4rW4G3Pt535z1VyW2WsyMP1FRcz-W2NHjlh8m4zbkVFN3k46tMfY_F2_s6NWhKssW2cbVSp7_D91BW2PpFd969VVGTW1K-YFT39N6M9W4mtx8L8MtHxWW1RkSjh1TgCMCW3j3gzv20LKxlW8Nqdk3826KVGW3JbyzL91tYdYW3vJ14V1m-pRzVl0ktd90X0NLW1r-qV12Jm4MVW66jdTg8PLDtzW4NQM5l4LQMtdW237pjR6rgY8JW5xTq-9526S4FW7NbqNM384hMXVlmwms5kM0fnW1dhs8y1wr7H5f31xCv-04) on this topic stating they will no longer tolerate excuses excuses, which indicates that this behavior may have been overlooked in the past. Brent pointed out that when users visit a major media outlet, they expect high-quality journalism and news content—not a list of the best vacuum cleaners filled with affiliate links. There's a disconnect between user expectations and the content being provided, which likely contributed to Google's decision to enforce these changes, where subsections will no longer benefit from [site-wide signals](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSW24Zwp2W6N1X8z6lZ3l8N7xspjVJ-p_GW7l2bKz2JlKjCW6dgSLy87x8s4W47m1157WNSLCW80c_SQ1v2YcmW48W39h3Jkh3qN8QwlhYYCDP8VGj_0j68Yn6CW1xcgfJ7qXmBsW5K69qT3XBCJwW8pl35B30n-s9W8XMcZk8p-JblW3l7V277KFRckW4yZZzV50xJhxW27Vzrd2yxZ8SW6RQb6d8mR4VBW12CQM18C81y7W7lJSzB7hv8G7W7XLw0X9k8jnpW8QNKpr4v5NY9W7TK97L5qqcX1W4rns_T9klD19W1CjCMn5gbjlxW7FqY5V6DR6ztW4LZ11V62lLf-W8xs6Zb6vDzT3W58FVvb2YG-jsW4ylJ3q7lY8WsW2N2F8S8lBw2_VGr9sV1Q5hBtW1H6Lvm3CSsDtW6chb1s2P55-VW8RtcBH8N1L5WW6zx2xw3v399LW4tDgkD7RpT3dN54-wXLTSBTqW5F7y7d2R54kjW5Ly1q86D9y8-f8hq2yv04) and will be evaluated independently. We also compared these sites to platforms like [Wirecutter](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSWl3hCZPW7lCdLW6lZ3m7W1cSHl-5FL0YXW6RGxYz3_D7NzN2Jv1m8sGr5GW1VXC5T6hPY4jW5k5_Lb3KPxvYW3ZVZHf7nh-dvW1sVRRH4ckzWKW9kTXkh892kT8W8p3LdF5w1ghzW70zNCn4ynW55W59JPJW3BQ71VW18fhN_2X439WW1YXmt63LpVNMW7r7zkX3_d7Y5W672r1J3kp_KpW203MZh87LCV4W71Cb0-2_zpj5W4j364v3ypymtW26BN0z2Jd9sjW7NjMjW6WppLJW8xKZ-21XMFh_W5ggH4p74HvMgW6WF1tq3jm5HCW4X8Z7K6RBLdLf1mqdv-04). Brent noted that Wirecutter, although owned by The New York Times, has consistently focused on thoroughly testing products, making it his go-to resource. Similarly, this is the case for a lot of people as users trust Wirecutter because they know they're getting well-researched, unbiased recommendations. We also discussed how Reddit continues to thrive. What makes Reddit really interesting is the depth of information and the genuine experiences shared by users. The anonymous nature of the platform, combined with passionate and detailed conversations, creates real, unbiased opinions that resonate with both users and search engines. We touched on why Google hasn't tried to replicate Reddit's model. Brent suggested that while Google has attempted community-based platforms in the past, like Google+, they haven't been able to foster the same level of genuine engagement and authenticity that Reddit naturally cultivates. The key takeaway from our discussion is the importance of authenticity and focusing on user-centric content based on expertise and real experience. If your site has sections that are copywritten primarily to drive affiliate revenue without conveying real experience, research and expertise value, it might be time to rethink that strategy. To further explore how you can leverage Reddit for your brand, I highly recommend watching the webinar [‘From Subreddits to Search: Maximizing Your Brand’s Impact on Reddit](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSVM5g8s-W69t95C6lZ3p0N6V40P3mkBlvW1GCQtG2DJR-XW7_08z95_DrQZW3Y-7Zx419Y2SW2wWRWt5h39kSMGK6X1nKwfwW7ZBw5N5L6_5vN5QKBrvSZpGLW16-0gs1wZB_gW3G_dPK19gTgFN15y-9knkPfyW7Mkl7_6m1XM2W1FtmGJ30TgqHN91QtbFQrz0sW7ww_dM9jD9gxW890Lr76tFZZLW7xRqyn19bZTVN7VMp-l-PQtvW5w8dD96V91brW5ptX8G2PDSXQW4gMrNd8kPC7sW2kX6Rx4hPScgW5JSnRX7ByWs_W1thd2m4dR2mbW789bRr96_YXTW95T7qn4rPWWNN542GZ-2_pmwW89Dp0770mh0xW2CVyPB1cYDbWW63SxH36sRy5-W6WJNqg3Gtp4ZW5HC9Dl6Cxm02W5K7X_K7jcYrhW5P2HvR4cMnsVVw4CdZ5JtS61VcvP504GLlcMf9jSDXT04)’. This insightful piece deep dives into strategies for diversifying your online marketing efforts by effectively using Reddit's platform. Thanks for joining us on this week's SEO Rewind. Let's continue to learn and grow together. This content is available exclusively to SEJ’s subscribers. If you found it valuable, feel free to share it with your peers. See you next week, and remember... be kind, please rewind. Loren Baker Founder, Search Engine Journal If it's not for you, you can [unsubscribe from this update](113/d5pl9L04/VWjZX27r8SZKW2G7Wws9fwSq8W3_3yVc5nPrzkN6fpSW22-ZVTW6N1vHY6lZ3nwVftQ4d3D1JWqW4ZQrFs4fthNwW9j6MBj1kFGHsW7drhMk4YRfWGW2wXNrh2WwH0LN2J9X4HK5fh8W2dKyb12Wg8_FW4CDGgh2Tb83qW7_w7hK3_c77rW3p0gSp8JDQJRW2kfgr977sJ4ZW2S-_Z56-tMDXW9fKMgD6dqNr7W8r9s2V9kgZymW6jD3R62LrtSgW5NTKz4868Cr7W7Kj2225z_N2nW6H63bl7dVB-LW7f4JY-9f1RwqW4gtHrx1cMrgxW27r-pQ22sHTDW5RLfLh3L23JVf38PWkv04) and get back to your regularly scheduled SEJ programming. [primary-black-extra_720] You're receiving this email because you are subscribed to our SEJ Today newsletter. Search Engine Journal, 160 W. Camino Real, Unit #606, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, United States [Unsubscribe]( [Manage preferences](