Google update tanks search traffic for some brand publishers

Google’s latest Helpful Content Update is hurting some brand publishers’ performance in search results pages. For some brand publishers, the update is negatively impacting search traffic, particularly for those in health and travel. One brand publishing editor said their company’s content began dropping in search results in August. That’s despite the content being – in the company’s view – highly original and usually based on reporting and expertise.  According to SEO strategist Lily Ray, the most heavily impacted sites are low-quality ones with bad UX, rehashed facts and out of date information. “So far, to me, many of the biggest drops seem warranted, and I think this update was needed. But hopefully Google tweaks things so the legit, undeserving blogs get thei