To meet Google’s standards for content that deserves a high rank, contributor Brian Ussery suggests following the rules the search large has set for its internal content creators.
Google has long stressed the importance of “high-quality content” however has provided very little, if any, facilitate for those seeking to make it. Until now.
Last month, Google’s Developer Relations cluster in public revealed 5 totally different guides geared toward serving to its own creators “striving for high-quality documentation.” And “documentation,” once announce on-line, suggests that digital content.
Now available:
Developer Documentation vogue Guide
HTML/CSS vogue Guide
JavaScript vogue Guide
Java vogue Guide
To put this in context, take into account that these documents represent simply a couple of of the numerous guides Google uses internally. the data provided isn’t new, unique, original, or perhaps complete. That said, Google’s Developer Documentation vogue Guides area unit a wonderful resource for anyone fascinated by making the kind of high-quality content that users worth and search engines reward.
Each guide reinforces the thought that high-quality pages — the sort that rank well in search — area unit a mix of high-quality code, content and wife.
Here could be a fast summary of Google’s Developer Documentation vogue Guide tips for content creators:
Use a friendly, informal tone with a transparent purpose — somewhere between the voice you utilize once reprimand your buds which you’d use if you were a golem.
try and sound sort of a knowledgeable friend United Nations agency understands what users need to try and do.
Use customary yankee writing system, grammar, punctuation and capitalization.
Craft clear, concise, short sentences with easy words that users can perceive.
Implement effective and descriptive link text.
Use accessible words and short sentences which will translate well to alternative languages.
take into account numbered lists for sequences of events.
guarantee departing links area unit to sites that area unit “high-quality, reliable and respectable.”
Here could be a fast summary of Google’s Developer Documentation vogue Guide tips for developers/technical creators:
take into account SVG files or optimized .png files with elevation text.
Use tables and/or lists properly. for instance, solely use a table once you have multiple columns of data.
embody <strong> or <b> as acceptable — <b> is for visual stress and <strong> is for things of sturdy importance.
choose HTTPS for embedded resources once potential, particularly pictures, media files, CSS and scripts.
For markup language templates, use HTML5 in UTF-8 while not computer memory unit order marks (BOMs).
take into account three-character positional notation notations rather than six characters for colours, as they’re shorter and additional compendious.
Use markup language for structure and CSS for visual vogue.
Here could be a fast summary of areas Google’s Developer Documentation vogue Guide suggests to avoid:
buzzwords
technical jargon
slang
exclamation points
victimization the word “please” in directions
placeholder phrases like “please note” or “at this time”
beginning sentences an equivalent approach
taking metaphors too so much
victimization “click here” in link anchor text
user-agent detection
CSS “hacks”
inessential ascendent selectors that facilitate improve performance
Of course, these area unit general pointers meant for technical content creators and may be understood therewith reality in mind.
Whatever their original purpose, they supply a window into what factors Google considers essential for high-quality content generally — which means that marketers and content creators ought to realize the following tips extremely valuable once endeavor their own comes.
