2024 Guide to SEO for Gambling Affiliates

by Pavel B. SEO and Marketing expert

In the last year, SEO for gambling affiliates has seen the most changes to Google's algorithm in a decade. This article explains how these changes have affected websites and what you need to do to succeed in the new SEO landscape.

2023 was a year full of changes, with 9 updates to Google's algorithm. These included Core Updates, Helpful Content Updates, Spam Updates, and Product Review Updates. The result was major disruptions in search engine results, with many website owners seeing significant drops in traffic, especially in the latter half of the year.

Understanding the impact of Google's updates is challenging, especially with updates happening close together. Some updates even overlapped in 2023. Now, we've been able to figure out why some sites did poorly while others did well. Gambling affiliates who rely on Google for traffic can use this knowledge to set their goals for 2024.

Here are 6 key points to improve your SEO this year.

Understanding the Helpful Content System

Google has been updating its algorithm to rely less on backlinks and more on content quality. Their new 'helpful content system' aims to reward content that gives visitors a good experience. Content that doesn't meet visitor expectations won't do as well. Google has emphasized that content with "little value or low-added value" will not perform well. The three helpful content updates in August 2022, December 2022, and October 2023 have significantly impacted many sites, resulting in decreased traffic.

What types of content have been affected?

It's hard to pinpoint exactly how updates have affected websites. However, old SEO strategies aren't as effective anymore. For instance, creating massive pages to cover a keyword topic thoroughly or using low-quality backlinks no longer works. Now, the focus is on creating original, well-written, and useful content.

Be Aware of Site Wide Signals

Google's system now looks at all the content on a website. If a site has a lot of low-quality content, it's less likely to rank well. This means you can't just create a few good pages and fill the rest of your site with less content. Google requires high-quality content across your entire site.

Building E.E.A.T. on Your Pages

Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust (E.E.A.T.) are key in assessing how trustworthy your content is. Your content should show your experience in gambling, your expertise through detailed bios and links, and your authority via backlinks from respected sites. Demonstrating trust through high-quality content and credible links is also essential.

Write Unique and Insightful Product Reviews

In 2023, Google updated how it evaluates product reviews. These updates aim to promote sites that offer genuine, useful reviews. As a gambling affiliate, you should provide detailed reviews, use screenshots, and create comparison tables to show a deep understanding of the products.

The Importance of User-Generated Content

Sites like Quora and Reddit have benefited from the latest updates because they feature user-generated content (UGC). While it might be hard for affiliate sites to start forums, encouraging users to leave reviews can also build UGC.

The Importance of Link Building

Despite the shift towards content quality, links remain crucial for SEO success. Building a strong link profile is still necessary for attracting organic traffic from Google.

In conclusion, the changes seen in 2023 will continue into 2024. While links remain vital, the focus on high-quality, original content is more important than ever for SEO success in the gambling affiliate sector.