A plethora of niche websites thrived under Google’s favor in 2022. They ranked well for specific keywords. They enjoyed steady affiliate revenue too. And it is true that these sites adhered to white-hat SEO practices. They had chosen niche topics, targeted relevant keywords and also ensured that the content was original as well as well researched. Moreover, regular publishing and active user engagement boosted their visibility further.

However, there has been a seismic shift after November 2023. Reddit, Quora and other such platforms witnessed significant spikes in organic visibility and traffic. The organic traffic of Reddit skyrocketed by 253.3% and that of Quora by 133.4% between July 2023 and June 2024.

So, why this favoritism to forums? It is to note that Google mainly emphasize on authenticity and trustworthiness. Currently, there has been increase in number of AI-generated content and content scraping. Forums still provide real and user-generated conversations. The platforms facilitate nuanced discussions as well as diverse perspectives.

Reddit, Quora and other such forums have excelled due to stringent user screening, self-moderation and community-driven content curation. The platforms offer a dynamic environment. Users contribute valuable insights and foster an unmatched repository of knowledge.

Content creators and site owners are leveraging these platforms strategically. They are encouraging user engagement and participating in relevant discussions. They argue that authoritative content can enhance visibility and credibility. Embracing such a community-driven nature can help sites in sustained relevance and visibility.

Hence, SEO professionals need to understand and leverage the strengths of user-generated content platforms as these can provide significant benefits. Embracing the platforms aligns with Google’s search preferences and simultaneously enriches user experience. It strengthens digital presence too in today’s competitive online ecosystem.