Search engines have steadily shifted toward rewarding content that demonstrates genuine first-hand experience, not just well-researched information gathered secondhand.
What This Looks Like
- Original photos or screenshots instead of stock imagery
- Specific details only someone who actually did the task would know
- Honest mention of what didn't work, not just what did
Why the Shift Happened
As AI-generated summaries became common, purely informational content lost its edge - genuine experience became the harder-to-replicate differentiator.
Practical Takeaway
Writers who test products, document real processes, or share direct case studies are seeing stronger performance than those summarizing existing sources.