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Google’s Closed-Door Sessions: Are They Finally Listening To Creators?
Google is expanding its efforts to engage with content creators through a series of closed-door meetings, according to recent statements from the company’s Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan. This initiative comes after the September 2023 helpful content update, which significantly impacted many websites, including Retro Dodo, founded by Brandon Saltalamacchia.
Sullivan reveals that Google has already conducted two “creator-type meetings” this year and is organizing a third. These sessions are in addition to the company’s traditional SEO-focused events, such as Search Central Live, which also see creator attendance.
Saltalamacchia, who recently participated in one of these meetings, shared his experience in a post titled “A Brief Meeting With Google After The Apocalypse.” While the encounter was enjoyable, he notes that it did not provide actionable insights for recovery from the update’s impact.
The meetings appear part of Google’s strategy to demonstrate its commitment to taking feedback on updates seriously. However, many sites affected by the September 2023 update, including Retro Dodo, have yet to see a recovery in their search rankings.
Google continues to host Search Central Live events globally, which serve as another platform for interaction between the company and content creators.