The news has been rife lately with stories about “fake” news. Social media sites have definitely gotten on the defensive against “fake news.” So what exactly is it? Fake news doesn’t have an agreed upon definition, but the term largely refers to any online content that deliberately contains inaccuracies or factual errors intended to mislead the reader or the viewer.

Fake news has been a particular menace for social media sites. Facebook and Twitter, especially, have taken rather significant measures to battle fake news. Facebook and Google both are on the warpath to make sure web users have access only to accurate information that would not lead them astray.

How Fake News Is Changing the Face of Content

Facebook announced a while back that the social network would ban “clickbait” headlines that present highly misleading information to get a user to click. Likewise, the company upgraded its algorithm once more this year to weed out content that ensnares users with, well, lies. Google has taken a similar approach as well and has been for some time. The search engine actively blacklists sites that may contain suspicious links that could be considered spam. The Google algorithm is now sophisticated enough to distinguish between well-written content and just plain bad content.

The purpose of all these efforts is to improve user experience and give users access to authentic content. This definitely impacts how marketing content is distributed across the web.

What It Means for Digital Marketing

Global Resources LLC consultants warn that digital marketers should be aware of the changes coming to online content. Unlike before, social media sites and search engines are looking for content that is produced according to higher quality standards. This means that content should be free of errors, well written, and looks and sounds natural.

Digital content producers should, therefore, focus efforts on creating quality content, not more content. Considering how big internet brands are taking a stand against fake news, marketers should focus extra attention on the accuracy of the content produced as well. Be mindful of sources, and make sure not to repeat anything that could hurt your brand online.

The Next Steps Forward for Digital Marketers

Digital content producers should focus efforts on creating varied and long-lasting content. Invest more in few, top notch pieces of content instead of going for loads of cheap ones. Consider producing videos as well as articles. Above all, make sure content is never misleading or poorly written.

A company review could show whether your small business marketing strategy can live up to new unofficial content standards. Visit GR-US.com for more information on how we can help you improve your business.