2.3 Body content, quality & non-commodity ✦HighVerified
Commodity content
Content that just restates what everyone else already says gives Google no reason to prefer it. The page needs something the others do not have.
What it is
Restates common knowledge with no unique angle.
Why it matters
Google explicitly says unique, non-commodity content influences AI-search presence more than any other factor; commodity content gives an AI no reason to cite you.
How to fix it
Add first-hand experience, original data, a distinct POV.
How to find it on your site
- Compare the page against the top results for its query.
- Ask what it adds that they do not.
- Add original data, examples, experience or analysis.
- Cut the parts that merely echo the consensus.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
Commodity content competes on nothing. Distinctive value is what earns ranking and citation.
Impact
High, the single highest-leverage content lever. Direct.
Evidence
Non-commodity content matters more than any other suggestion. Google Search Central, Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search
Sources