2.3 Body content, quality & non-commodity ✦MediumInferred
Very low content-to-boilerplate ratio
If headers, sidebars, footers and ads dominate and the unique main content is a thin strip, the page looks low-value. The main content should be the bulk of the page.
What it is
Mostly nav/ads/footer, little main content.
Why it matters
Main content is what gets assessed and grounded; boilerplate dilutes it.
How to fix it
Increase meaningful main content; reduce chrome.
How to find it on your site
- Look at how much of the page is unique main content versus repeated boilerplate.
- Flag pages where boilerplate dominates.
- Expand the main content or reduce the chrome.
- Ensure the main content is prominent and substantial.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
A low main-content ratio reads as low value to Google. Foregrounding substantial content fixes it.
Impact
Medium. Inferred.
Evidence
Main content quality drives assessment. Google Search Central, Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content; Google Search Central, Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search
Sources