{"id":2562,"date":"2022-03-07T09:20:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T09:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seopolarity.com\/blog\/?p=2562"},"modified":"2022-03-07T14:33:07","modified_gmt":"2022-03-07T14:33:07","slug":"is-reading-level-a-google-ranking-factor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seopolarity.com\/blog\/is-reading-level-a-google-ranking-factor\/2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Reading Level A Google Ranking Factor?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Reading level is one of the ranking factors that has been plagued by misconceptions from the SEO community (and those outside of it, too).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many tools, such as Yoast’s SEO WordPress plugin, incorporate readability into their grading system:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Addressing these myths is becoming increasingly important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get into the green, how important is it that you edit and write flawlessly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much of this is important to pay attention to when it comes to reading levels?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it true that a higher readability score can help you rank higher?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ll see if readability is a Google ranking factor in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Claim: A Ranking Factor Is Reading Level<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Those new to SEO and writing can become borderline obsessed with using Yoast to improve their readability score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They’re also the ones who don’t notice a shift in rankings overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the truth is that reading level has nothing to do with rankings, and eliminating passive voice won’t get you to the top of Page 1 organically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing your content at a Grade 6 level versus a Grade 11 level will not help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to writing and optimizing content, the most important thing to remember is to understand the meaning behind the words you use and make sure they’re appropriate for your target audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is Proof<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s begin with the most basic question: Is a person’s reading ability a ranking factor?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ability to read is not a ranking factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google’s Senior Webmaster Trends Analyst, John Mueller, confirmed that reading level is not a ranking factor in a Google Webmaster Office Hours on January 23, 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was questioned about readability and how Google evaluates it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mueller responded stating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom an SEO point of view, it\u2019s probably not something that you need to focus on. In the sense that, as far as I know, we don\u2019t have the kind of these basic algorithms that just count words and try to figure out what the reading level is based on these existing algorithms.<\/p>

But it is something that you should figure out for your audience.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

You can watch Mueller\u2019s response below in the Google Webmaster Hangout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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