Forbes Cuts Freelance Writers Amid Google’s Stricter Spam Regulations

In a significant shift, Forbes has announced that it will cease its collaboration with freelance writers for certain types of articles indefinitely, a move attributed to updated policies from Google concerning spam content. This decision has raised eyebrows in the journalism community, as it could reshape how content is produced for the platform.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Forbes will no longer hire freelancers for its product review section, Forbes Vetted. An editor at Forbes cited Google's "site reputation abuse" policy as a driving factor behind this change. This policy, often referred to as parasite SEO, addresses practices where websites publish large volumes of irrelevant or off-brand content to exploit the ranking power of a more reputable site. Google aims to eliminate such practices that mislead users and clutter search results.

The social media sphere has seen reactions from current and former contributors. Some have raised concerns about the potential impact on the quality of content that readers expect from Forbes. A notable writer, Cassandra Brooklyn, reported receiving this news last week, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding which sections of Forbes might be affected by the cutback in freelance contributions.

While many news organizations, including rivals like The Verge, rely on freelancers for diverse reporting, Forbes has historically engaged a particularly vast contributor network. This includes not just traditional journalists but also marketers and industry leaders who can publish content through the Forbes platform. Despite the valuable contributions of many credible journalists on the site, the abundance of dubious articles under the Forbes banner has increasingly attracted Google's attention.

The timing of this decision aligns with Google's intensified scrutiny of third-party content, as the tech giant tightens its grip on effective SEO practices. Just last November, Google further clarified its stance against parasite SEO, asserting that all content, regardless of the involvement of the originating site, remains inherently third-party and can be exploitative if it seeks to manipulate ranking signals.

Forbes Vetted operates as a revenue-generating entity reliant on affiliate purchases made through links embedded in product reviews. A freelance writer who recently learned about the halt in freelance opportunities disclosed that the editorial process they experienced at Forbes was intensive, involving rigorous product testing, thorough editing, and comprehensive interviews.

With reports indicating that product reviews can command fees as high as $3,000 each, the financial implications of this decision also raise concerns. Industry watchers are now speculating whether the forced replacement of freelance content with in-house articles could lead to diminished quality or a change in the nature of product reviews, as Forbes reallocates resources to align with Google's stricter policies.

Interestingly, while Google's spam regulations specify that the mere presence of freelance content is not inherently problematic, violations occur when such content aims to exploit the site’s ranking capabilities. This nuance will likely fuel ongoing debates over the evolving landscape of digital journalism and the role of freelance writers in reputable publications.

As Forbes navigates these updated guidelines, the question remains: How will these changes reshape their content strategy, and what will this mean for the future of freelance journalism on major news platforms? Stay tuned as we continue to cover this developing story.