Tag Archives: google search
Has your SEO approach evolved?
With the ever-changing algorithms from Google, advising clients on strategies to keep their websites near the top of Google search results often requires alerting them first about what will no longer work even before designing a plan built around what now get results.
Over the past decade or more, stuffing websites with keywords and keyword based links seemed to impress Google and other search engines; these days, offering your website visitors real information in a straightforward format is the key to ranking higher in the search engines. Unfortunately, many website owners are still locked into those same old SEO strategies which will no longer get the results many owners grew accustomed to.
Google, after all, continually evolves, along with the Internet it is central in creating.
As ever more business websites adapted a conventional strategy of keyword repetition and endless backlinks to win respect from search engines – the experts at Google decided it was time to further tweak their algorithm so as to level the playing field. Why, after all, should artful keyword positioning win out over content? And while only a handful of higher-ups at Google will ever know precisely what the algorithm of the hour truly values, a few things seem apparent to those of us keeping track of what works and what doesn’t
You’ll want an SEO professional to advise you as you adjust your business website over to the new reality, of course. But since the 2011 algorithm changes at Google, what’s essentially needed these days to remain highly placed in the search results for keywords – is website content which answers questions and does so in a straightforward website format.
Beyond that, an in-depth knowledge of the world of social media websites and how best to use them are likewise key. Again, the help of an expert is invaluable.
Finally, now is also the time to revisit those marketing basics. Redouble your efforts at getting your product or service noticed and keeping clients happy. And keep in regular touch with them. All this won’t be easy but will be necessary if you wish to compete in a marketplace which offers fewer ready shortcuts.
To find out how CMYKreative can help assist you with your Search EngineOptimisation efforts, please visit our site and drop us a line. We look forward to helping you soon and moving your site up the rankings.
August Activity: Google Algorithm Changes and SERP Updates
August seems to be the month for shaking things up when it comes to Google search engine rankings. We have come to terms with the often chaotic realities of the Internet Marketing game and assume a comfortable position on the tips of our toes. On any given day weve got our helmets strapped on tight and eagerly await any curveballs that may come our way.
Thus far weve seen new adjustments happening on a daily basis. While there have been rumors spreading like wildfire, we received confirmation of change straight from the source earlier this month.
Google announced a new signal of ranking within their search algorithm in the hopes to “deliver legitimate, quality sources of content more easily.” Depending on the nature of your website and your SEO efforts thus far, these changes could be very beneficial. More often than not, they will have the opposite effect.
These updates are aimed to discourage copyright infringements and will target websites with a high number of valid removal notices. Google will utilize Digital Millennium Copyright Act “takedown” requests to determine the websites that have been repeatedly reported for such violations. When these piracy penalties were released the first site that came to many peoples minds was YouTube, which is the target of many DMCA requests. Those of you addicted to videos of cats or babies laughing have no fear! Google has explained YouTube will not be penalized based on these updates:
“Requests for products other than Google Search (e.g, requests directed at YouTube or Blogger) are not included.”
Now that you can sleep easy knowing that your favorite 90s music video compilations are safe, lets move on to another Awesome August Alteration! See what I did there? Who doesnt love a good alliteration every once and awhile?
News is circulating that Google has been testing a transition away from their traditional 10 listing display. Rather than displaying 10 results per search query, in some cases only 7 are being shown. For example, take a look at my search for “Overstock” earlier today (I like bargain shopping)
Dr. Peter Meyers at SEOmoz explains that while SERPS with less than 10 results arent necessarily a new thing, they have never been as frequent as the increase weve seen in August. Historic frequency ranges between 1-4% whereas now, about 20% of the search engine results pages on Google are showing only 7 listings.
While 20% may seem high, in retrospect its a very small portion of SERPs. Meyers continues on to describe the correlation between this “shrinkage” and the presence of “sitelinks” within listings. Essentially, 7 packs will be displayed if the word used in your search query matches your domain and displays sitelinks.
So, what does this mean for you and your website search engine ranking? The most obvious of challenges comes with the decrease in ranking opportunity. Keywords should be analyzed and adjusted accordingly to give your website the best chance of ranking during this turbulent time. Simply being aware of these changes is the first step in overcoming them. Check back for the play-by-play and rain delays. LocalResults will be keeping our ears close to the ground and our eyes peeled for fly balls!