In May 2020, Google announced updates done to its search engine algorithm. These algorithms are complex which use a specific set of data to retrieve the best possible results for a query. Google keeps changing its search engine algorithms to keep them up-to-date to deliver the most relevant and useful web pages on top of the SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages). These changes mean that for your website to rank on top of the SERP, your SEO needs to be aligned according to Google’s Search Marketing algorithms. In this blog, we will discuss a few ways Google has changed search marketing.
Zero-Click Searches
Thanks to Google’s numerous features such as Snippets, Local Packs, Knowledge Graphs, etc, the user’s query is answered on the SERP itself without the need to go further. This means that people looking for your address, phone number, or other minor information will find it easily on the SERP and hence don’t need to click on any other webpage i.e. zero-click searches. This is not something to fret over; the people looking for your website will still click on your link for further details. You just need to make sure your keywords are relevant enough for them to not get mislead.
Quality Content
The latest Google algorithms require for your content to be 100% original and authentic. This means the already hardcore motto of ‘No Plagiarism’ should be even more practiced when it comes to generating quality content. If your content is found to be plagiarized, your SEO ranking will suffer, i.e. you won’t even get a rank to begin with.
Optimized Mobile Searches
Imagine living in the Covid-19 era but about 20 years ago. Technology was just getting started on convenient gadgets and devices, we wouldn’t have had access to the numerous amount of apps and websites that have allowed us to easily survive during the pandemic. Keeping all this in mind, Google knows the importance your cell phone plays in your life. Hence, its algorithm requires your website to be up-to-date and aligned with the needs of any device and not just computers. If your website is not optimized to work properly in cell phones, you can wave goodbye to your SEO ranking on Google.
Link Building
Previously, pages with high amounts of backlinks were considered worthy of top rankings in Google’s searches. Now with the latest updates, Google requires your backlinks to have high quality. These backlinks are recognized better while low-quality backlinks remain unrecognized hence resulting in lower rankings. Backlinks are important for your SEO as they’re considered to be votes from other websites to prove your content is authentic and your brand worthy of being trusted. And a single high-quality backlink can make your content rank higher in SERPs than hundreds of low-quality backlinks.
Every time you sit back and think you’ve done a good job on SEO, think again. The market needs to keep changing, and with that Google’s algorithms do too. So just be aware of all the changes and updates in order to make the best use of it for your brand.
