Google has posted on Twitter that it released a “broad core algorithm update” this past Monday. Google said it “routinely” does updates “throughout the year” and referenced the communication from the previous core update. Google explained that core search updates happen “several times per year” and that while “some sites may note drops or gains,” there is nothing specific a site can do to tweak its rankings around these updates. In general, Google says to continue to improve your overall site quality, and the next time Google runs these updates, hopefully, your website will be rewarded. Google explained that “pages that were previously under-rewarded” would see a benefit from these core updates. Here is the statement Google previously made about this type of update: Each day, Google usually releases one or more changes designed to improve our results. Some are focused around specific improvements. Some are broad changes. Last week, we released a broad core algorithm update. We do these routinely several times per year. As with any update, some sites may note drops or gains. There’s nothing wrong with pages that may now perform less well. Instead, it’s that changes to our systems are benefiting pages that were previously under-rewarded. There’s no “fix” for pages that may perform less well, other than to remain focused on building great content. Over time, it may be that your content may rise relative to other pages. Here is Google’s confirmation from today about the update on Monday: Each day, Google usually releases one or more changes designed to improve our results. Some are focused around specific improvements. Some are broad changes. Last week, we released a broad core algorithm update. We do these routinely several times per year…. — Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) March 12, 2018 Article from https://searchengineland.com/google-confirms-rolling-out-a-broad-core-search-algorithm-update-earlier-week-296600
Google recently changed the layout of its search engine results pages (SERPs) by removing ads from the right side and adding extra ads at the top and bottom. In a nutshell, Google has increased the number of paid ads showing at the top of certain types of SERPs from three to four. Also, SERPs now feature three ads at the bottom. In total, the number of paid ads on SERPs has been reduced from 11 to 7 ads. Also, the right sidebar no longer features any text ads. Search engine results pages have fewer ads now and those ads appear in different places. According to most search engine experts, Google’s new update was long overdue especially in regards to right-side ads. Numerous studies have indicated that searchers rarely click on right-side ads. There is also evidence indicating that Google has been continuously gravitating toward becoming a more mobile-friendly search engine. Given the fact that the right-side column of ads wasn’t visible via mobile search, the ads had to go. EFFECTS OF GOOGLE’S NEWEST UPDATE ON SERPS With the recent developments, there has been a lot of speculation on how these new SERP ads update will affect SEO and PPC for instance, how do the new changes impact organic ranking? Should website owners change their SEO tactics or is it business as usual? These are some of the questions that have been lingering in the minds of many website owners. Although there appears to be a rushed general consensus that these changes will impact SEO negatively, this is far from the truth. On the contrary, Google’s newest update on SERPs has made good SEO more important which is a good thing for business owners with great SEO strategies. For instance, there is more focus on organic search results with the right-side ads out of the way. Furthermore, the update only affects SERPs with highly commercial queries. A number of keyword types have remained ad-free or feature just one or two ads on top. These keyword types include; e-commerce keywords featuring PLAs (Product Listing Ads) and no-text ads as well as long-tail keyword phrases. Also, SERPs still feature 10 blue links. The addition of paid ads on the body of search engine results pages hasn’t squeezed off organic ranking positions to other pages. Although organic results have been pushed down slightly on SERPs, the total number of results on all SERPs has remained consistent. Although SERP elements such as answer boxes, related questions, blended image search results etc., can make SERPs include fewer results than the standard ten results, the new update hasn’t lowered the number of organic result count. Navigational branded searches have also remained constant. With that said, it is important to recognize the fact that most website owners looking to improve their organic search traffic may not be amused with the addition of ads before organic links. It is, however, important to note that the average searcher scrolls down SERPs. There is, therefore, no reason to think that the new SERP structure will modify searchers behavior negatively (e.g., searchers won’t scroll down as usual because of the ads). Nevertheless, it is important to react to this update with a solid SEO strategy since the new SERP layout is here to stay. With the right-side ads out of the way, the click-through-rate for first-page organic page results is bound to increase as searchers focus their attention on one column. Website owners must, however, modify their SEO efforts to ensure they grab the attention of keen searchers faster and better than their competitors. An increased focus on click-earning page titles and meta descriptions is certainly something you should be considering to capture more clicks from your valuable first-page real estate. Strategic keyword research is also more important now, more than ever. Website owners must do thorough research on their keywords to identify the SERP layout they will be competing within for different keywords. Website owners need to find and place priority on keywords and keyword phrases that attract fewer ads at the top of SERPs and between organic results. This does not mean you shouldn’t have topical pages it simply means you need to understand what you are competing against for your primary terms. Website owners also need to review top keywords (especially ”highly commercial keywords”) to see the effects of the new SERP layout on their ranking position and craft strategies for improving where necessary. This applies mostly to search results targeting images, videos, and featured snippets. There is also a need for a full review on local search strategies not to mention the importance of placing more emphasis on mobile search going forward. Website owners also need to think about balancing their paid search budgets strategically since PPC ad costs may go up as paid ads get some more attention and the answer isn’t always to spend more when you can’t boost performance organically.
Google is taking steps to enhance the mobile browsing experience. The search juggernaut announced that it is now displaying “mobile-friendly” labels in its mobile search results as well as including additional product information in mobile SERPs. “The new labels will show up on websites that meet specific criteria, such as sites that do not use software like Adobe Flash as well as sites that do use text that is readable without requiring users to zoom-in. In addition, mobile-friendly product information will show up when users search for specific items on their smartphones.” This additional data appears on an expandable product card that includes information like product reviews and specifications. (taken from website magazine)
Anita Peters with Peters Realty Professional contacted us to re-design her website and make her a responsive site. Most home buyers these days spend more time on their tablets or smart phones looking up homes for sell and they want to visit a site that will be easy to navigate and find the home of their dreams. Peters Realty Professionals is equipped with the most powerful tools in the real estate market and aims to service both buyers and sellers in each real estate transaction. We totally revamped their SEO to make it better than ever and included Keyword Phrases. If you do not know or understand Keyword Phrases contact us today and we will give you a quote on our SEO services. This site will make it easier for the client to update and maintain on their own if needed. Though we do offer website maintenance services. This site will re-size to smartphones and tablets or large and large monitors/laptops. If you are a Realtor or own a real estate agency and need help in setting up or developing a brand new and improved real estate website then contact us today at (678) 457-7939 or visit our portfolio here to view our online portfolio. We LOVE to hear feedback so be sure to comment below and let us know you stopped by. Thank you for reading and for checking out our work!
The Tyler Law Firm, LLC recently contacted us here at EIS to re-design their website. We first designed their current site back in 2009 so it was time to bring them into the Responsive Website Era. The Tyler Law Firm is one of Gwinnett’s finest DUI Law Firms. I have seen post after post from Lance Tyler announcing win after win for his clients on Facebook. In this particular design I wanted to make it at first glance, noticeable that The Tyler Law Firm, LLC concentrates on DUIs. The large image you will see would actually be a slider on the home page that would slide to the next slide with content pointing the site visitor to a particular page within their website. There will be a DUI Questionnaire for folks to be able to fill out their online form securely online to better prepare the firm of their case. We can also implement a Client testimonial area on the home page to point to all testimonials if needed. Call to action locations on the home page. Social Media link-ups and design and we will be completely re-doing their SEO for their new website. Not that it could get much better than what you see here when you type in DUI Gwinnett https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS451US451&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=dui%20gwinnett . We cannot wait to roll out their newly designed site. Remember if you are an attorney looking for better results with your website or need a law firm website design or attorney website development work then make sure you check out our online portfolio here https://eis2022.wpenginepowered.com/our-work/ or give us a call at (678) 457-7939.
The online world changes daily. What’s needed to find success today is vastly different than it was a year ago, let alone five or ten years ago. Options and challenges now abound and the internet just keeps growing – so to be found isn’t as easy as it once was. Sorry, but it’s the ugly truth. SEO has more options and challenges Google rules the roost when it comes to search, so most focus their efforts on it – and rightly so. Google’s recent and ongoing algorithm updates – intended to fight search spam, content mills, and nefarious black hat SEO techniques – has been brutal. Many sites felt the sting of these updates to some degree – even if they played by the rules. Moreover, while you’re dealing with the effects of Google’s algorithm updates, you have to do it without search term data. Since Google now encrypts all search, keywords are no longer available within Google Analytics. In essence you’re now flying blind when trying to determine what people searched on to find you. Not to mention you also have to include and navigate local search and mobile search and the world of social media as well. Social Media now favors paid promotion Social media allows near real-time communication among family, friends, and folks worldwide. You can quickly check the opinions or reviews of dozens, hundreds, or tens of thousands about anything. You can rant and vent online. You can watch events unfold from personal perspectives unfiltered by mass media. And best of all, it was focused on your interests – your friends, who you followed or liked. It was revolutionary. But shortly after the “big guns” offered their IPOs things started to change. It was inevitable. As venture capital is replaced by investor capital the focus changes from growing subscribers to growing revenue. And so social media has veered towards paid promotion. Algorithms now limit what you see on Facebook and reduce the reach of your posts – even among your friends and family –unless you pay to promote them. And it’s worse for companies and small businesses. Even Twitter now injects sponsored posts into your feed. It’s not going to get better. As each social media company nears or offers an IPO, it will gradually be forced to find a revenue stream – and this generally means advertising. And to pump up ad rates you have to ensure people “need” to advertise to be seen – so attenuating “reach” forces it. Content Marketing is drowning itself Content marketing is basically the term coined to cover any activity that generated “original content” with the purpose to grow your natural search listings or social media reach. Write a blog, create a video, make an infographic, or produce a podcast – it’s all content that’s probably marketing something. Content marketing worked until it didn’t. Well, it still works… it just takes a lot more effort. And the problem is that huge companies have popped up that generate humungous volumes of content – even after Google clamped down on content mills in their last updates. The difference here is that Buzzfeed.com, Mashable.com, Cracked.com, and similar companies all generate content that’s consumed, shared, and that tends to go viral. These companies “each” generate 10, 20, 30 posts per hour, flooding social media with them (via subscriptions and Likes and Shares). This translates into thousands of posts, videos, and/or infographics every single day flooding the world with content. And don’t forget, every other business is also being “advised” to create content too. So how is your business blog that posts once per week (if you’re lucky) suppose to be found and succeed? So what should you do today to compete? First, don’t try to compete with the Buzzfeed.com’s of the world. Focus instead on connecting with and resonating with your customers and prospects. Generate content that is relevant, interesting, and genuinely helpful to them. Don’t play the game of generating lists and aiming for quantity over quality. It’s a vicious downward spiral that generally doesn’t end well. If you’re only able to write a blog post or create a video or podcast once per week or once per month – that’s OK – provided it’s good content. Don’t just create something to get it done – spend the time to create something that your audience will enjoy. Second, if you’re creating content that’s focused on helping your customer or prospect, it should automatically align with what they’re searching for online. Not that this guarantees good natural listings – but it’s a good start. And the longer you continue and the more good quality content you create around related topics and key phrases, the better your results will be. It just might take time. Of course if you need faster results you can certainly invest in SEO services or budget for online ads. Third, as for social…again if your content is interesting, helpful, and focused your audience will likely share it or recommend it. But it also helps to make it easy for them to do so. Add sharing links/buttons to your content. And don’t be ashamed to ask… adding a line such as “if you enjoyed this post share it on Facebook or Twitter” can help. Make sure you’re also active and engaging on social too. Don’t just push out your own content – try to find other “helpful” information and share it too. Your audience will appreciate it and you’ll stay “connected” with them. And be ready to respond to questions or comments on whatever social channels you’re participating. Remember, social is about being social. And yes, if you need faster results and can afford to, you can also explore ads and promoting posts. What you shouldn’t do What you should avoid is the delusional concept that SEO, social media, and content marketing are easy and cheap. That may have been partly true when each was in its infancy and the early adopters found easy success. But things are
