If you own a blog or website for your business, church, or ministry, you might have heard of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). In many ways, I describe SEO as the mythical dragon that terrorizes the land. We know something is there because we see the devastation that comes in its wake and see the smoke that comes from the mountain in the distance, but not much can be said about it because no one survives its wake and so no one can describe it.
Google is the beast in this illustration and, a part from vague comments here and there, we can only postulate what has been happening within Google. That being said, 2013 saw some huge changes that every website that wants to be #1 on its search results needs to know about Google Search.
Here are some details from the infographic below that you need to know about. Do note that how to use these findings is still up to you and your webmaster.
- Links are less valuable. People gamed the system by asking others link to their website and therefore being seen by Google as more valuable. Links are only part of the equation and in January 2013, Google Search rocked SEO logic by reducing that impact even more.
- Google Penguin received a version update in May 2013. The algorithm has a huge impact across various aspects of the search engine, but the general function is that it penalizes website that violate Google’s Webmaster Guidelines.
- Hummingbird becomes implemented. This focuses on taking conversational questions and turning them into semantic search. (Think Google Glass/Google Now and how that is going to be huge for Google Search soon.)
[Click for Larger]
While you could look at that infographic and become overwhelmed, the reality is that the focus of being ranked high on social media is more and more becoming a content king and authority in your field.
Do you think 2013 Google algorithm updates were for the better or worse for website and blog owners?
[via e2msolutions.com]
Darryl Schoeman says
At last!!! Search is returning to what it was originally intended; finding authoritative content.
Thanks for the infographic Jeremy.
God bless
D
Jeremy Smith says
Hopefully we can all find our content a little better now!