In my latest newsletter article I wrote in detail about Google’s major algorithm update which happened almost 2 weeks ago.  If you aren’t sure how this impacted your website, you can either request a complimentary Search Engine Visibility Report from us or analyze your site traffic through Google Analytics.  In particular, segment the Organic/Natural Google site visits and then do a two week date range comparison of before February 24th and after.  This will highlight any sudden drops in referring traffic which could likely be a result of a drop in positions and visibility.
 
Many websites saw a significant impact in their positions as a result of this change to the algorithm which determines how sites are listed in the search results for Google.  It is common for these Google updates to get nicknames, so the latest one has been dubbed “Farmers Update” as it seems to target Content Farms in particular.  We have seen some significant fluctuations in ranking toward websites that really should not have been effected.  Google has acknowledged this may be the case and offered to review and reconsider these circumstances.  Reach out to them for consideration, if you feel you were unfairly penalized by this latest Google update.
 
 
This is yet another example of why following Best Practices for SEO is so important to the longevity of your online business.

Slow and steady (and ethical) wins the race for Search Engine Optimization!

Everyone has to use a starting point when looking for information on the internet, that’s why search engines are so powerful. 

Our recent Google webinar had me wondering if search engines have any boundaries. 
Of course they have boundaries you would say.  Did you know mobile search will make up at least 50% of the search engine market within three years?  That means that search engines will not only dominate the desktop, but will be everywhere that you are.  One of the newest types of search features is Google Goggles.  Google Goggles allows mobile phone users to take pictures of books, landmarks, artwork, places and wine and then identify what the picture taken is.  The system identifies the picture and then searches based on what the item is.

Another new technology soon to be released is Speech to Search.  Instead of typing your search queries into a search engine on your mobile phone, you will be able to speak your search and have the search engine recognize your searches via voice. Speech recognition has been available for years, but combining search engines and speech recognition will increase search engines ease of use on mobile devices.  What if search engines knew what you were thinking of searching?  Is this the next phase for search engines?  What if search engines could understand your finger touch and be able to predict what you’re going to do or type next?  These are just a couple of examples of where search engines could go next, so the possibilities are boundless.

I was in a meeting the other day with a company who was looking to retain our services. As we got deeper into the discussion, I learned that they were comparing us to other companies, some domestic and some off-shore. That’s fine and is an every day occurrence within our business.

What I found surprising was that several of the competitors were recommending techniques that we would unequivocally consider to be black hat SEO and making promises that were unrealistic. Their logic apparently was to take illicit measures that they felt would boost a client’s rankings in Google, even at the expense of damaging the credibility of their domain. Personally, I don’t think these businesses did an adequate job of explaining the risks involved, but rather sold the upside potential that these tactics may deliver.

I do not pretend to personally understand Google’s algorithm, but I am confident that the brainpower behind it is sufficient to continue to weed out techniques that are considered non-best practices, even if it doesn’t always happen overnight.

SEO should be an ongoing initiative within your organization. Shortcuts are not the answer. Don’t allow your site’s viability to be jeopardized by tactics that are very likely to backfire in the long run.