Last updated on October 27th, 2015
When Google implements SERP changes and algorithm updates, they usually don’t like to make a big fuss about it. In fact, 9 out of 10 times there is no notice or announcement whatsoever. So when Google does make announcement, like they did recently, internet marketers tend to pay attention.
In response to some significant fluctuations in rankings starting in early May, Google let the cat out of the bag that “there had been a change to the core algorithm relating to how ‘quality signals’ work when measuring content quality.”
This startling announcement did two things: 1) it confirmed that SERP changes are indeed in motion right now; and 2) it revealed that the update is not Panda algorithm-related as most SEOs thought. So which ‘quality signals’ are being tinkered with in relation to content? There are strong indications that social signals are being turned up as a validation of content quality. On top of recent analytics data supporting this hypothesis, on May 19th Google announced the return of indexed real-time tweets on mobile searches, which will soon be rolled out to desktops as well.
To learn more about what this means for internet search and SEO, check out this article.
Keep reading for more industry news, videos and advice from the last couple weeks:
SEO
- Is branding a Google ranking factor? Technically no, but this issue is more complicated as Rand Fishkin discusses in his most recent Whiteboard Friday.
- Time is valuable. Make sure you aren’t wasting the time of your visitors by addressing your site’s page loading speed using several insightful tools.
Search Engine News
- You may not have even noticed that Google rebranded Webmaster Tools last week, changing its name to Google Search Console – nearly a decade after GWT was launched. Does the new branding suggest further updates ahead? Find out more here…
- Has Google gone overboard with its bias towards its own content? Weigh in after reading this article…
- Bing Ads launched a new feature that helps connect consumers with local businesses. You can see how it works here.
Analytics
- According to a recently published infographic, 80% of retailers are using Google Analytics incorrectly.
- Call me a geek, but I couldn’t help getting excited when I read this article about using one of my favorite SEO tools to improve content targeting: Google Analytics. This step-by-step tutorial shows GA-challenged content managers how to navigate analytics data to evaluate interest in website copy and find out what your users are searching for in order to strategize future topics.
Content Corner
- A little bit of well-placed humor is one of the best ways to make content memorable, but be careful – it’s also a quick way to give site visitors the wrong impression about your company. An SEO joke for you: How many SEOs does it take to change a bulb, lightbulb, lightbulbs, lighting, lights… (badum tish)
- Every writer knows the feeling of sitting in front of that blank Word doc with the blinking cursor mocking you as you think – Okay, I need to write some kick-butt content right now! Well maybe you don’t after all. Articles and blogs are great, but don’t forget about using alternative formats for your content too.
- Landing pages can be conversion magnet or a complete catastrophe. The tricky thing is that oftentimes the difference between these two results may seem minor – a poor headline, a little too much fluff, etc. This short post talks about three mistakes people frequently make with landing pages.
- To link or not to link? That is the question WordStream seeks to help answer in this data-driven article regarding the use of links on landing pages.
- Right now there are more people of all ages online than ever before. Learn how to shape your content for the Baby Boomers, Generation Xers and Millennials alike here.
That concludes another SEO Roundup (yeehaw!). See you in June for another look at the top stories in SEO. In the meantime, please browse our blog and knowledge center for tips, tricks and musing from the search engine optimization experts at SEO Advantage.