Google have released a revised version of their Search Quality Raters Guidelines, 5 months after their first (official) incarnation.
Importance [rating=5] (Webmasters & SEO Consultants)
Recommended Source: Google Quality Rater Guidelines
Google released the very first "official" Search Quality Raters Guidelines back in November 2015 and they have just updated it again. To find out a little more about the first official release, check out the post we wrote.
It was suggested that Google would continue to update this document periodically, as Mimi Underwood, Senior Programme Manager for Search Growth & Analysis (which is quite the mouthful) stated...
“The guidelines will continue to evolve as search, and how people use it, changes. We won’t be updating the public document with every change, but we will try to publish big changes to the guidelines periodically.”
However, I don't think it was expected to…
It has never been more important for digital specialists to break out of their individual silo and engage key stakeholders across the business operation.
As digital communication channels develop, as search engine algorithms change and as new platforms and trends emerge, many enterprise-level organisations are in a constant race to keep up with the rate of change in digital.
Modern SEO now requires digital specialists to engage stakeholders across an organisation in order to deliver the consistent and effective experience that consumers – and by extension, search engines – are looking for. SEO is not just a single technical function and digital is no longer a single discipline that is removed from the rest of the organisation, it is a critical component that relies on an enormous range of skills and resources.
SEO requires a balanced approach
A lot of SEO specialists, digital marketers and agencies will focus very heavily on the creative side…
Panda Integrated into Googles' Core Ranking Algorithm
Importance [rating=4] (Webmasters & SEO Consultants)
Recommended Source: 7 Steps to Successful SEO Guide.
Update 20th of Jan 2016: Another major set of ranking changes over the weekend (16th-17th of Jan) led some to think Google were updating Penguin, but Google was quick to clarify that it was actually further updates to the core algorithm rather than a Penguin update. It seems mostly likely these ranking fluctuations were just further side effects from Google baking Panda into it's core algorithm the weekend before.
@AdilAdilrehman core algorithm. Not penguin
— Gary Illyes (@methode) January 18, 2016
Over the weekend (8-10 January 2016) there were mutterings of changes to the Google Algorithm, with a new Penguin update being deemed the most likely candidate.
However, earlier this morning (12th January 2016) news started to trickle out, that the speculated Penguin Update was not the…
A must-read for anyone responsible for SEO or Content Marketing
Importance: [rating=5] For all Webmasters, SEO Consultants, Content Producers and Web Designers
Recommended link: Google's new Search Quality Rating Guideline
Yesterday (November 19th 2015), we saw the release of an updated ‘full’ 160(!) page version of the Search Quality Rating Guidelines. Here's a sample:
With the adoption of Mobile Devices influencing the search landscape more and more, Google have decided to update its guidelines for Search Quality Raters.
This is big news since Google used to previously to keep these 'behind closed doors', but occasionally one would escape into the wild and be dissected. Back in 2013 Google published an abridged version as they looked to “provide transparency on how Google works” after previous leaks of the document in 2008, 2011 and 2012, then in 2014. However, as the use of…
8 Things You Need To Know About Search Engine Optimization to Stay Relevant in 2016
SEO is rapidly evolving. The same techniques you used last year are rapidly falling out of favor for more advanced and efficient models of search engine optimization. Google often modifies the techniques it uses to prevent people from exploiting the algorithm. While that’s great for preventing dishonesty and spam, it also means you’ll have to re-learn SEO concepts to adapt with the ever-changing model.
The Importance of Investment Return
Expertly selecting keywords that will help you jump in the rankings is wonderful, but a jump in your page rank doesn’t necessarily mean you’re maximizing your revenue. KISSMetrics, RJMetrics, or similar tools will allow you to track the movement of your customers and determine which search queries are ultimately leading to your financial success. Using this route to maximize the effectiveness of your keywords, rather than where you score…
Comparing the 2014 and 2015 ranking factors research
Searchmetrics, technology provider for enterprise SEO and content marketing analysis, has carved out a global business which answers the key questions asked by SEO professionals and digital marketers.
Following on from their 2014 Search Ranking Factors report, Searchmetrics have released their 2015 ranking factors, highlighting the key considerations to impact a brands search and content marketing strategies. Click here for your copy.
Last year I completed an analysis of the 2014 Searchmetrics findings – assessing some of the key insights and opportunities for brands use as part of their search strategy as well as overall digital vision. Here I will compare changes with 2015. Of course, Moz, also have their own definitive ranking factor review - Dave Chaffey has analysis of their 2015 ranking factors report.
Searchmetrics 2014 summary
From the 2014 Searchmetrics report, there were a number of metrics that supported the opportunity for…
Simon Swan's interview with Nick Eubanks on mastering keyword research
To ensure the success of any digital plan requires putting the right building blocks in place to guarantee you’re developing your strategy from the ground up. In a recent blog article I discussed the importance of ensuring your website has a sound information architecture and introduced you to the tool Screaming Frog. Another key building block is to ensure your strategy is targeting the right keywords and phrases based on your objectives as well as who and what audience you’re looking to target.
Keyword Research is an essential requirement as part of digital strategy and can be applied for a number of different digital tactics such as SEO, PPC, Affiliate or Social media This visual from Moz.com on SEO fundamentals clarifies the level of importance any digital marketer should give to mastering the art of keyword research for SEO.
…
A summary of the 2015 ranking factors analysis
Value: [rating=5]
Recommended link: Moz SEO Ranking factors 2015 edition
SEOs everywhere have now been following the SEOmoz (now Moz) ranking factors for a very long time - I think I start recommending them in training ten years ago in 2005!
Over time, the analysis has become more complex with a move from trusted experts' opinion to additional correlation based analysis. In many ways, I prefer the original breakdown of on and off page factors for its simplicity - as shown below, but there are many more factors to consider now of course.
You can get the full detailed report from the link above. In this summary I highlight the main ranking factors, with a brief analysis of the implications for marketers who aren't full-time SEO.
The Experts' opinions on ranking factors
The best quick summary on ranking factors for non-specialists is, for me, still the Experts' analysis. Here's…
Does branding really matter when it comes to your SEO ranking?
How does brand affect your SEO ranking? This is a question that’s often pondered upon by webmasters. Most fail to make a connection between the two at all. Any webmaster who knows how Google algorithms and indexing work recognizes that there’s no way to measure the popularity of a brand. Yet, there’s constant talk of brand and its relationship to SEO ranking.
Before I start explaining about brand and its relation, let's go through Amit Singhal’s post on building high-quality sites. He mentioned a list of questions that should we keep in mind before creating quality websites. In the below image, most of the questions can be answered in just two points:
1. Brand
2. Expert author
Going through these questions will help you determine whether the site is branded. For instance,…
How can Digital Marketers use SEO ranking factors correlations?
Love them or loathe them, correlation studies seem to be everywhere when discussing 'best practices' in SEO. So we have to ask - 'how can we use them' and 'should we trust them'?
Moz and Searchmetrics are the best known publishers of correlation studies who produce reports from sample sizes in the order of hundreds of thousands of webpages, with the purpose of identifying what’s important and what’s not in the world of search marketing.
So how do you use them to inform your online strategy - do you try to remove yourself from all human emotion and blindly go with these numbers or do you ignore them and trust your gut instincts? Or is there a middle ground? You can see the challenge from this recent Searchmetrics SEO Ranking factors infographic.
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