Keeping Up With Google Updates: How to Prepare Your Site in 2016

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Search engines exercise a great deal of influence on websites and blogs with their online page rankings. A higher search engine ranking works to boost the business brand and presence in the market with more traffic making a beeline to its website. Hence, it is not surprising for website owners and marketers to strive for higher SERP listing of their websites by keeping abreast with search engine algorithms’ updates especially Google’s.

Google’s Update Exercise

Google is constantly making stringent alterations to its indexing and search algorithm over time, according to the emerging technologies which bring on more dynamic Internet tools and solutions. This prompts every website to change in order to stay relevant and competitive in the market as web consumers embrace the new changes, solutions and technologies readily.

New technologies in 2016 bring on new and improved SEO tools and dynamic software that could improve website visibility on the Internet to attract more attention and support. It is necessary for website owners and business marketers to be updated with the changes implemented by Google and other popular search engines.

Google recognizes and acknowledges the dynamism of new technologies which it attempts to adopt as quickly as possible to stay in pole position in the market as an innovative service provider and industry leader. It aims to offer the best of online services and outcomes for web users in a vibrant online search experience. Its search algorithm in the form of a highly complex formula is often updated to ensure a stringent search process that brings about the best results for web users.

Although there are numerous changes to its search algorithm by Google annually, some are minor without a serious effect while certain updates could be disastrous to websites with a poorer ranking. Google search algorithm is constantly manipulated to provide a higher and better online user experience by incorporating the latest innovations in the market and technologies.

Objectives of Updates

Google is always proactive with its search algorithm updates with its famous Panda Update in 2011. The popular search engine adopted the latest digital technologies to tweak its search algorithm to offer reduced page loading time. Hence, website file or plug-in loadings were scaled down in Google’s indexing ranking which prompted website owners and webmasters to reconsider heavy and unnecessary plug-ins included across the website.
Google also worked hard in providing better content which is unique and appreciated by web users in their online searches. The bottom line is to offer some value-added content to web users searching for the best of information.

As Google makes the essential updates on its search algorithm, website owners and webmasters are quick to jump on board. They consider every update undertaken by Google to leverage on it for more sales, business opportunities and wider market presence for their brand and business. This is not a difficult task as Google works with transparency on every change to encourage compliance of its new standards and requirements for high rankings.

Google Algorithm Formulae

The search algorithm of Google comprises a set of rules, conditions and formulae in which the search engine evaluates the validity and importance of a web page content to be given a rank number.

On August 2009, Google updated its search algorithm with Caffeine Preview which was designed to offer faster results. This is caused by the larger index and a faster ranking mechanism. Next, in April 2010, Google Places replaced Google Local Business Center to align name searches of places that are categorized under local listings which benefited local businesses as well as new and small enterprises.

In December 2010, Social Signals algorithm was developed to keep pace with the dynamic presence of social media, which is very influential in impacting the ranking of websites. This algorithm considers social media networks’ information on websites for their ranking position. In February 2011, Google’s Panda and Farmer greatly impacted websites with a penalty imposed on those with repetitive content without substance or value.

April 2012 saw the prominence of Google’s Panda to improve on its search criteria of weeding out poor or repetitive content that disappoints web readers. August 2013 welcomed Hummingbird algorithm which served to enhance the search engine functionality on the latest technologies emerging; namely, mobile and voice web platforms.

Google designed the Hummingbird update algorithm to consider voice technology using questions in search queries. Hence, greater importance was placed on the order of words.

Website Preparation

As website owners and marketers understand the direction which Google is undertaking with its search algorithm updates through time, they must climb on board to adopt these updates to keep their website current and relevant. If they do not, their websites would be considered lagging among competitors’ with lesser web traffic as the search ranking would be much lower.

Hence, it is imperative for website owners and webmasters to update their websites quickly to incorporate the latest Google search algorithm updates that would augur well with the search engine for higher web page ranking.

The growing popularity of Google for web searches compel webmasters and website owners to comply with Google’s search engine algorithm updates. This is part of optimizing the website according to Google’s search criteria. But many factors must be considered in complying with the stringent search criteria in Google’s search algorithm.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Web sites which are found by Google not to comply with its algorithm updates would bear adverse consequences which results in poor webpage rankings. This would lead to lower searches and lesser web traffic as Google’s search algorithm updates are meant to improve the web users’ experience in online searches while preventing the rampant application of improper SEO techniques.

Many of Google search algorithm updates also saw a heavy penalty on websites that offered poor content. Hence, these websites lost their high rankings with many being banned for their indulgence in improper link building and application practices. As Google’s indexing process became more sophisticated, it accommodated an anti-spam feature that blocks websites indulging in spam activities. Such consequences motivated website owners and webmasters to optimize their websites according to Google’s search algorithm updates.

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About the Author: Wilson Cowden

There are many people who get stuck in a rut because of all their cumbersome duties and responsibilities that come attached to owning a franchise, but the experience does not always have to be a dreadful one if creativity enters the picture!

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