Lets check out how to Prepare for Google's 2014 Algorithm Updates. Here are some tips for companies and SEO professionals that are thinking ahead to 2014 for their digital strategies, including a look at the future of content marketing, social media, Google+, mobile SEO, guest blogging, and many more.
It has been an incredibly eventful year in terms of updates from Google. Major 2013 changes included further releases of Penguin and Panda, Hummingbird taking flight, and the shift away from providing keyword data thanks to encrypted search.
Everything You Learned in 2013 is Still applicable, Just Amplified
When you gaze closely at the targets of the 2013 revisions (ie, websites that deceive their way to the top of the rankings or provide no worth to visitors), I foresee glimpsing these conveyed forward all through 2014. We can continue to anticipate micro adjustments to Panda and Penguin that continue to goal both link value and content value.
Good thinking marketers will benefit from keeping a close eye on their link profiles, and performing periodic audits to identify and remove inbound links built unnaturally.
Content Marketing is larger than Ever
From an SEO perspective, Google will be looking at companies that have robust content marketing efforts as a sign that they're the kind of enterprise Google likes to support.
Think of all the advantages of a good content strategy:
Is easy social sharing enabled for all of our content?
Does our content strategy include a dissemination phase that includes maximizing its potential for distribution through social networks?
Are we active on the social networks that matter in our industry?
Are we active on the social networks that matter to our customers?
Are we active on the social networks that matter to the search engines? (See below for more thoughts on making that strategic investment).
Does our social media marketing strategy stimulate the level of social signals required to achieve our goals?
Invest in Google+
It has been an incredibly eventful year in terms of updates from Google. Major 2013 changes included further releases of Penguin and Panda, Hummingbird taking flight, and the shift away from providing keyword data thanks to encrypted search.
Everything You Learned in 2013 is Still applicable, Just Amplified
When you gaze closely at the targets of the 2013 revisions (ie, websites that deceive their way to the top of the rankings or provide no worth to visitors), I foresee glimpsing these conveyed forward all through 2014. We can continue to anticipate micro adjustments to Panda and Penguin that continue to goal both link value and content value.
Good thinking marketers will benefit from keeping a close eye on their link profiles, and performing periodic audits to identify and remove inbound links built unnaturally.
Content Marketing is larger than Ever
From an SEO perspective, Google will be looking at companies that have robust content marketing efforts as a sign that they're the kind of enterprise Google likes to support.
Think of all the advantages of a good content strategy:
- normal, cooperative content aimed at at your assembly.
- Social pointers from normal sharing and commitment.
- Freshness or signs that your site is living and growing.
- expanding administration connected to your body of work.
- Social Media Plays an Increasingly Visible Role
Are we taking our social media seriously? Are we employing the pillars of strong profiles, good content, reciprocity, and engagement?
Is easy social sharing enabled for all of our content?
Does our content strategy include a dissemination phase that includes maximizing its potential for distribution through social networks?
Are we active on the social networks that matter in our industry?
Are we active on the social networks that matter to our customers?
Are we active on the social networks that matter to the search engines? (See below for more thoughts on making that strategic investment).
Does our social media marketing strategy stimulate the level of social signals required to achieve our goals?
Invest in Google+
Establishing Google Authorship of your content, and tying it to your Google+ account. Authorship, which brings your body of content together, will play an important role in the SERPs as well as strengthening your Author Rank.
Those +1's add up. It isn't clear exactly how much Google +1's directly contribute, but it's fair to say that it's a major factor in the "social signals" component of Google's algorithm. I expect this to increase in the year ahead.
Hummingbird Was Just the Tip of the Mobile
mobile SEO will rule the year 2014. Hummingbird was just the very small visible tip of a very large iceberg as Google struggles to respond to the rapidly shifting landscape where half of all Americans own smartphones and at least one-third own tablets. Those statistics will probably shift upward, maybe dramatically, after the 2013 holiday season.
As a result, your site's mobile performance matters to your SEO rankings. Properties that you're trying to rank need to be designed first for mobile and then scaled up for the big screen. If you don't have a mobile-optimized website, this needs to be your top priority in terms of SEO and design investments for 2014.
Which is better, long content or short content?
It all depends on who is creating the content, who is reading it, what it's about, in what context it's being consumed, and how you define "better."
Conclusion
Staying the course on solid white hat tactics and paying attention to a few priority areas that are shifting rapidly should give you the insights needed to improve your organic search visibility in 2014 and beyond.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Thank you.!
Those +1's add up. It isn't clear exactly how much Google +1's directly contribute, but it's fair to say that it's a major factor in the "social signals" component of Google's algorithm. I expect this to increase in the year ahead.
Hummingbird Was Just the Tip of the Mobile
mobile SEO will rule the year 2014. Hummingbird was just the very small visible tip of a very large iceberg as Google struggles to respond to the rapidly shifting landscape where half of all Americans own smartphones and at least one-third own tablets. Those statistics will probably shift upward, maybe dramatically, after the 2013 holiday season.
As a result, your site's mobile performance matters to your SEO rankings. Properties that you're trying to rank need to be designed first for mobile and then scaled up for the big screen. If you don't have a mobile-optimized website, this needs to be your top priority in terms of SEO and design investments for 2014.
Which is better, long content or short content?
It all depends on who is creating the content, who is reading it, what it's about, in what context it's being consumed, and how you define "better."
Conclusion
Staying the course on solid white hat tactics and paying attention to a few priority areas that are shifting rapidly should give you the insights needed to improve your organic search visibility in 2014 and beyond.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Thank you.!
