According to Internet Search Engine Database, Google has announced that the third part of Jagger will be introduced early next week, though they aren't saying what this phase will entail.
Usually, after any update, it takes one or two weeks for the re-ranking (not to be confused with a Google Dance) to sort itself out, so we won't find out right away either. It goes to show that when it comes to SEO you're much better off worrying about the things you can change (your website) instead of things over which you have no control (Google's algo updates). With the sites I manage, I can be reasonably sure that if they disappear right after an update, there's a good chance that they'll be right back where they were, if not higher, in a week or so.
That's probably of little comfort to businesses that rely heavily on organic search for generating income and, in fact, I was approached last week by a partner who had lost rankings for keyword phrases that he should have dominated. "Just wait and see," unfortunately, isn't really what someone in that position wants to hear, so luckily I was able to give him some practical ("actionable" in corporate-speak) suggestions for improving his pages.
The search engine algorithms are already pretty sophisticated, and it's my belief that it is pretty much only the filters that are being finetuned. If every algorithm update is designed to further separate the content wheat from the spam chaff, it's going to get harder and harder to "trick" the engines. Instead, you want to work with them to help them find you and understand what you're about. While it's true that they might not be able to figure out your tricks immediately, I believe we've reached a point where transparency is being rewarded.
Besides, convention has it that it takes Google only six weeks to figure out and counter new spam methods. Once your site is identified as spam you might as well start anew on a fresh domain that isn't tainted. Who has the energy to watch their work crash and burn every month and a half?
Labels: Google
Posted by Melanie Phung
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Coming to a Google Near You: Jagger Pt. 3
According to Internet Search Engine Database, Google has announced that the third part of Jagger will be introduced early next week, though they aren't saying what this phase will entail.
Usually, after any update, it takes one or two weeks for the re-ranking (not to be confused with a Google Dance) to sort itself out, so we won't find out right away either. It goes to show that when it comes to SEO you're much better off worrying about the things you can change (your website) instead of things over which you have no control (Google's algo updates). With the sites I manage, I can be reasonably sure that if they disappear right after an update, there's a good chance that they'll be right back where they were, if not higher, in a week or so.
That's probably of little comfort to businesses that rely heavily on organic search for generating income and, in fact, I was approached last week by a partner who had lost rankings for keyword phrases that he should have dominated. "Just wait and see," unfortunately, isn't really what someone in that position wants to hear, so luckily I was able to give him some practical ("actionable" in corporate-speak) suggestions for improving his pages.
The search engine algorithms are already pretty sophisticated, and it's my belief that it is pretty much only the filters that are being finetuned. If every algorithm update is designed to further separate the content wheat from the spam chaff, it's going to get harder and harder to "trick" the engines. Instead, you want to work with them to help them find you and understand what you're about. While it's true that they might not be able to figure out your tricks immediately, I believe we've reached a point where transparency is being rewarded.
Besides, convention has it that it takes Google only six weeks to figure out and counter new spam methods. Once your site is identified as spam you might as well start anew on a fresh domain that isn't tainted. Who has the energy to watch their work crash and burn every month and a half?
Labels: Google
Posted by Melanie Phung