Are algorithm changes that Google releases in the form of updates useful for marketers? It all depends on how you perceive it because if you realize Google’s intention of bettering the game, it is a welcome move for marketers. By refining the rules through regular release of updates, Google raises the bar in SEO performance, and it is up to the marketers to avail the opportunity. No marketer can dare to keep away from complying with updates because they would be doing it at their own peril. Google wants that marketers take advantage of the updates and keep improving their campaigns. All updates have one thing in common — it results in enhanced SEO performance while ensuring better user experience.
While catching up with Google’s game will make your life easy, you must prepare well to adopt the changes fast. By embracing the changes, your website trustworthiness gets a boost, as it stands out as a genuine website that deserves and receives the rewards in better SEO performance. The Penguin update that shook the SEO world is still a force to reckon with as regular revisions add more teeth to it. The updates bear testimony to Google’s constant fight against websites that rely on keyword stuffing, create deceptive pages, trusts link quantity over quality and carry poor quality content.
Good for honest marketers
Updates have always encouraged honest marketers who respect and abide by Google guidelines and do not mind doing some heavy lifting for long-term gains. If you do not have the evil design of beating Google at its own game, you should reap the rewards of updates that give you a cutting edge over others. The positive effects of the Penguin update have become quite visible as the fourth revision or Penguin 4.0 demonstrates. The update introduces a real-time signal built into the core search algorithm, which bears testimony to the fact that the Penguin effect has brought about the desired changes in SEO practice that have set a new trend in SEO marketing in the way Google wants.
Penguin has given the desired results
When Penguin made its first appearance in 2012, it affected the erring websites that defied the norms stipulated in the update. These websites experienced a massive drop in traffic, the rankings went for a toss, and they were compelled to follow the guidelines that ensured compliance. However, mere compliance did not help the sites to recover from the setback because it had to wait until the next Penguin update that nobody knew when it would happen. It seems that over time Google felt like relaxing the penalty because in the third update of Penguin 3.0 in October 2014, the waiting time for recovery from a Penguin hit was fixed at two years. It showed that Google was happy that Penguin had the desired effects that made websites tow the Google diktat and the positivity influenced the decision of fixing a shorter timeline for recovery.
Real-time recovery indicates progress
Penguin 4.0 is real time that makes recovery prompt. Google keeps on re-indexing pages by revisiting (crawling) it time, and again that enables it to recognize and accept the positive changes done to websites on a continuous basis. As soon Google captures the positives, the site once again moves along the tracks having recovered from the Penguin effects. It shows how Penguin and other Google updates help websites to become stronger and perform better. It is now easy to adapt the cycle of being affected by updates and recovering from it quickly while improving the campaign in the process. Even if a website has ranked well earlier, it has to fight hard to hold on to it because if the re-crawling discovers some demerits not detected earlier, the site may lose its ranking.
Enhance the website speed
Although Google has not directed any update towards website speed improvement, it has made clear that website speed is a factor in search rankings. If you want to do well in SEO, you must have a speedy website. Besides improving the elements in website design that contribute to its speed, you have to reduce server response time WordPress by taking up with the web hosting service provider. When the server provides web pages speedily, it complements the website’s built-in speed very well.
Focus on natural links
To be on the right side of Penguin 4.0 update, you have to integrate natural links into the link building campaign. Keep away from acquiring links just for the sake of satisfying search engines. Do not make the mistake of involving in spammy links that lead to a specifically targeted page. Take a conservative approach to link building instead of trying to be overzealous and tripping on updates.
Looking upon Google updates as the North Star will help to achieve the marketing goal faster.
Author Bio: Derek Iwasiuk is a content marketing expert who advises clients about the need to reduce server response time WordPress. He has worked at the helm of a leading content management company and is now a marketing consultant in his individual capacity. Derek is also keen to open a digital marketing company of his own.
