Is Your Website Optimization Keeping up with Google Changes?

Why does Google keep changing rankings for websites?
What is Google really looking for on websites?
What factors affect how high a website ranks?

Maintaining High Google Rankings Is Hard, Continuing Work

In the past few years, Google, the undisputed leader among search engines, has made sweeping, large changes in its ranking algorithms. In 2011, its “Panda” update and more recent “Penguin” update changed the face of SEO forever. Many business websites saw their rankings slip suddenly, quickly disappearing from the first page of search results. Was your website one of those? Without high first page rankings, websites get few, if any, clicks from potential customers. New leads and sales drop off immediately.

At Site Revamp, our SEO experts anticipated these changes, long before they occurred. They have been listening to Google since it was launched. While others looked for tricky maneuvers to manipulate rankings, we studied what Google was actually trying to do. With the launch of the Panda and Penguin updates, we saw our clients’ websites maintain and even improve their placement. We understood what Google was trying to do, and have always done SEO to match those criteria, instead of using trickery and following the latest fads. Here’s what Google’s strategies are for their current ranking algorithms and future updates.

Web User Experience

Google holds its ranking methods close to its vest, but it revealed that Panda and Penguin updates were designed to make search listings reflect the quality of user experience on websites. To do this, they did extensive research into user preferences and satisfaction when visiting websites, and designed their ranking algorithms to reflect that in search results. Websites that offer little content or are difficult for users to navigate saw their rankings drop, since they can’t retain and interest visitors. Google constantly monitors what visitors do and how much time they spend on top-ranking websites. With Google shifting its focus to evaluating user experience, search engine optimization is more than just about just rankings. At Site Revamp, providing a rewarding user experience has always been a top priority.
Content Quality

An important element in both algorithm updates is a focus on the quality of content on web pages. Instead of just focusing on keywords and phrases, Google now measures text content quality. Unique and informative content is ranked higher than stock, low-value copied content that only focuses on keywords and phrases. Well-optimized web content should serve to educate visitors first, while at the same time, informing search engines about the nature of the website. Web content created just for manipulating rankings doesn’t have any value. Content that is no more than a high-pressure sales pitch is not what visitors are looking for. Useful information is ranked higher than advertising. Our experienced content copywriters have delivered top-notch, compelling content from the very beginning.
Tracking User Behavior

Google has ample information about what your website visitors do on your site. It knows how long people stay, where they go, and what they do while they’re browsing your website. You can use Google Analytics yourself to monitor visitor behavior. Now, with recent major algorithm updates, this information is an increasingly important part of ranking. If visitors don’t stick around or quickly leave your competitors, it’s going to hurt your rankings. Additionally, if your website can’t retain visitors, your conversion rate is low. A well-executed SEO campaign should aim at increasing both search rankings and conversion rates. That has always been our focus.
Quality of External Links

Links from other websites have always been important to Google placement, but Panda and Penguin updates are letting it rate links based on their relevance. What that means is that old link-building methods are not working as well as they once did. Most SEO companies don’t know how to build quality links and think all links are equal. Very often, one legitimate, relevant link can work better than thousands of junk links. Our link-building efforts have always focused on quality and relevance, and that has increased the rankings of our clients’ sites.
User-Friendly Web Design

As part of the user experience research done in implementing Panda and Penguin, Google is looking at design elements of your website with new eyes. Old template-based designs, designs that force users to jump around too much, and designs heavily laden with advertising will cause rankings to drop. Our web designers have always made convenience and easy access to valuable information central to every layout.

SEO Services for Top Google Rankings – Minneapolis St. Paul, MN

Has your business website experienced a drop in its search placement. Has your web designer been unable to fix the problem? Aside from major ranking algorithm changes, like Panda and Penguin, Google makes smaller changes almost daily. No SEO tricks or trends can possibly keep up. Our SEO, web design and content writing team understands search engines’ real goals. That’s why our clients’ websites maintain their high rankings, even when major algorithm changes occur. For our clients, we make adjustments to take advantage of changes in ranking methods on a regular basis. You deserve the same advantages for your business.

Contact us and let the Minnesota SEO experts at Site Revamp give you a free analysis and cost estimate. We are located in the Minneapolis St. Paul area and have consistently provided Twin Cities and national companies with exceptional results. There’s no obligation, and you’ll learn how our professional web optimization can help get your website ranked more highly for the long term and help you build your business.