Why Google’s All Set To Shape SEO & How Your Brand Will Be Left Behind
In this guest post, John Vlasakakis (pictured below), co-founder and senior strategist at digital marketing firm GMG Digital, says things are dramatically changing with SEO and brands and marketers need to get up to date and fast…
This year will see Google continue to shift Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) away from being a ‘cat and mouse’ game where SEO specialists try to ‘game’ Google’s search algorithms to a practice focused on delivering more relevant, useful and in-depth content to users.
Google recently released its previously secret Search Quality Rating Guidelines, which is used by a panel (human not algorithmic) of evaluators to determine the quality and relevance of its search results
These guidelines provide key indicators on a number of key areas which will shape how prominently websites will appear in Google’s search results this year. If you have not yet considered the impact of these changes on your business’ SEO and digital marketing strategies, it’s not too late to take action, or optimise your approach if you have already incorporated them into your plans.
Your Money or Your Life
Google has begun applying differing search quality standards to websites from different industries, with the highest standards being applied to websites which could in Google’s words “potentially negatively impact users’ happiness, health, or wealth.”
Websites which fall into this “Your Money or Your Life” category include:
- Shopping websites and other websites where financial transactions (such as bill payments) occur.
- Medical information websites.
- Legal information websites.
- A broad range of others including those which can substantially affect quality of life and livelihood such as child adoption; as well those which provide information when making important purchase decisions, such as car safety ratings.
If your business operates in any of these areas, it is essential to note the following considerations which will be applied at the highest standards to your business.
All you can E-A-T
E-A-T is Google’s acronym for Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness. It is essentially a summary of the key elements Google considers when ranking websites. Does the content of the website display expertise? Does it demonstrate authoritativeness? Does it engender trustworthiness?
Content which supports E-A-T, such as a business’ background and history, the biographies and credentials of individual authors; content which is linked to or shared from other websites and social media; or content which receives positive reviews and ratings on other websites all contribute to improving its search prominence.
Supplementary content
Apart from the main content of any given website and its pages, the usefulness and relevance of supplementary content also affects a business’s search ranking. This includes images, infographics or text which support the primary content, or links to similar or related content on other pages.
Make your website mobile friendly
One of the biggest changes in how Google ranks websites is based on whether they are mobile-friendly and deliver responsive web design (RWP), which delivers users websites optimised for desktop computers or mobile devices, depending on which they are using at that time.
Google has made it clear that websites that are not mobile-friendly will receive low ratings.
What to avoid
In addition to not working the above considerations into your SEO and digital marketing plans, other important practices to avoid include:
- Outdated SEO practices like stuffing pages with keywords, and links which redirect users to websites with tenuous relevance to the content they were looking for.
- An unclear separation between content and advertising which could potentially confuse or mislead users.
- Content which is abandoned, not updated or removed if no longer relevant, especially on blogs and forums.
The cost of not getting it right
Getting SEO right this year in the midst of these changes is a major – and exciting – challenge for any digitally-focused business.
The cost of not getting it right, however, is a potentially precipitous drop in a business’ search prominence which could have dramatic commercial consequences.
It is wise to be on the front-foot and proactive in meeting the challenges these changes present.
Latest News
Kantar: AVOD Subscribers Double In 12 Months
Study finds Aussies happy to watch ads on their streaming services. Or, are they just putting the kettle on more often?
Val Morgan Digital Exceeds All Campaign Uplift Benchmarks Via A 12-Month Brand Metrics Study
Val Morgan announces it has exceeded all its campaign benchmarks. Still can't get under an hour for the City To Surf.
Australian Retirement Trust launches monster of a campaign, by M&C Saatchi and Bohemia
Get offered a seat on the bus today? Knees creak like an old pirate's galleon? This retirement ad may be of interest.
Print Audits To Discontinue As Audited Media Association Of Australia Pivots To Support Influencer Marketing
Is it just B&T or are audits in the media industry suddenly becoming murkier than Roxy's husband's tax returns?
News Corp Australia Launches 2024 National Education Advocacy Initiative With Expanded Program
News Corp set to shine a light on the nation's schools in new series, giving illegal bikie gangs a well-earned rest.
Decoding The Consumer Maze: Urban List Report Reveals How Modern Shoppers Spiral From Discovery To Purchase
Latest report unravels a shopper's journey from the joy of discovery through to a nasty letter from a debt collector.
Cosmo Returns To Australia!
Ever get the feeling we've weirdly warped back to 1988 at the moment? Confirm it with the relaunch of Cosmo in print.
People & Culture Consultancy Human Kind Collective Launches To Plug HR Gap For Media Agencies
Does the very mention of HR have you struggling to remember last year's Christmas party? Get the sweats with this news.
‘We Want To Be A Growth Partner, Not Just A Media Buyer Or Someone That Makes Ads’ – Bohemia Boss On Agency’s Ambition
B&T's chatting with Bohemia boss Paul ‘Hutch’ Hutchison. Although we do think 'the dagger' a far superior nickname.
Initiative’s Geoff Clarke: ‘Youth Hits Targets With Enthusiasm, Experience Hits The Targets You Can’t See’
Initiative’s CCO Geoff Clarke on the value of experience in agencies. Not to mention quoting lines from Pulp Fiction.
The Iconic Teams Up With 5 Aussie Athletes For Latest Campaign
Fashion label brings in the athletes for new campaign, many of whom appear to have prepped with re-runs of Zoolander.
Seven West Media Secures New Director Of News & Current Affairs
After a tumultuous few weeks, Seven unveils director of news & current affairs. And B&T never uses tumultuous lightly.
Seven Network Expands NSW Sales Team With Two New Group Business Directors
Seven ramps up its NSW sales team. Both of whom are well versed in pronouncing Manu Feildel's croque-monsieur.
New PR Subscription Changing The Game For Aussie Start Ups
Need better PR? You can now buy it via a monthly subscription. Price does not include a fascinator or Moet piccolos.
Paul Kent At Centre Of Fresh Scandal After Alleged Street Brawl
Do you long for the fights, gouges & testicle grabs of footy's glory years? So too, it appears, does Paul Kent.
DiDi Taps Disney’s Tim Farmer For Head Of Brand Marketing Role
Disney's Tim Farmer shifts over to rideshare company DiDi. Taking with him his Donald Duck coffee mug & mouse ears.
As Sure As Night Becomes Day, The End Of Third-Party Cookies Has Been Delayed
The question remains: what will we see first? The end of cookies, alien invasion or Jesus's second coming?
Fast 10: Scoundrel’s Tim Bullock Explains What Shane Warne & Salt-N-Pepa Have In Common
It's a Fast 10 with Scoundrel's Tim Bullock. Make it sound even faster by sucking on helium while reading it.
Outbrain Snatches Chris Oxley From Foxtel Media
Foxtel's Chris Oxley shifts over to Outbrain, but not before having his press photo taken in the wilds of the Daintree.
oOh!media & POLY Partner With Greening Australia For OOH Awareness Campaign
Like to quell the road rage with super cute pics of fluffy marsupials? This outdoor's just the ticket.
Are Media Cares For The Carers In Its Latest Social Change Campaign
Are Media calls on the government to add super payments to carers' payments. Remains silent on AUKUS, however.
In A Fragmented World, Engagement Is King
Today, B&T TV's talking fragmentation & engagement. But not in a down-on-one-knee sense of the word.
Kyle Sandilands On Advertising: “We Want Return Business. It’s No Good Just Taking Someone’s Money”
Kyle & Jackie O finally arrive on Melbourne radio. As yet, no sign of the monotonous and bitter AFL-NRL debate.
Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]
Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]
Is Meta’s New AI Chatbot Too Left-Wing?
Meta's chatbot accused of being left-wing after being caught wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt & listening to Billy Bragg.
TV Ratings (23/04/2024): Why Did No One Tell Angela That Farmer Wants A Wife Is Set On A Farm?
As wonderful as this headline is, let's face it, we all know an 'Angela', don't we?
PubMatic Unveils New AI Partnership To Turn Social Posts Into Ads For Any Digital Channel
Here's some nifty tech for turning social posts into ads. Assuming said posts aren't one-star character assassinations.
Intuit Mailchimp Makes A Splash With Its First Australian Brand Campaign
Ever laugh along at a gag you didn't get so as not to appear dumb? Get ready for more feigning with this new work.
GumGum’s Rob Hall: Advertisers Can No Longer “Rely On Binary Descriptions” Of Consumers
If anyone's got their finger on adtech's pulse, it's Rob Hall. He also avoids using the good paper in the office printer
Mastercard Nabs Florencia Aimo From Marriott International
Marriott International's Florencia Aimo jumps from the hotel business to the exploitative credit card one.
Bastion Agency Appoints Cheuk Chiang As New ANZ CEO
Cheuk Chiang takes the reins over at Bastion Agency. But not the rains down in Africa.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Major Sponsorship Wins After A Disappointing Week In Sport
B&T continuing our deep dive into local sport sponsorships & that's despite not a single offer of a free ticket as yet.
Macca’s Marketing Director, Samantha McLeod On Big Mac Chant: “What Was Once Old Is Now Cool Again”
Macca's using the power of nostalgia in latest Big Mac campaign. Well, only for those who've ever eaten one sober.
World Premiere Of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line To Open Sydney Film Festival 2024
Oil's biopic to open Sydney Film Festival. Here's hoping Molly Meldrum will take his pants down at the premiere.
Entries Are Now Open For The 2024 Brandies, IntelligenceBank’s Annual Brand Marketing Awards
The Brandies are, of course, a prestigious marketing gong and not the mystery tipple favoured by nannas everywhere.