As we reported here on Andy Stats only a few days ago, Google recently publically disclosed a series of algorithm updates that had been made in March. Obviously there were potentially hundreds of other smaller tweaks or changes made by Google that they decided not to make public, but it’s always good to take this opportunity to look at what Google are doing with their algorithm, and how this might affect search engine optimisation. In this blog, I thought it might be good to look at five of the fifty algo updates Google disclosed that really caught my eye. Just click here for the full list of Google algorithm updates.
Better indexing of profile pages.
There has been a lot of criticism about Google’s ‘Search Plus You World’ update and how it was arguably detrimental to the quality of search on Google. I myself contributed to this criticism with an article on why I thought SPYW was anti-competitive. That’s why this particular algorithm update caught my eye, as it appears to remedy some of these anti-competitive allegations.
There were two main examples used to put the argument across, the first one was that Mark Zuckerberg’s unused Google Plus profile was ranking higher in a query for his name that his Facebook profile. The second was highlighted by Twitter about a search for ‘@WWE’ that would rank the Google+ profile higher than the more popular Twitter account.
Both of these issues have now been remedied, with the respective Facebook and Twitter profiles now outranking the corresponding G+ profiles. This is likely to be connected to this ‘better indexing of public profiles’, and it may reinforce that those stating that you NEED a Google Plus profile for social media marketing may have been jumping the gun.
High quality sites algorithm data update and freshness improvements.
This relates to an update for ‘Panda’. In their blog, Google stated changes to their high-quality sites algorithm depend on processing that’s done offline, then pushed on in periodic cycles. This refers to the pioneering use of ‘machine-learning’ that is integral to how ‘Panda’ functions. Although this particular update to ‘Panda’ was only expected to influence 1.6% of all search results, I thought it was significant enough to highlight.
‘Freshness’ and ‘High-quality’ are both words that reappear with frequency throughout this list; another reason that this update was perhaps significant.
Tweaks to handling of anchor text.
Anchor text is the visible text that appears in links, and many ‘s speculate that is one of the most significant aspects of the search ranking algorithm. So, when Google announce that they are turning off a component that they use to improve how they deal with anchor text, speculation undoubtedly erupts in the blogosphere about what particular component has been deactivated. It’s caused webmasters around the world to plough through their analytics reports in search of common themes that could identify how the handling of anchor text has changed, and I don’t fancy joining their ranks.
To the best of my knowledge, nobody has yet pinpointed exactly what has changed with anchor text, but I would hazard a guess that it is something relatively minor. ‘Anchor text’ is another common theme in these updates, and arguably the more significant update can be found at number five on my list.
Improvements to processing for detection of site quality.
Having a high-quality website is something that all ethical webmaster should strive for, not only does it improve user experience, but post-panda, it really improves search rankings. Therefore, any update that Google make to how they handle the issue of site-quality is going to be very important. Again, it would be nearly impossible to identify how they have improved this particular element in their algorithm, and indulging in speculation just isn’t productive. Still, it’s reassuring that Google are still placing the emphasis on website quality over other metrics that are easier to fudge.
Better interpretation and use of anchor text.
Again, we see an alteration to how ‘anchor text’ is being handled. Anchor text is something often targeted by spammers because it is so easy to manipulate, you buy some links with keyword rich anchor text from high PR domains, point them at your site, and watch your rankings increase. Obviously this is subsidised with other Black Hat tactics, but, arguably, it’s still too easy for spammers to manipulate the system and get their sites ranking.
I believe this tactic may be connected to the 700,000 warnings that webmasters received from Google regarding their unnatural link profile. These warnings were sent out in January and February, and although this algo update was made in March it is likely to be connected, although whether it is the cure or the remedy, I’m unsure.
With these webmaster warnings, there has been increased coverage from bloggers about how it is possible to damage an opponent by blasting them with spammy links, all with the same anchor text. I would hope that this ‘better interpretation and use of anchor text’ algorithm update is connected to this, and hopefully we’ll see the practice of ‘negative ‘ wiped out.
Were there any ranking updates that particularly caught your eye, or have you noticed any changes in your performance that you think might be connected to any of Google’s most recent algorithm updates? If you have then please feel free to leave a comment, and someone from Andy Stats will get back to you.
This blog was written over 6 months ago and Internet Marketing and is an always changing industry which means the information within this blog may be out of date. Use caution when using any methods or suggestions within it.
