Tag Archives: Good SEO

Google Algorithm Updates in 2019

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How do SEO practitioners, or self-titled SEOs know when Google has an algorithm update? Usually, it is by “listening” online for the collective groan and angst from their peers.  Like Gamblers in a high stakes game, it is often feast or famine. Their clients might rank in position number four on the first page of SERP (Search Engine Results Page) on a specific day, and the next day, they may have dropped to position 12 or bumped up to position 1.

Our research shows that so far in 2019, significant algorithm updates occurred on or about January 9th, 13th, and 20th.  Most, but not all, third-party tracking tools that monitor Google search results have shown significant volatility in SERP rankings around the dates specified above. Here is a screenshot from SEM Rush Sensor Rankings Graph:

Google Algorithm Updates in 2019

Google usually does not confirm or comment on specific updates and commonly states that “improvements” to the search algorithms are happening constantly.  Google has told us numerous times that with core algorithm updates that there is no fix.  I disagree with the “no fix” statement-you can work harder to comply with Google’s Content Guidelines, which have been published by Google and seem to be a reasonable approach to gaining rankings.

Conclusion.

Google will continue to make changes at will. The only absolute consistency in SEO or any digital marketing is change.  Knowing the reason for rankings changes is helpful in maintaining a “big picture” perspective on your online marketing.  The only way to try to stay ahead of the curve is to work consistently to improve your website.   Hard work and providing a good user experience is the only way to improve rankings.

Eric Van Cleave is the CEO of Zenergy Works, A Santa Rosa California Digital Marketing Agency and Website Design Firm.

How To Get Your Business Listed In The Local Pack On Google

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The most common type of local pack is a list of 3 businesses featuring contact information for that business with links to the website or Google Maps page for that business.  Placement in this pack is important not only because of its prominence in search but also because of the ease of using these results when searching using a mobile device.  Google has been consistently reducing the number of businesses listed in the Local Pack on the first page of search results (from 7 to 3) over the last 2 years.  We will review the factors that will help to get your business listed in the Local Pack and how to effectively manage your Local Pack Map Listing.

Local Pack

Business information generally included in the local pack are the Name, Address, and Phone Number of Business (NAP). Other information may include business hours, star rating, and whether the business is currently open.

How to get into the Local Pack

In Local Packs, Google shows business listings, not websites, so to be featured in a Local Pack, you need to get a Google My Business page.

One of the prerequisites of getting into the Local Pack is to be ranked within the top 10 results for your local search query, which generally requires a great deal of effort be devoted to SEO optimization of your website.

Step 1: Claim and Optimize your Google My Business listing.

  1. Be sure to be consistent with NAP to the information listed on your website.
  2. Fill in correct business information.
  3. Add Photos.
  4. Make sure that you are listed in the proper category.
  5. Match the keywords in your Local Pack Listing to those featured in the H1 tags and page titles of your website.
  6. Verify your google listing.

Step 2:  Optimize your website for local SEO

  1. Scan website for on page SEO.  Use Google Search Console and a site scan tool like SEM Rush.
  2. Verify NAP on the website – BE EXACT.
  3. Create local citation sites(ie. Merchant Circle, Yellow pages online, etc) and be sure to match NAP on website and local map listing.
  4. Obtain locally relevant backlinks. Be sure to avoid spammy links.
  5. Add structured data markup.

As you can see from the list here, what used to be a simple process has become complex, time-consuming, and requires more than a little knowledge of Search Engine Optimization.   Because of the increased competition for the placements in the local map pack, not only must the list be fulfilled, but it requires more backlinks, more citation sites, and more exacting on page SEO and content strategy to gain rankings.

Eric Van Cleave is co-CEO of Zenergy Works, A Santa Rosa, California SEO, and Digital Marketing Firm.

Good SEO – First Page Gets the Clicks!

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Chitika has done a new study that shows that good SEO is still vitally important in online marketing. Sites on the first Google search results page generate 92% of all traffic from an average search. The last study on this was done in 2010, but the basic finding seems to be the same-get found as high as possible on the first page of SERP.

best SEO

Be Careful in Editing Google Place Categories

Jade Wang from Google’s local business team has announced that if you see new categories in your business listings, do not update them manually. According to Jade, Google is working on a fix for this issue and if you edit the categories, you could make the problem worse.

Jade wrote in the Google Business Help Forum:

We’ve found a technical issue affecting some users that causes a handful of new categories are showing up in Places dashboards. We’re working on a fix and will come back with an update when we can. Please do not edit these categories for now while we work on the issue. Please note that these categories do not show on the publicly-available listing.

Online Reviews 

New Study: 79% of Searchers Trust Local Online Reviews

BrightLocal has released the findings of its 2013 Local Consumer Review Survey. This year’s survey shows that more consumers are reading online reviews as part of their pre-purchase research before selecting a local business to use.  It also shows that consumers are forming opinions faster and reading fewer reviews before they trust (or don’t trust) a local business. This puts increased emphasis on local businesses to manage their online reputation closely and ensure that any negative reviews are dealt with in a swift and positive way.  Here is a summary of the findings:

  • 85% of consumers say that they read online reviews for local businesses (up from 76% in 2012).
  • 67% of consumers read 6 reviews or less (up from 52% in 2012)
  • 73% of consumers say positive customer reviews make them trust a business more (up from 58% in 2012)
  • 79% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations (up from 72% in 2012)

Bottom Line: Information is coming at online marketers at a fast and furious pace. Good SEO is still important, but online reviews are becoming more and more important in converting online traffic into customers. Also, be careful if you see something in a local listing or other online platform that you do not control.  Before you assume that anything has been changed, consult the relevant forums and chat rooms online to see if others have experienced the same issue.

Eric Van Cleave is a Partner in Zenergy Works, a Santa Rosa, California, SEO, Website Development and Online Marketing Firm.

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