As when Google makes any type of algorithm update, a lot of website owners are concerned about Hummingbird and how it will affect their search engine rankings. If you are a website owner, you might be worried about how your site will be affected as well. It can seem pretty confusing to try to understand Hummingbird and all of the changes that have taken place, but you can gain a little more insight with this simple guide.
What Changes Were Made with Google Hummingbird?
Penguin and Panda caused major changes for webmasters and the World Wide Web as a whole, but Hummingbird’s effects could be even more substantial. Instead of being just another update, Hummingbird is actually a whole new type of algorithm that is known as the biggest change with the search engine since 2010. Therefore, it is essential to understand how it works and how it can affect you.
The key purpose of Hummingbird is so that people can enter longer, more complex questions into search engines and still receive relevant results. Google is now striving to understand what people are asking and looking for instead of focusing on keywords that people frequently type in. Basically, Google wants to be able to have a “conversation” between its search engine and the people who use it.
With this new algorithm, the keywords and key phrases that website owners and SEO consultants have been using for years have become outdated. Site owners can no longer see which keywords and phrases have brought traffic to their website, and they will no longer see the same fruitful results from targeting specific keywords on their sites. Instead, a new type of content and marketing will need to be used to see high search engine rankings.
How Do You Know if Your Site Has Been Affected by Hummingbird?
If you have noticed your search engine rankings and traffic have reduced significantly since Hummingbird’s release, you can assume that Hummingbird has probably affected your site. Fortunately, it is entirely possible to thrive after this new algorithm, but you will have to make some changes in the content on your sites and how this content is presented.
What Can You Do if Your Site Has Been Affected?
Google is no longer going to be looking specifically for keywords and key phrases when ranking websites. Instead, it will be looking for websites that have high-quality content that is specifically related to what users are searching for.
This means that you will probably want to quit focusing your marketing efforts on keywords. Instead, it is essential to use high-quality, relevant content that is closely related to your niche and that provides real information for readers. By filling your website with top-notch content, you can continue to thrive after Google Hummingbird.
What’s Next?
Although dealing with all of Hummingbird’s changes and effects might seem like enough, it is important to be prepared for future updates and changes. Although future changes and algorithms have not yet been announced, one can assume that Google will continue pushing toward what it has promoted with its previous updates and Hummingbird: High-quality, relevant content that actually provides value to readers.
Be the first to leave a comment