Earlier this month, Google launched the Penguin 2.1 update – a follow up to the Penguin updates that intend to target webspam. This means that sites that have been using links in spammy directories, forum links, blog comment/signature spam, etc. saw a major decrease in their search rankings. Earlier this fall, Google launched the Hummingbird update, which affected 90% of all searches.
In this ever-changing world of search engine algorithm updates, how can you be sure that your SEO strategy is working? How can you be sure that you won’t be penalized? Here are a few tips to help make sure that you are using Google-approved practices in your SEO strategy.
1. Focus on the User Experience.
The most important aspect Google and other search engines look at when evaluating websites is the quality of the website. Are you creating interesting content? Is it useful to visitors? Are you creating content that people will want to share with their friends? This should be your main goal. This is a great way to get natural links and get people talking about your site in an organic way, which is what Google wants.
2. When Link Building, Get High Quality Links.
Google doesn’t really even like the term “link building” and if you get the wrong kind of links, your site may be penalized. One great way to get high quality links is to write guest blog posts for websites that have a high page rank. Provide high-quality, well-written, useful content that is relevant to your website. Think about the user experience. Would the readers of this blog benefit from a link to your website?
3. Make Sure Your Site is Accessible.
Google likes websites that work well on multiple devices. Having a mobile version of your website is helpful. Responsive Web Design is also extremely beneficial as it ensures that your website will work well on mobile devices and tablets.
4. Get Help from Professionals.
The world of SEO is changing constantly, and there are always new updates and new “rules” to follow. It can be overwhelming to navigate through all of these recommended practices on your own. There are so many aspects to consider and so many things to keep track of. Seeking assistance from marketing professionals is often the best way to make sure that your SEO strategy is effective.