Google has made stark changes over the past
couple years in the way it ranks websites. When one of its most recent
algorithm incarnations, Hummingbird, was released in August of 2013, it
created a whirlwind in the search landscape and has since continued to
have far reaching impact.
In its wake, businesses have been forced to
modify their web marketing strategies and SEO efforts to regain favor
with Google to reclaim their former search rankings.
Read on for the insights we’ve gained and what you need to do to thrive in this new environment.
What We’ve Learned So Far
In keeping pace with the evolution of Google’s search algorithms, reviewing our clients’ sites, and implementing strategies to sync the two, we have gained some valuable first-hand insights.Our SEO program prioritizes the auditing of our current clients’ sites to gain a clear, up-to-date view of what is and is not working and where we need to focus our efforts to achieve ongoing success in the ever-changing digital world.
Our post-Hummingbird launch audits have shown a range of results. Some clients’ search rankings immediately improved because their competitors’ rankings dropped from failing to cooperate with Google’s changes. In other cases, we saw our clients’ rankings maintain or rise as a result of prior efforts to build their organic search results.
Though a few of our clients’ rankings slipped slightly, none have
been severely affected thus far – likely because our SEO efforts were
already on the same trajectory as Google. For those clients that
experienced minor dips, our audits have shown us where and how to make
the necessary adjustments to get them back on track.