For those who think loading up their website content with SEO keywords is their golden ticket to the top of Google’s Web rankings, the search engine has some bad news.
Google announced late last week that it was revamping its rules for ranking Web pages, according to this article by the Wall Street Journal. The search engine says it developed the new rules to keep websites with content that’s ripped from other sites or doesn’t provide much value from landing in the coveted top spots for Google searches. Though Google fiercely guards its top-secret formula for Web rankings, it did divulge that it has added several new criteria for the rankings, including how users interact with a site.
While savvy marketers know that search engine optimization, such as incorporating keywords and inbound links, are an important part of designing a site that will rank highly in a search, Google’s new formula is a stern reminder that SEO isn’t everything. The key takeaway here? Quality counts.
Make sure your website offers relevant information that visitors will actually want, whether it’s in the form of a frequently updated blog, in-depth white papers or a search tool to connect people with your organization’s members. Sparkling writing never hurts either. Then sit back and watch your Google rankings rise.
