How does Google view word count? The question came up in today’s Webmaster Hangout with John Mueller about whether there is a minimum word count on a page or not. The answer is no, there’s not. This is something I said in my Google Panda article, with an example of a page with a featured […]
Searchers See 30+ Different Experiments in Google Search Results
We all know Google loves experiments in the search results, and some are more noticeable than others, and I tend to notice a ton of them. Different colored stars are pretty noticeable, while I am sure there are many other subtle experiments we never notice, especially if they influence ranking in some way. John Mueller […]
Google Panda: Unlikely SEOs Will Notice When Panda Updates
There has been a lot of discussion recently about Google Panda recently and how frequently it is updated now that it is a core ranking signal. While Gary Illyes confirmed that Panda is not real time, there wasn’t any specifics given about how frequently it updates, only that what we have been seeing fluctuating in […]
5 Great Ways to Customize Your SEM Ads to Your Audience
The power of search ads is often cited as being able to cater messaging and your keyword set to the intent of the user. This is true but there is another powerful element we can leverage in addition to knowing the likely user intent: ad customization based on the broader context. The exact moves you […]
Google Cache Switching to HTTPS For Secure Sites
If you view a Google cache of a website that is on a HTTPS URL, Google is starting to serve those cached pages under a secure connection. This means if your website is HTTPS, if someone views a cache of your page, that cache will now be served through a secure connection HTTPS URL to […]
Recent Google Core Search Update Brand Keyword Related?
Now that the drama over “it must be Penguin!” and “it must be Panda!” has died down, we are finally hearing some more specifics about what people are seeing in regards to the recent core search results fluctuations that have been going on for just over a week. There were definitely signs that these changes […]
Google Now Testing “What’s Hot” & “Nearby” in Search Drop Down Box
Google is testing some new options in Google Now that show up when a searcher goes to start a search using Google Now on mobile. While we are used to seeing recent searches and another link to go to more recent searches, two new options have shown up – “What’s Hot” and “Nearby.” Here is […]
Google Testing Blue Stars in Search Results for Reviews & Ratings
Google periodically tests different colored stars in their search results. While we have seen variations of yellow and orange, Google has also tested teal, green and red colored stars as well. And now they are testing blue stars. Ramesh Singh shared this screenshot of bright blue stars. The screenshot shows recipes with the blue review […]
Google Search Algos Are Same Worldwide, Not Country or Language Specific
The question came up in yesterday’s hangout about whether Google’s search algos, including Panda and Penguin, were applied differently depending on the location or language. John Mueller from Google responded that they are the same, but detailed the things that can be influenced by the country and/or language. For the most part, our search quality […]
Google Panda is a Core Ranking Signal, It’s Not Real Time
In my Google Panda Algo article, one of the statements given to me by Google was that Panda was now a core ranking signal. But there was some confusion because people assumed this meant that Panda was now real time. But Google confirmed that this is NOT true. Panda is not real-time. Gary Illyes from […]