SEO is constantly changing and 2012 was anything but the exception. New algorithm introductions and updates from Google brought about chaos within the SEO community as websites had to scramble to comply with the latest demands. Many professionals called it an SEO zoo with Panda and Penguin updates lurking around the corner and turning the SEO world upside down. Read on for some tips for SEO 2013.
Many of the tricks that SEO experts relied on to beam their sites to the top of a search engine were all of a sudden on a Do Not list for SEO in 2012. Over usage of keywords became a big no-no and sneaky back linking would be no more. The aftermath was so stormy that many sites were accidentally delisted from searches altogether until another update was executed. Panda, first released in 2011, sought to hold back websites with poor and copied content from appearing at the head of search results. Penguin followed in 2012 to penalize websites with overstuffed keywords and force complacency with Google’s Webmaster guidelines.
So what does all of this mean for SEO 2013? It means that SEO managers and website content writers are better off writing and planning with the reader in mind, instead of with Google in mind. A novel concept, no? How do you go about this you ask? Well, we’re glad you did.
Title
The title to your post should tell the reader exactly what they will be reading about. No need to fluff it up or make it sound fancy. Sure, you can stick a keyword in there but make sure it’s relevant. Google will be onto you otherwise and your website won’t have a chance in those coveted top ranked search results.
Content
No matter what your website niche is, your content should be interesting and valuable to your readers. What are your readers looking for? What can they expect to find on your website versus another website on this topic? Contemplate posts that you believe will be share-worthy, therefore spreading the word about your site even further. This means no fluff posts. Do your research and think of something helpful to your readers.
Links
Good back links are an essential part to SEO but too many will draw red flags from the Google referees. Think you’re being sneaky by creating a second site and linking back to your first one? Penguin and its entourage of 12 updates, is on to you. You’ll only make your situation worse. Ask friends in your industry to write reviews about your site and have them link to you.
The name of the game that Google is playing is “quality.” Write quality posts with short, descriptive titles about your topic and remember that there are algorithms and algorithm updates around every corner. If you think you have a new trick to try, keep in mind that Google is probably one or two steps ahead of you.
Do you have any good SEO tips to share for 2013? Let us know on Facebook!