Tag Archives: Google Search Algorithm

SEO Backlinks Aren’t As Powerful As They Once Were

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Are SEO Backlinks Effective?In the past, if you asked any SEO professional what backlinks effect had on your website, they would probably tell you a good deal. However, today that is not the case. SEO backlinks do not seem to have as much power as they once held.

Google realized many years ago that SEO backlinks were needed to get better rankings. This search engine found out that SEO simply is not just about making sure your content, headings, and titles are optimized. This is how link-building businesses were formed -a need for link-selling brokers and link directories came into play. And with that came the birth of forum spam using links, reciprocal links, and spam comments.

Unfortunately, over time, Google lost to spam. In 2012, the Penguin algorithm was introduced, and then Hummingbird came into play. Now, when links are used, Google is willing to discard the low-quality ones. Links are still very important to your content. It is just uncertain as to how much power they hold compared to the past.

It is fair to say that SEO backlinks are still needed. The strength of these links is most likely compared to when Google first started with link building. When questioned about if link-building campaigns are allowed or why Google does not use other ranking factors that are harder to manipulate than backlinks, Google responded back, stating, “ First, backlinks as a signal have a much less significant impact compared to when Google Search first started out many years ago. With hundreds of strong ranking signals, they are certain that they’re allowed to be used to rank the most applicable and beneficial findings for all inquiries.”

They then went on to say that some backlinking tactics are basically linked spam per the Google spam policy. They noted that Google has various algorithms ready to detect unnatural links at large and void them. Anyone that spams or spends money on links has no knowledge of whether the funds they spend on link building are truly worth it or not. It is very much likely that they’re just throwing away their cash by including all those spammy backlinks. This holds true as soon as the spam links are seen, they are deleted.

Do not fret though. Google still encourages everyone to use SEO backlinks. Natural links are the best to use, and they will assist Google in learning about what your site is all about. Google itself says that links are how it finds different web pages.

Google says that there is a good chance that another web page will have content that is similar to yours. They said it is very beneficial on your part to open up the lines of communication with that web page. They also feel that it is an excellent way for new ideas to be created simply by looking at the hot topics that are in your niche. Link graphs can be used to show how your site is connected to another and can also be utilized to find spammy sites.

Regardless of how powerful links are compared to many years ago, know that SEO backlinks are needed. If you are not certain how to obtain the best links, you can contact Local SEO Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL. They can assist you in various search engine optimization services, as well as web marketing, and much more.

Will Google Be Forced To Disclose Its Search Algorithm To An SEO Professional?

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Will Google Be Forced To Disclose Its Search Algorithm To An SEO Professional?Google is currently involved in a lawsuit which has created a possibility that the flagship company might be forced to reveal its long and well-guarded algorithm secrets. The UK courts have given an ultimatum to Google that they either withdraw their defense evidence or reveal the search algorithm details. If this happens Google will be forced to hand over the search algorithm details to the working SEO consultant.

What happened?

This whole situation that Google finds itself in stems up from a lawsuit filed by a company called Foundem against Google in 2012. Although the lawsuit was filed in 2012 the actual events leading to the lawsuit started way back in 2006. Foundem has alleged Google that it was a victim of anti-competitive practices employed by Google. Foundem has claimed that Google deliberately ranked the Google products ahead of the Foundem products in the SERPs beginning in 2006. Foundem is now asking for damages due to loss of business as a result of being ranked incorrectly in the Google SERPs.

Let’s see what happened to Foundem. It was a vertical search engine that helped the users find the lowest online prices. The facility was available only to a select group of users before it was made available to all. However, before it was available to everyone Foundem appeared in the search results prominently. The company appeared on the first page of search engine results often while displaying the shopping-related results. After becoming available for everyone within two days Foundem was found buried in the search results of Google. It dropped from the first page to around the 12th page and many times around the 100th page. This appears suspicious because the search ranking of Foundem dropped only in Google and ranked highly for other search engines. This led Foundem to the conclusion that it was a measured action on part of Google to suppress opposition against Google Shopping.

Two Options for Google

For obvious reasons the mega search engine, Google is not willing to disclose its search algorithm secrets. But Google is also not willing to withdraw evidence that is critical to the organization for winning the lawsuit. These are the two choices available to Google at the moment while fighting the case. Of course, the only other choice available will be to settle the case. This means millions of dollars of settlement in damages not to mention that it means the creation of a perception that Google did something wrong. The best available scenario for Google at the moment is that it withdraws the evidence and yet somehow manages to win the case.

Foundem Asks for an SEO Professional

The Google search algorithms will be too tough for the lawyers to understand so Foundem argues that it wants to bring in an SEO expert for the purpose. It specifically wishes to bring Philipp Kloeckner for interpreting the Google search algorithm. Google, on the other hand, argues that providing information to SEO may compromise the integrity of the whole search engine ranking process. Foundem is not satisfied with the response and suggests that Google withdraws the documents it submitted as evidence so that no one will ever see them but Google says they are critical for proving its defense. Therefore, there is no case without these documents.

The Ultimatum by the Judge

For moving this case along the judge had to step in and he ordered that Google either withdraw the documents or allow them to be seen by the SEO expert Kloeckner. If Google stays firm on not withdrawing the documents the judge in all probability will grant permission to the SEO expert to view them. The court is giving Google a reasonable time to make up its mind. If you are keen on improving your local SEO ranking in the Jacksonville area get in touch with Local SEO Jacksonville rather than taking up the task yourself.