Google Caffeine and What"s New in Page Ranking
Google will be introducing its new search engine named Google Caffeine.
It is going to be more like double espresso if they have things working they way it is intended.
More than just an updated engine, Caffeine is really a spanking new search engine with all new formulas and calculations and factors that affect your site.
In other words, if your web site WAS optimized, it might not be when Caffeine rolls out.
Google's spokesperson, Matt Cutts, previously stated that Caffeine will be rolled out after the holidays.
They were being kind and didn't want web site owners and masters of the web universe to have to work feverishly to revamp websites in lieu of celebrating.
The other consideration of course was to not disrupt holiday internet buying for on-line retailers.
Thank you for that.
There was a beta version available over the summer but it is not available now.
Web site owners and operators will have to begin digging into the documentation and testing to learn how to adjust to keep their websites from falling from grace.
There are some little secrets that are already known that you should prepare for.
The newest contestant in search engine optimization is SPEED.
That's right - speed.
If you have a slow loading site or a flash introduction that takes a bit to wind up for play, this will penalize your site rankings.
Anything else such as large improperly sized graphics or complex navigation systems can also slow your site down.
Page quality and broken links are two more aspects that will now affect your page rank.
Google doesn't want to be sending their searchers to a poorly designed, unprofessional looking site or page of information where the links aren't working.
It is not as though Google has become a snob, but they rely on ad revenue and so it is important that they pay attention to where they send their searchers.
The better the quality of a search, the more likely you will select Google over a competitive search engine.
This is a simple formula for good business.
Since on-page factors will be impacting rank, it is time to revisit your overall web design.
o Is it designed well and attractive? o Do you have unique content? o How is your navigation? Please tell me you aren't using flash or other unreadable codes.
o Do you have your titles, meta tags and descriptions containing your keywords? o Do you have alt tags on all of your images? o Have you gotten rid of frames and started using CSS? o How are your incoming links? Are you tracking if you are getting social bookmarks? o Have you been watching your traffic, bounce rates, pages viewed and time on site stats? Social Bookmarking is going to become a major factor in page rankings.
Search engines are living up to their pledge of a democratic web "for the people and by the people.
" We can expect to see page rankings affected by rating sites and social bookmarking sites such as Yelp, Stumbleupon, Digg and others.
This is great news really.
It levels the playing field in that you no longer have to compete with mega corporations with mega budgets buying links.
Now, you just have to get people to like you.
What To Do In 2010 All is not lost.
If you have already invested heavily in search engine optimization efforts or redesigned your web site, you are probably in good shape for starters.
Your site age and reputation should still serve you well.
If you have a keyword domain name, this too should continue to be valuable.
However, things are changing fast and radically so you will need to revisit your site to insure that you have covered the items above and please read on as there is more.
Google and Bing are Loco for Local.
Google knows who is searching and where they are searching from.
They probably already have an idea of what the searcher wants.
Data mining and technology have become both a comfort and a bit invasive.
However, the important thing here is to understand that your website should have features that help the search engines determine your geographic area of interest.
The following are a few things you can take care of to help Google offer you up in a local search result.
o Have you registered for Google and Bing local business? o Have you maximized those listings with keywords and complete information? o Do you have a Google map on your website depicting your location and area served? o Do you have a complete mailing address and phone number on every page of your website? o Have you installed hcards in your code? o Are you registered with other local business associations with back links to your site? Give the Search Engines What They Want.
I am not recommending that you design and write for search engines, however, if you are doing it well for your audience and are attracting traffic that actually stays on your site and engages, then the search engines will take notice.
Now might be a good time to invite colleagues, friends and family to go through your website and give you an honest evaluation.
Is it pleasing to look at? Is the navigation logical and easy to follow? Is the content readable, unique and interesting? Is your site intuitive, meaning visitors know what to do, where to look for the information they seek and do they know how to reach you and engage with you? Get to know Google better.
Knowing how Google thinks and works will be a guide for you and your web and marketing teams to develop a stronger relationship with the mighty search engine as you work your way up the page ranks.
Understanding how Google categorizes their rankings for example, did you know that they are divided into five possible categories: Info listings, Video listings, News Listings, Shopping Listings and Corporate Listings.
Make sure that your keywords and content are addressing as many of these categories as possible.
Blogging.
If you aren't blogging on your website, all I can say is "WHY NOT?" Search engines love blogging.
Bloggers love other blogs, audiences want to get information and get to know you and your company.
You have to begin blogging.
If you don't think you can, hire a professional to help you get started and sustain a regularly scheduled blog.
Get your staff and managers to blog with you.
Do whatever it takes to get going! And remember, blogging is not sales promotion, it is information sharing.
Go Social.
This is the year to pick up the pace on social media marketing and social networking.
Build your fans and followers, engage with conversations, share good material and resources, be helpful and reach out and touch as many connections as possible.
Step it up this year because those audiences are the ones, if your content is worthwhile, who will retweet, digg, flag, and rate your site and your material.
These are the signals that the search engines will be watching for to rate your site for ranking in searches.
2010 will require that you stir up those creative juices, stimulate your creative teams, try new things, explore new social sites, explore and engage.
Tweet freely, link lavishly, and share great content where ever and whenever possible!
It is going to be more like double espresso if they have things working they way it is intended.
More than just an updated engine, Caffeine is really a spanking new search engine with all new formulas and calculations and factors that affect your site.
In other words, if your web site WAS optimized, it might not be when Caffeine rolls out.
Google's spokesperson, Matt Cutts, previously stated that Caffeine will be rolled out after the holidays.
They were being kind and didn't want web site owners and masters of the web universe to have to work feverishly to revamp websites in lieu of celebrating.
The other consideration of course was to not disrupt holiday internet buying for on-line retailers.
Thank you for that.
There was a beta version available over the summer but it is not available now.
Web site owners and operators will have to begin digging into the documentation and testing to learn how to adjust to keep their websites from falling from grace.
There are some little secrets that are already known that you should prepare for.
The newest contestant in search engine optimization is SPEED.
That's right - speed.
If you have a slow loading site or a flash introduction that takes a bit to wind up for play, this will penalize your site rankings.
Anything else such as large improperly sized graphics or complex navigation systems can also slow your site down.
Page quality and broken links are two more aspects that will now affect your page rank.
Google doesn't want to be sending their searchers to a poorly designed, unprofessional looking site or page of information where the links aren't working.
It is not as though Google has become a snob, but they rely on ad revenue and so it is important that they pay attention to where they send their searchers.
The better the quality of a search, the more likely you will select Google over a competitive search engine.
This is a simple formula for good business.
Since on-page factors will be impacting rank, it is time to revisit your overall web design.
o Is it designed well and attractive? o Do you have unique content? o How is your navigation? Please tell me you aren't using flash or other unreadable codes.
o Do you have your titles, meta tags and descriptions containing your keywords? o Do you have alt tags on all of your images? o Have you gotten rid of frames and started using CSS? o How are your incoming links? Are you tracking if you are getting social bookmarks? o Have you been watching your traffic, bounce rates, pages viewed and time on site stats? Social Bookmarking is going to become a major factor in page rankings.
Search engines are living up to their pledge of a democratic web "for the people and by the people.
" We can expect to see page rankings affected by rating sites and social bookmarking sites such as Yelp, Stumbleupon, Digg and others.
This is great news really.
It levels the playing field in that you no longer have to compete with mega corporations with mega budgets buying links.
Now, you just have to get people to like you.
What To Do In 2010 All is not lost.
If you have already invested heavily in search engine optimization efforts or redesigned your web site, you are probably in good shape for starters.
Your site age and reputation should still serve you well.
If you have a keyword domain name, this too should continue to be valuable.
However, things are changing fast and radically so you will need to revisit your site to insure that you have covered the items above and please read on as there is more.
Google and Bing are Loco for Local.
Google knows who is searching and where they are searching from.
They probably already have an idea of what the searcher wants.
Data mining and technology have become both a comfort and a bit invasive.
However, the important thing here is to understand that your website should have features that help the search engines determine your geographic area of interest.
The following are a few things you can take care of to help Google offer you up in a local search result.
o Have you registered for Google and Bing local business? o Have you maximized those listings with keywords and complete information? o Do you have a Google map on your website depicting your location and area served? o Do you have a complete mailing address and phone number on every page of your website? o Have you installed hcards in your code? o Are you registered with other local business associations with back links to your site? Give the Search Engines What They Want.
I am not recommending that you design and write for search engines, however, if you are doing it well for your audience and are attracting traffic that actually stays on your site and engages, then the search engines will take notice.
Now might be a good time to invite colleagues, friends and family to go through your website and give you an honest evaluation.
Is it pleasing to look at? Is the navigation logical and easy to follow? Is the content readable, unique and interesting? Is your site intuitive, meaning visitors know what to do, where to look for the information they seek and do they know how to reach you and engage with you? Get to know Google better.
Knowing how Google thinks and works will be a guide for you and your web and marketing teams to develop a stronger relationship with the mighty search engine as you work your way up the page ranks.
Understanding how Google categorizes their rankings for example, did you know that they are divided into five possible categories: Info listings, Video listings, News Listings, Shopping Listings and Corporate Listings.
Make sure that your keywords and content are addressing as many of these categories as possible.
Blogging.
If you aren't blogging on your website, all I can say is "WHY NOT?" Search engines love blogging.
Bloggers love other blogs, audiences want to get information and get to know you and your company.
You have to begin blogging.
If you don't think you can, hire a professional to help you get started and sustain a regularly scheduled blog.
Get your staff and managers to blog with you.
Do whatever it takes to get going! And remember, blogging is not sales promotion, it is information sharing.
Go Social.
This is the year to pick up the pace on social media marketing and social networking.
Build your fans and followers, engage with conversations, share good material and resources, be helpful and reach out and touch as many connections as possible.
Step it up this year because those audiences are the ones, if your content is worthwhile, who will retweet, digg, flag, and rate your site and your material.
These are the signals that the search engines will be watching for to rate your site for ranking in searches.
2010 will require that you stir up those creative juices, stimulate your creative teams, try new things, explore new social sites, explore and engage.
Tweet freely, link lavishly, and share great content where ever and whenever possible!
