Addressing Some of the Recent Changes at Google

Google has always changed and shifted with the times. It’s come a long, long way from being a very simple search engine with a box in the middle of the page and few other features. The ability that the company has shown to respond to changes and to provide their own updates as the internet evolves is one of the reasons for its longevity. Many other search engines have risen and fallen, but Google continues to be popular. It is important to know how to use it properly for your business to succeed, and that means addressing some of these changes and implementing strategies to make the most of them.

Below, we’ll take a look at just a few of the new updates to show you how to address them and what they’ll mean for you. Make sure you continue to keep an eye on upcoming changes, though, as nothing at Google seems to stay static for very long.

Making Things Easier for People Running Searches

First and foremost, Google’s overall focus has been on making things as easy as they can for your readers, the people using their computers and other devices to run these searches. Part of the reason for this is just that there has been an uptick in all sorts of online traffic since the beginning of COVID. This notoriously applies to online shopping, but it applies to many other areas, as well — research, connections with friends, sharing of photos and videos, and even the way that people work. The easier things can be for the user, the more they’ll see Google as a benefit to their daily lives. You must keep up with these changes so that your site is easy to use and reflects Google’s own values, allowing you to have greater visibility.

Sorting New Reviews

Secondly, new reviews are being deliberately marked and tagged as new. They may show up at the top of your local reviews with a small box next to them declaring that they are new, along with the date on which the review was posted. While the composite score for your business still considers all reviews, readers may be more likely to read the newest ones first. This means that you can repair your reputation if you’ve had negative reviews in the past, and the work you do on this end will be more valuable than it would have been before.

Allowing Variants in Exact Match

The idea of an “exact match” keyword sounds obvious enough: The results are only returned if there is a perfect match. And that used to be true. In recent changes, though, Google has started to allow some variants, as well. They still have to be quite close, but it’s not as exact as you may assume. This can allow for a wider range of hits on an exact match keyword. It’s important to remember this when considering how you want to categorize your keywords and exactly which ones you want to use.

Have You Considered These Changes?

Whether you’ve already started considering these changes or you’re surprised to learn about them today, we can help you address them at Content Customs. We have the experience and knowledge needed to help you respond to every future change, as well, meaning you’re always in a position to succeed. Call today to learn more.