Understanding the Essence of Google Core Algorithm Updates

Google’s core algorithm updates are not mere incremental adjustments; they represent significant overhauls in how Google assesses and ranks web pages. These updates recalibrate the search engine’s core functionalities, influencing which websites secure coveted top spots in search results.

How Often Does Google Change Their Algorithm?

Google’s algorithms are in a state of perpetual refinement, with minor updates occurring almost daily. However, core algorithm updates, like the one in November 2024, are less frequent but pack a much more significant punch. These updates often trigger noticeable fluctuations in website rankings and reshape the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Dissecting the November 2024 Google Core Algorithm Update

While Google maintains a degree of secrecy around the intricate details of each update, the overarching goal remains consistent: to elevate the overall quality of search results. Several key areas typically receive heightened emphasis:

Content Relevance

Google’s primary objective is to surface content that precisely aligns with the user’s search intent. This underscores the need for websites to feature high-quality, informative, and relevant content that directly addresses the specific needs and queries of their target audience.

User Experience

A seamless and positive user experience is paramount in Google’s evaluation criteria. Factors such as website loading speed, mobile-friendliness, intuitive navigation, and clear presentation contribute significantly to how Google perceives your website’s value to users.

Authority and Trust 

Google’s algorithms prioritize websites that exude authority and trustworthiness in their respective domains. Establishing your website as a reliable source of information involves building high-quality backlinks from reputable sources, ensuring a secure website with HTTPS, and cultivating positive user engagement signals.

Impact of the November 2024 Update on Your Website

This update, like its predecessors, has the potential to significantly impact your website’s search rankings. Here are some potential outcomes:

Increased Visibility

Websites that meticulously adhere to Google’s best practices, prioritize user experience, and offer valuable content may experience a boost in their search rankings, leading to increased visibility and organic traffic.

Decreased Visibility

Conversely, websites with underlying issues related to content quality, user experience, or authority may witness a decline in their search rankings, potentially resulting in reduced visibility and organic traffic.

Fluctuations in Rankings

It’s not uncommon to observe some initial fluctuations in rankings as the update rolls out and Google refines its understanding of your website’s content and relevance.

A Strategic Approach to Adapting to the Google Updated Algorithm

While a core algorithm update may seem daunting, it’s crucial to recognize that these changes ultimately aim to reward websites that genuinely prioritize user experience and deliver high-quality content. Here’s a strategic approach to adapt and thrive in this evolving landscape:

Prioritize E-E-A-T

Google’s E-E-A-T principle, encompassing Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, has become even more critical. Establish your website as a credible and reliable source of information by creating content backed by expertise, actively building high-quality backlinks from reputable sources, and maintaining a secure and user-friendly website.

Content is King

Content remains the cornerstone of a successful online presence. Ensure your website offers valuable, relevant, and well-written content that effectively addresses the needs and queries of your target audience. Regularly update your content to ensure its freshness, accuracy, and ongoing relevance.

Optimize for User Experience

A seamless and positive user experience is non-negotiable. Prioritize website speed, mobile-friendliness, and intuitive navigation to ensure visitors can easily find the information they seek and engage with your content effortlessly.

Monitor Your Website’s Performance

Vigilance is key in the dynamic digital landscape. Continuously monitor your website’s traffic and search rankings using tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics. Identify any significant changes or fluctuations and proactively adjust your strategies to maintain or improve your performance.

Call on the Dallas SEO Dogs for Your SEO Solutions

Google’s November 2024 core algorithm update serves as a potent reminder that the digital landscape is in a constant state of flux. By prioritizing high-quality content, user experience, and website authority, you can not only weather these updates but also thrive in the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization.

If you’re seeking expert guidance in navigating these changes or optimizing your website for enhanced search performance, our team at SEO Dogs is ready to assist! Reach out to our marketing company today to explore how we can help you achieve your digital marketing goals and elevate your online presence.

FAQs About Google Core Algorithm Updates

Q: How does the Google search algorithm work?

Google’s search algorithm is a sophisticated system that employs hundreds of factors to evaluate the relevance and ranking of web pages. It analyzes content, user experience, backlinks, and a myriad of other signals to deliver the most relevant and valuable results for a user’s search query.

Q: What is a Google Core Algorithm Update?

A Google Core Algorithm Update is a significant change to Google’s search algorithm that fundamentally impacts how websites are evaluated and ranked. These updates occur several times a year and serve to improve the overall quality and relevance of search results.

Q: How can I recover from a Google Core Algorithm Update penalty?

It’s important to note that there’s no “penalty” in the traditional sense. If your website’s ranking declines after a core update, it’s likely due to underlying issues with your content, user experience, or authority. Focus on proactively improving these areas to regain your rankings and enhance your website’s visibility.

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Your Title Isn’t Captivating or Optimized

Your blog post can have the most interesting topic in your industry and none of it can matter because you simply failed to put effort into your post’s title. Not only does your title need to catch the attention of your readers, but it also needs to catch the attention of Google. This is where proper optimization steps in. We suggest keeping your title to-the-point, creative, and useful for SEO purposes. Some tips to follow when trying to attain these title goals include:

• Using your main keyword in the title
• Creating a list or “How To” title
• Being proactively descriptive with your title.

Knowing the type of research that goes into the creation of a winning title is something that an experienced SEO team will be able to help you with. So remember, even with the perfect subject, without proper optimization, your blog could be dead on arrival.

The Meta Description is Off Topic

If you’ve used any type of search engine, then you have come across a meta description. This is the small block of text that previews what the page is you will be visiting. Creating a meta description that fits your post or site is key. Think of your meta description as an advertisement for your post. Make it attractive, and ensure that you use plenty of relevant keywords while still being succinct.

Failure to Optimize Permalink

The permalink, or, URL of your blog is something that many beginning bloggers don’t think about optimizing. Although this doesn’t require too much optimization, failure to optimize can create a crowded permalink that bogs down your potential rankings for the post. A well-optimized permalink will be:

• Unique
• Easy to recall
• Relevant
• Keyword-based

Not optimizing your permalink will result in the automatic use of every word in your blog’s title for your link. The key is knowing which words to omit and where to truly optimize.

Have You Utilized Links?

Remember, having a page that is pure text with no linking efforts is essentially a wasted post. Even though the creation of a blog has the purpose of bringing new ideas to your site, it can still be used as a map to similar pages that are useful for your reader. An excellent post will link to both external and internal content that will help bolster the point of the current post. Links are useful for expanding on your ideas without veering away from the current content at hand. An experienced SEO will be able to help determine where these types of links would best fit and which types of pages linked-to will help beef up your Google rankings.

Dallas SEO Dogs Creates, Optimizes and Promotes Our Client Content

Dallas SEO Dogs has a team of content creators that can help generate great content, utilize relevant keywords, and practice efficient optimization. We understand that writing content for your site is a job on its own, and that is why we are here to take this weight off of your shoulders. Contact Dallas SEO Dogs today and find out how our content approach has positively impacted the rankings of our current and past clients.    

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Keynote Speakers Reveal the Future of SEO

The keynote speakers at every State of Search are always something to look forward to and 2018 was no exception. The guest keynotes at this year’s event were:

• Purna Virji – Sr. Manager of Global Engagement at Microsoft
• Duane Forrester – VP, Industry Insights at Yext
• Mark Traphagen and Eric Enge of Perficient Digital
• Greg Gifford – VP of Search at DealerOn, Inc.

All of these speakers had important insight into the present and future of the industry. From the importance of understanding the science of voice search to the importance of creating meaningful interaction through creative content, there was much to be learned from every speaker. While all of the speakers had an interesting topic to discuss, one that particularly peaked our interest was about the importance of focusing on local SEO efforts and how to do so. Many of the clients we work with are focused on being the best in their local areas. So, by learning more about the importance of local exposure and how to make the most of where a business is actually located, we found this to be an important topic to expand upon in the future.

Ad Customization and Testing is Key to SEO Success

Blake Burch of PMG brought up the interesting topic of fully automated search ads. Burch discussed how ad customizers can easily show an audience that a deal is relevant to their current location. Burch then expanded on the importance of creating different ad variations in order to test which variation performs better for a brand.

Social Media Splashes at State of Search

One important topic in the SEO industry is always going to be social media advertising. This is an area of the industry that requires a team to walk the fine line of creativity and understanding the science behind their work. This year’s State of Search covered some extremely relevant social media topics that included:

• How easy it is to ruin a business’ reputation through SM mistakes
• How to preserve and protect your brand through SM efforts
• Spotting a true SM influencer
• Taking the right approach to “Next Generation Social Media Marketing”
• Facebook strategies that fly under the radar

Content is Still King

Yes. well-written and thoughtful content will always be a cornerstone to successful SEO, and State of Search 2018 confirmed this point. Some of the key ideas that speakers were presenting at the event revolved around building the right team to meet content needs and properly coordinating, testing, and promoting your creative content. One topic that was especially interesting about content was presented by Enge. According to Enge, it is no longer the primary source of content that matters to Google. In the current state of the industry, Google is beginning to reward domains that put out secondary and tertiary content.

Keep Up With Dallas SEO Dogs for More Industry Tips

State of Search 2018 was a gathering of minds that covered a variety of issues that can’t be fully appreciated through a single recap. Dallas SEO Dogs is dedicated to bringing our clients the best knowledge and information out there in the SEO landscape. Stick with us as we dive deeper into the issues and tips brought up at State of Search 2018 and how they can impact your SEO success in the coming year. If you are a business owner that wants their business ranking higher on search engines, we can help. Contact Dallas SEO Dogs today to find out about our services and how to set up a consultation with our team.

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Most Digital marketing companies offer comprehensive social media packages that include everything from everyday management to influencer outreach, targeted ad setup and monitoring, and custom graphic creation. 

However, thanks to the wonderful search engine we all love, small business owners can find pages upon pages of resources containing everything they need to know about social media marketing within seconds. This encourages many of them to take a DIY approach to social media management for their business.

What are the Advantages of Do It Yourself Social Media Marketing

There are many benefits to managing your company’s social media marketing yourself, but also quite a few challenges. Consider these factors when contemplating whether DIY social media is the right fit for your business.

Cheaper than hiring a marketing agency

Perhaps the most appealing part about any do-it-yourself project is the potential to save money. Marketing agencies charge hourly rates ranging anywhere from $70 to $200 per hour, while a DIY approach would cost near nothing for your time. As a small business owner, this is a big advantage of managing your company’s social media yourself.

No middleman 

When working with an agency, you must supply their team with information about daily events, announcements, etc. in order for them to know you’d like it published. DIY social media marketing takes a step out of this process by allowing you to post current and up-to-date information yourself, without a middleman.

Industry expertise

No one knows your business better than you. Hence, as the owner, you are the most qualified person to represent it. One of the most important components of a social media strategy is to assume the role of an expert in your industry, and when you (as the business owner) manage your own social media marketing, you are fulfilling that requirement.

Disadvantages of Do It Yourself Social Media Marketing

While there are many pros to managing your business’ social media marketing on your own, there are also cons you should be aware of.

Could cost more than hiring a marketing agency

Yes, I know – a few paragraphs earlier I was raving about how much money your DIY social media marketing efforts could save your business. However, that is assuming you manage it effectively. A botched social media campaign could end up costing you much more than it would if a professional social media manager set it up correctly from the start. It’s true that hiring an agency appears more expensive on the surface, but when considering the knowledge and skill level that comes with it, it may actually be worth it.

Time Consuming

One of the most common complaints we hear from small business owners about social media management is how much time it takes – especially for those who are beginners. Familiarizing yourself with each platform, learning and using the proper techniques, and corresponding with every commenter on your posts is cumbersome and overwhelming. 

While cutting out the middleman is a benefit in some ways, hiring a professional team to completely manage your social media marketing relieves you of a lot of stress, pressure, and work – allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.

Lack of Experience

Despite your best efforts to learn all about social media marketing, you may never reach the level of experience and expertise of professionals in the industry. While many business owners believe that social media management is as easy as what we do on our own personal social networking accounts, marketing a brand is a whole other ballgame. 

Agencies and social media marketing professionals are knowledgeable in every facet of social media and can help make the absolute most of your social media presence.

DIY social media marketing is a great alternative for business owners with small marketing budgets. However, it is not for the faint of heart. A full-service social media marketing agency like Dallas SEO Dogs can help you build and maintain a strong social media strategy. Whether you’ve given the DIY approach a shot and decided it’s not for you or just evaluating your options, we can help build a package that is right for your budget and needs. Contact us today for a free social media evaluation and quote.

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1. The Evolution of Keyword Research

In the past, SEO companies have relied on various automated keyword search tools to generate their list of targeted terms. However, this is slowly becoming insufficient in terms of meeting Google’s expectations. According to Jenny Halasz, founder of JLH Marketing, Inc., “the best keyword tool is your brain, your client, and their customers.” Of course, this isn’t to say that automated keyword tools are obsolete; they just aren’t enough. The days of keyword-spammy titles and content are over. We’ve got to think outside the box to make sure that we are answering the right questions and giving users – not just Google – what they want. What this means for our clients: Let’s revisit your current keyword list. Rather than targeting specific terms related to your business or industry, make a list of the most frequently asked questions that your customers have about your service or product. Your project manager will help derive a few new keywords from these questions and use your site content to answer them.

2. The Rising Value of “Realness” in Social Media & Blogging

Have you ever scrolled right past an article shared on social media because of the cheesy, unauthentic image accompanying it? You are not the only one. During his session on “The Art of Social Media – Advanced Strategies and Hacks”, Jabez Lebret discussed the importance of “realness”. Users want genuine, real visuals, and stock images just don’t cut it anymore. Even the most badly lit, poorly composed photo will be more effective on social media than a highly-quality, yet phony stock photo. What this means for our clients: If your package with Dallas SEO Dogs includes content and/or social media, supply your project manager with as many “real” photos as possible. A satisfied client, a finished project, your staff, a product used in a practical way, and/or a service as its being completed all make for great photo subjects that current and potential customers want to see. Remember, the content and authenticity of the photos are more important than the quality.

3. Personalizing Social Media Efforts

Internet users, your potential customers, have basic human needs – to belong, communicate, and associate with real people. If you feel like your brand is disconnected from your target audience, it may be due to the simple fact that it does not fulfill these needs. A personal brand representative (PBR) is a great way to help establish a relationship between your brand and the user. Rather than just speaking to your audience behind the name of your company, implement a PBR who knows enough about your brand to tell its story from their own perspective. Your audience is far more likely to engage with a fellow human being. What this means for our clients: Find someone who is likable, knowledgeable, has integrity, and is passionate about your brand to pitch your message for you. Your PBR can be a company employee or a loyal customer, as long as they possess the aforementioned characteristics. Implementing a PBR, if done correctly, can convert your “Likes” into “Loves”.

4. Using Reddit for Social Media Marketing

The majority of our clients want to focus their efforts on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Instagram. However, many businesses are missing out on great marketing opportunities on Reddit. As of December 2015, Reddit had 200 million unique visitors. Although it isn’t typically thought of as a platform for social media marketing, Reddit is a cohesive community that offers engagement potential truly unlike any other medium. It puts you in direct communication with sub-communities based on location and interests. That being said, it takes much more work and effort than other forms of social media. Reddit ads require research, wit, humor, creativity, and constant interaction to appease Reddit’s notoriously aggressive audience. If done correctly, however, it can create brand awareness, community, and even content ideas. According to Brent Csutoras, CEO of Pixel Road Designs, “if you can succeed at Reddit ads, you can be successful anywhere.” What this means for our clients: Reddit isn’t for every business. However, if you think your business could benefit from Reddit Ads, ask your project manager to set up a meeting with one of our social media specialists for information on setting up an account.

5. Usefulness is King

Until now, content has been the reigning king of the SEO world. However, things are beginning to change. No matter how great your content is, if it isn’t useful to your potential customers, it is worthless. Internet users have questions, concerns, wants, and needs. Google knows this and has adapted new features like Google Snippets to serve them. If you want users to find you, provide clear and useful answers to their questions. Look beyond just traditional keyword research. Find out what they are looking for and use your content to give it to them. What this means for our clients: Your project manager may re-evaluate your site’s content to make sure that it is as useful as possible to your potential customers. He/she may recommend making changes or additions to certain pages to maximize their usefulness factor.   If there was one key theme repeated throughout the entire conference, it’s that SEO is not dead. It is continuously evolving, and will take more time and effort – including a lot of non-SEO work – to succeed at it. This requires an SEO team who is able to think outside of the box and is dedicated to staying up-to-date on all of the most current practices. As a client with Dallas SEO Dogs, you can rest assured knowing that as fast as SEO is evolving, so are we.  

The post Dallas SEO State of Search 2015 Recap appeared first on Dallas SEO Dogs.

Pay Per Click Advertising: The Pizza Example

This is the way I see it: If I take the time to search for “Pizza Hut”, that is what I specifically desire. If I search for Pizza Hut and click on Papa Johns, 99% of the time my finger slipped on my mouse or on a small touchscreen. Either way, I’m going to bounce out of Papa Johns website and pay more attention and go to the Pizza Hut website. Short of it is, I wasted a little bit of Papa Johns PPC budget. If you’re a huge corporation with a near limitless budget, you can handle the cost of that. If you’re a mom and pop pizza shop, that is a wasted opportunity. Even if the Cost Per Click is low, you are still losing money because a much lower percentage of people will end up converting for you. That’s not to say that competitive pay per click campaigns do not have a place. In the end, you need to evaluate your goals, how much money you’ll make from selling your service and how much you are willing to spend to acquire a new customer, because the marketing will add up quickly. If the additional cost is low and the potential revenue is high to offset the lower conversion rate, it is worth a shot! If the revenue opportunity is low and you have low margins, as in the example with the pizza companies, you’re probably going to be losing money on the advertising. In the end, always evaluate it based upon your cost per conversion, and if you have access to the data, your cost per customer acquisition.

Competitive Pay Per Click to Bid on Your Brand

Bidding on your own brand is a bit different. Generally, I’m against it. One thing to keep in mind is that many of the people searching for your name may actually be current clients or previous clients who are simply looking for your contact information, rather than new business. If someone can’t remember your number, they will look it. Because of this, I’ve found that branded & company keywords generally have higher conversion rates, but this is primarily due to the calls from current clients that already know you, which will inflate your numbers. The only way of getting around this is by having some really advanced conversion tracking systems in place.

Want to advertise your business via Pay Per Click but not sure where to start?

Give us a call at 214.760.8914 today to speak with one of our PPC specialists.

When it’s worth it

It can sometimes be beneficial to bid on your brand and company name. My perspective factors in three things:

1. Cost
2. Brand recognition
3. Organic rank

If you aren’t appearing very high for direct searches for your brand, do it. This will be a great way to “rent” the top of the search results page while you or your Dallas SEO team is hard at work to get you to rank better. If your brand is not well known within your industry or to your clients but you have good to great organic placement, run with it. You’ll be the first item on the Search Results page due to your Pay Per Click ad, and you’ll also be high up in the organic results. If you have a large enough budget or are not spending everything you have allocated, do it. Generally, your cost per clicks will be much cheaper than what you are seeing for your products and services. As a general rule of thumb, I rarely advise clients to bid on the competition or themselves, with a few exceptions. We need to be pushing your services and your products, not your overall brand.  

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