Google Hummingbird – Is it good for SEO?

The latest to the Google family, Hummingbird, has caused a bit of panic with webmasters following the announcement. But, when the announcement came that this change, which is the biggest to come in 12 years, has already been in work for a few months, some of those worries dissipated. Even though about 90% of sites will be affected, the delivery of Hummingbird was quite unnoticed.

So what’s different?

Long tail search queries are what Google Hummingbird targets, which is a search mode that should increase in coming years. With Google Glass, and other recent releases, more and more people are more comfortable using Google, and other search engines, for SEO searches. But, more people are using questions and queries, rather than single search terms; this new model tends to focus on what the searcher is looking for, and is making an aim to pose a much more focused response to the query.

Geographical positions are also meant to be targeted, with mobile devices and Hummingbird. For example, a GPS will be used for those who search: “5 star resorts;” the responses will be returned via the searcher’s location. This and other features are used to help increase relevancy of searches, and to help provide clearer results and answers with searches made.

What can be done to stay on the right side with Hummingbird?

Original, high quality content, has always been what Google has pushed for. So, for webmasters who are worried about dropping in ranks, with new algorithms and tweaks, Google guarantees they will not drop, as long as content is valuable to searchers, and provides them with useful information, rather than content that is clearly keyword stuffed for higher rankings. Your site’s SERP (search engine rank page) will not change if you follow Google’s advice. Below are some tips to help your site rank, and to provide searchers with useful content.

1. Content

Using Google Plus, and all the latest updates, is most relevant to site production. Up to date, and constantly updated content, which provide answers and results, and provide some kind of value to the searcher, is not going to go unnoticed by Google when determining SERP rankings.

2. Technology

Site loading speed, and other technological updates, such as a mobile site, are some things that can bolster site ranking as well. Any top developer knows how to incorporate these things, and create a quick moving site, to ensure a higher ranking for your business.

3. Social media

Follows, likes, tweets, and using new mediums like Google Plus, are stronger than ever when it comes to ranking with SEO; and, using social media activities, to engage your visitors, is also going to help. So, as a business owner, your presence on social media sites, as many of them as possible, is a good thing when it comes to ranking.

4. Backlinks

Its not quantity, but quality. When it comes to backlinks, those coming from reputable social media visitors, or from other companies in your industry, are going to go much further in helping you rank, than the links you purchased in the past. When SEO just began, hundreds of links meant higher ranks; today, one or two links, from credible sources, will do much more for your site’s rank.

Expelling SEO myths

SEO requires structure; the algorithms used avoid bias, and are chosen to help the best sites, receive highest ranks. So, it is important to avoid the traps, and following a set pattern, as this does not work. It is best to work with a credible host, and one that knows what SEO looks for, to ensure a higher rank, rather than just stuffing the site with keywords and irrelevant content.

The new, and consistent changes that appear with Google (as well as with other SEO search sites), is not something that you should fear as a business owner, but is something that should be embraced, as a means to help improve your rank, and your position as a leader in your industry. By keeping up with these changes, and outsmarting the competition in your industry, not only will it result in better rank, it is also going to result in giving your site visitors more of what they are looking for, via the searches they make today.