5 Facts About Google Hummingbird For SEO Beginners
Everything you need to know about Google’s new, evolutionary algorithm and what it means for the future of SEO.
Google uses search Algorithms to make the search process more efficient and effective for the consumer and the websites, that is how it indexes sites, produces the most relevant SERP etc. It has several different algorithms that work in tandem with each other, each serving a different purpose, the main algorithms are Panda and Penguin (apart from Hummingbird):
· Google Panda: Battles Poor and irrelevant content, making sure that SERP actually has pages that have the content you are looking for.
· Google Penguin: This is the Black Hat SEO’s enemy. This algorithm works to expose webpages with illicit back link schemes.
Google Hummingbird is the new core search algorithm that is currently being used by Google. Launched in September 2013 on Google’s 15th anniversary, Hummingbird is the first major Algorithm rewrite since 2001 according to Amit Singhal (Google search Chief).
Here are the fact of about Google Hummingbird that you must know if your are just starting off in the world of SEO
Fact 1: The Meaning Behind The Name
The Name was chosen to convey ‘Speed & Accuracy’ just like the bird. With people conducting more and more searches on Mobile phones, it has become clear that we need fast and accurate results. When someone uses a mobile phone to conduct a search it’s not a leisure activity, they are usually seeking information immediately, so making sure that they get the right information in the minimum possible time is essential.
Fact 2: What Hummingbird Does
The biggest change that came along with Hummingbird is“conversational search.” What does that mean? Danny Sullivan explains, “earlier when we would type a question into the Google search bar, it would look at the ‘content’ of the search not the context”. For example is the search Question was “where can I buy cookies near my apartment?” Google would look at separate words but not answer by showing the yelp page for “The Cookie house on 93rd and Lexington.” (provided it has access to location). Basically Google is now beginning to look at searches like a consumer, not someone who strategically types in Keywords. Google is being humanized.
Fact 3: The Knowledge Graph
Have you noticed the little boxes, the ones that show up on the right side of the SERP? They give you all the information that you need about something in a snippet, they are called the Knowledge Graphs, they are being optimized thanks to Hummingbird.
This could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on which side of search you are on: The consumer? Or the Website?
If you are the consumer, this is great, it’s fast and precise and this search result format means the least number of clicks and searching. But if you are a Website, this means that people don’t actually need to go onto your webpage anymore if they just need some basic information. As Asher Elran Puts it “Hummingbird has been known to be slightly partial to the Consumer.” Google wants to make the consumers life easier.
Fact 4: Hummingbird’s Impact on Google Plus & Social Media
Google now indexes all Google+ pages, meaning that by posting content on Google+, a marketer increases the chance for the content being found. Google cannot index other social media sites like Facebook and Twitter as completely as Google+ because Google does not own the data from other sites. This means marketers should work to increase their influence and credibility on Google+ by leveraging authentic engagement and participating social discourse frequently. Additionally, while Google will not confirm it, many experts believe that Google+ shares have a direct impact on search results.
Another way Hummingbird attempts to give users the most relevant results possible is by personalizing results as much as possible. For example, that content being shared inside someone’s Google+ circle is more likely to show up in their search results. This is another example of why businesses need to have a strong Google+ presence as also make sure their content is informative and interesting enough to be shared repeatedly.
Authorship should be used along with Google Plus, According to Google: “Using authorship helps searchers discover great information by highlighting content from authors who they might find interesting. If you’re an author, signing up for authorship will help users recognize content that you’ve written. Additionally, searchers can click the byline to see more articles you’ve authored or to follow you on Google+”
Fact 5: Pleasing The Hummingbird:
When Hummingbird was first released, there were endless articles about how this change would mean that all the rules of SEO known to us today will change, but that’s not True. Cracking Hummingbird means that: Now it’s time to think and write like a customer. Your entire website should be crafted to appeal to and help your customers find answers to their most important questions. This means taking on the voice they are most comfortable with and providing unique value as often as possible. Your blog posts should not only anticipate buyer interests, but they should also take your buyers to new places.
Here are 3 simple things to Keep in mind while creating content in line with Google Hummingbird:
1. Content Remains King
Hummingbird concentrates on the context of a phrase, as opposed to a specific keyword, content must be written in a more conversational, yet informative tone. Evergreen content, or articles that offer more in-depth insight into consumers’ questions, will reach the top of search results. These posts can include “how-to’s,” “what is,” “product reviews,” or “lists.”
2. It’s All About Mobility
While marketers are aware that their sites must be mobile-friendly in order to be accessible to consumers, Google’s Hummingbird has undoubtedly reiterated this important point. When creating content, whether it’s an email campaign or a blog post, keep in mind that users will be accessing it via their mobile devices. Because of this, your content should be concise and informative, augmented by eye-popping images or videos.
3. Keywords are Less Significant, But Not Dead
There’s been a great deal of talk about keywords since Hummingbird’s release. However, marketers need not worry if they have remained on the leading edge of SEO. As consumers make more conversational, longer search queries and use voice-activated search more frequently, long-tailed keywords will make a resurgence. With Hummingbird, SEO will become more about giving users meaningful, relevant content and less about optimizing
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