As 2018 draws to close, it’s time to reflect on how much Google has evolved since the start of the year. In particular, it is important to reflect on the changes that Google has made, and how search engine optimisation in Australia has evolved in order to respond to these changes. This year, there were three changes undergone by Google that affected SEO drastically. These changes were the Search Quality Update, the Mobile-First Indexing Rollout Update and the Halloween Update.
Search Quality Update
This rather large update was released on the 1st of August 2018, which consisted of a massive revision of Google’s search quality guidelines, so that they can improve the quality of search results. Unlike other search quality updates, which have focused on evaluating the reputation of websites, this update was heavily focused around evaluating the reputations of the content creators. Focusing on the reputation of the content creators allows for Google to filter out actual information from any doctored information, in response to an increasing presence of ‘fake news’.
The Mobile-First Indexing Rollout Update
The Mobile-First Indexing Rollout Update was launched on the 26th of March 2018, and it vastly changed how Google views its searching. For Google, mobile-first indexing means that Google has shifted its reliance on desktop sites to a reliance on mobile sites during Google’s indexing process. This means that Google now uses the mobile versions of websites in order to determine its relevance to searchers. Google did this in response to the constantly-growing number of people who rely on their mobile phones to use Google.
The Halloween Update
The Halloween Update began to appear early in November 2018, when many SEO specialists began to notice massive ranking shifts to a large number of keywords. However, despite these massive changes, no one from Google actually stated that there was an update occurring around this time, leaving this update unconfirmed. Regardless, SEO specialists around the world have taken note of these changes and made changes to their strategies in response to the update.
These are just three of the multiple updates that Google made to their algorithm this year and it’s expected that Google will be launching many more updates in 2019, meaning that businesses and SEO specialists will have to adapt. If you’re a business owner who doesn’t have the time to delve into SEO, or doesn’t know much about SEO, talk to FX Web Studio, one of Sydney’s leading digital marketing and SEO firms. We’ve improved the rankings of businesses in Sydney and across the nation, and we’ll work with you to develop a custom-made and affordable SEO solution that’s tailored to your business. If you’d like to know more about our high-quality SEO strategies, give us a call on 1300 090 401 today.
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