As I preach to all of our prospects and clients, Google will rank your website higher in their search results if you build your website to be a helpful and valuable source of information for your customers.
In the Google Webmaster Tool’s documentation on Ranking , pointed out to me by this article on Search Engine Land, states:
In general, webmasters can improve the rank of their sites by creating high-quality sites that users will want to use and share.
This is an update from their old mantra of building high-quality links that point to your website will help improve your search rankings.
Why Google’s Ranking Advice Is Great For Your Business
When Google was ranking websites with an algorithm more heavily weighted towards tactics (like link building) that could be skewed if the power was in the wrong hands (sketchy SEO “agencies”). Businesses could build a few page website, pay one of these SEO companies to start ranking, a bunch of links are bought and you can earn a top ranking on Google.
The problem with this is that when someone visits your website, they may not find your information to be the most relevant to them or the most helpful.
Google’s job is to provide the most helpful answer to the search terms that their customers are typing in.
Now that Google has shifted their ranking advice for businesses to build quality websites, the end customer will benefit the most. But more importantly, the business will now have to focus on creating information that will actually help their visitor and in turn will lead to more conversions!
While some more lazy companies or dedicated SEO firms may not be happy about this because they were content with creating 500 profiles around the web for low-quality links to their sites and paying for some more high-quality ones, it is ultimately a good thing for businesses and for consumers.
By updating their algorithm to reward knowledgable businesses, they are actually making the Internet a better place.
What Are Your Thoughts On The Updated Google Ranking Advice?
Do you think it’s a good thing that Google is now clearly stating that quality websites will rank higher?
Has your website been effected negatively or positively over the last few Google updates?
Leave your answers in the comments below!