We saw from Katerina Gasset in her ActiveRain blog post on Facebook changes/challenges facing us in 2018 as business people using Facebook business pages. Well, Google has its own set of new criteria for 2018. Unlike Facebook, Google wants you to succeed by using rich content and authority while bringing web searchers the best, relevant information lightning fast.
Google Relevancy & Authority
Each year Google changes how they gauge or measure our postings and websites. As savvy web users figure out the elusive algorithms to find ways “cheats” to beat Google at its ranking processes, Google, in turn, creates new ways of measuring or ranking websites. Google for years has placed much emphasis on Relevancy and Authority.
Internet Competition
Today, almost everyone has a website or even multiple websites. There is a tremendous amount of competition from millions of websites and billions of pages all striving to be found on the internet.
Mobile Is Here
The big news for 2018 Google internet searches is the switch to Mobile as the main search devices in addition to Voice Searches, Longer Long Tail Phrases, and Snippets. The real story is the priority shift this year from desktop searches to Mobile searches in the eyes of Google. This is huge! We all know most home buyers began their search on mobile devices. Google is now saying mobile devices are the mainstays for searching and not computers!
Enter Voice Search
With Mobile devices taking center stage for Google searches, Voice Searches are quickly becoming the norm. Now its Siri, Alexa, and Google heading up the voice search. Google is monitoring the new popularity of voice search by phone and has begun changing its algorithms once again to compensate. The key for us is to think about the home buyer and what will he or she says on the cell phone to do a search. “Who is the best Realtor® near me? “Siri what houses in South Nashville have basements and swimming pools.” “Alexia, what is the price of this house on Franklin Road in Brentwood TN?”
Snippets Anyone?
The next big thing Google is doing to aid in its Voice Searches is Snippets. As defined on a Google extracted internet dictionary, a snippet is “a small piece or brief extract.” Google is analyzing the top-ranking pages and subjects to create an abbreviated synopsis or a tiny abstract with photos for the best ranking pages. Web pages and listings are being rewritten to accommodate voice search. This makes mobile much easier to web search while giving the user live phone and internet links. Google’s goal is to match content with the targeted user by the use of Artificial Intelligence or machine-driven searches.
Improved Meta Descriptions
Another big assist to those of us who blog and author website content are expanded Meta Descriptions and SEO Titles. This is huge! With our capabilities to add long tail key phrases and synopsis driven copy into extended descriptions will allow our postings to stand out in the ever-growing crowd. Remember, Google is looking for the top page rankings and this will help you get there. Only in the last couple weeks or so have we been able to just about double our character use for Meta Descriptions and SEO Titles. I am told by SEO experts (including Nashville's own Ross Jones 2thetop) we really need to become more creative with long tail phrases while expanding the length of better page recognition. Gone are the days of “Nashville homes for sale” or “Brentwood real estate for sale”.
And There's More
The surface has only been scratched with the new search technology for 2018. So, I will end with a couple of other thoughts. Make your websites load lightning fast, all pages need to load in under 1-2 seconds, 3 seconds max! Engage with your visitor, Google is watching not only how long website viewers stick around but if they actually get involved with you. Thirdly, YouTube, a Google company, has changed its MO. No longer does Google rank as a priority the number of visitors clicking on your video, but rather how long they watch your video!!!! There is something to be said for longer videos but only if the information is rich and compelling.
David Wright’s formal education includes an MA with Emphasis in Historic Preservation. He has worked in the corporate world as a museum curator, published author, and a professional photographer whose work has been published around the world in books, magazines, and brochures. When not working as a Realtor® David enjoys traveling to unique places while enjoying the culture, museums, food, and wine, and creating beautiful photographs of his travels.
David Wright, Realtor® - CRS, SRS, CNE - Real Estate Refined
Benchmark Realty LLC
318 Seaboard Lane, Suite 115
Franklin, TN 37067
615-500-4466 c. 615-371-1544 o.
http://www.thewrightdreamhome.com/
David Wright, Realtor® recent articles on homes in Brentwood and South Nashville, TN
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