The Changing Face of Search Engine Optimization

With the ever evolving internet market for just about anything you can imagine and Google's index growing to almost 9 billion pages, and counting, there is little dispute amongst search engine optimizers that our job is getting much harder. From linking to articles, and density to ontology, our industry changes as fast as any other. The search engines, especially Google, seem to be on a daily diet of change and their algorithm seems to be growing at the rate of their index.

The word 'related' plays a much bigger part in SEO today than it ever has in the past. Instead of targeting an exact keyword phrase, it now makes a lot more sense to keep your site within context and to have related words to your keywords, compared to having density of one keyword phrase. Linking has also turned into a frenzy for relevancy. Unrelated links seem to no longer carry much weight at all. The theme through all of Google's recent changes seems to come down to one cliché: quality over quantity.

Just like with any other update at Google, optimizers must search and research their profession, however it seems to be happening more often than ever. You can't walk through our office without hearing Google's name a thousand times. We have unofficial RND (research and development) meetings almost every hour as there seems to constantly be new ideas and theories popping into all of our heads. In the past there were always changes to the way we've done our work, but the pace of this change is accelerating rapidly as well as the competition for online searchers.

MSN seems to be creating a buzz and they've just recently started a national television ad campaign. Their search results resemble Google's of 6 months ago, a time that will go down in SEO history as "the good old days", and also a time that Google's SERPs seemed a lot more relevant than they do today. New search engines seem to be popping up all over the place, and after all, wasn't Google a virtual unknown 5 years ago?

One of the best points made to me over the past month came at the preview of the new become.com search engine in California, where founder Michael Yang decreed this to be only the very beginning in the history of online search. Whatever happens in Google's future, and the future of online search, there is one thing for certain: only the most intelligent and innovative of SEO companies are going to stay above the bar and continue to find ways to get their clients, and themselves, to the top.

Bobby Heard (bheard@abalone.ca) is the Vice-President of Abalone Designs ( http://www.abalone.ca), which offers great SEO results at affordable prices.

---

How to Pick an SEO Firm

If you're looking for an SEO firm, we recommend that... Read More

Playing By Googles Rules

As the undisputable leader in search engines, Google places a... Read More

Increase Your Link Popularity for Free

Among the many things you need to worry about for... Read More

Optimize Your Site Pt2

6: The hidden benefits to having the right links. Every... Read More

SEO Expert Guide - Search Engines Explained (part 1/10)

Before we explore the world of search engine optimization, it... Read More

How to Make a Title Tag that Search Engines Will Love

Making the following changes to your title tag can help... Read More

The Smart Way To Get Listed On Google!

So you want to get listed on Google? And you... Read More

How to Develop a Successful ROI for Your Website

Are You Really Measuring for Return on Investment (ROI) with... Read More

Should You Buy Text Links?

You can rank number one (Or at least in the... Read More

Google Gunning For Directories?

Why is it that webmasters are so quick to blame... Read More

The SEO Game - Do You Play It?

Most people do not think of SEO as a game.... Read More

Link Popularity: Why Its The Best Investment You Can Do For Your Business

More and more search engines rank your web pages based... Read More

Do It Yourself SEO

Internet surfers use search engines more than any other tool... Read More

Reciprocal Link Exchange Management Software

When shopping online for Link Management Software that can... Read More

10 Ways to Make Sure Your SEO Goes Out of Its Way for You

If they want to have success, companies should do everything... Read More

Search Engine Rankings for Beginners

Search engine optimization is best left in the mystical land... Read More

Boost Your Website Rankings with Expert Content

The chase for a high web ranking is constantly on... Read More

How To See What Pages Of Your Site Google Has In Its Index

There is a lag time between the indexing or updating... Read More

Search Engine Optimization: Creative Ways To Acquire Natural Back Links

Search engines use algorithms calculate the order in which the... Read More

Basic Search Engine Promotion

I can't tell you how many times people have asked... Read More

How To Improve Your Search Engine Ranking

With search engines like Google currently indexing over 8 billion... Read More

Press Releases Can Increase Search Engine Positioning

When you write a press release, what is your ultimate... Read More

Search Engine Spam

Running an online business relies to a greater or lesser... Read More

2 Powerful Ways To Capitalize on Your Search Engine Traffic

Many marketers know that search engine marketing is among one... Read More

Are Search Engines Worth It Any More?

The "Number One" Question - the question that I (and... Read More

The Importance of Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization is a key to any successful internet... Read More

Five Simple Steps to Getting Links to Your Site

Today if you want your site to survive in the... Read More

PageRank and How It Gets Assigned

We know that each and every website page is assigned... Read More

Seecrets on Website Promotion: Search Engine Wars ? a Different Perspective

The objective of all search engine providers is epitomized by... Read More

Optimum SEO Keyword Density ? A Real-Life Case Study

So you've built your website, you know what keywords you... Read More

Are You A Google Junkie

Google this, Google that, Google Google Google.......My name is Debbie... Read More

New Free Online Tool for Keyword Research

I came across a new website the other day and... Read More

Hiring An SEO Constultant - 10 Reasons Why You Should

It crosses every webmaster's mind anytime they see an ad... Read More