9 Ways to Keep Google Happy

A recent Google patent application has the SEO community buzzing. At a bare minimum this document reveals the direction Google is taking its future search criteria. Changes in the way Google will be evaluating pages for search rankings are intended to address two major problems:

- Search engine spam, and

- Ensuring that "fresh" documents score higher than "stale" ones

Here is a summary of some of the general principles outlined in the document. Most SEO specialists agree these are reasonable principles, and it is only a matter of time before they are adopted.

1. Anchor text of links is still very important. Focus on your anchor text. It should contain your most important keyword.

2. Google expects that anchor texts will vary. A lot of identical anchor text suggests an "unnatural" linking pattern. Anchor texts should vary, but contain related phrases.

3. Google will record when specific links were first discovered, and watch how they change over time. Links with a long life span are considered more valuable than links with a short life span. This adds support to the link delay theory -- that links do not start "counting" until they have been in place for a few months. So get working on those links right now, but don't expect immediate gratification from Google.

4. If a new website gets a flood of new inbound links, this will be an indicator of possible spam activity. Links should be introduced gradually and according to a consistent pattern.

5. Google acknowledges that there may be link "spikes", and so an influx of new links will be interpreted as legitimate if some of the links are from "authoritative" sites. Go after links from authoritative sites.

6. If a stale webpage continues to receive new incoming links, it will be considered fresh. Keep adding links pointing to important pages.

7. Links from fresh pages will in some cases be more valuable than links from "stale" or old pages that have not been recently updated. Get links from pages that are active. If you have high value links from important sites, develop a strategy for keeping those links fresh.

8. Google places more value on a site where link growth remains constant and slow. Slow and steady wins the race. Keep getting those links.

9. Pages with many inbound links will require proportionately more new links in order to remain fresh. The assumption is that the more links a page has, the more it should be getting in the future. Otherwise it starts slipping into the "stale" category. Focus more attention on your most important pages.

Regardless of whether of not Google implements all of these criteria, the general direction is clear. More importantly, these points make good SEO sense, and provide a very good place to start when planning a link strategy.

Rick Hendershot publishes the Linknet Network, a group of websites and blogs that offer web owners advertising and link promotion opportunities.

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Wordtracker Wisdom: Common Keyword Questions and Answers

One of my favorite subjects to teach on at our... Read More

One Way Link Building Secures Long Term Ranking Results

One-way link building is a great way to improve your... Read More

SEO Training - Avoid Making this Costly Mistake!

SEO training can be overwhelming. There are literally hundreds of... Read More

PPC v Natural Search ? A Cost Comparison Case Study

The attraction of Pay Per Click (PPC) online advertising is... Read More

How Web Design Can Affect Search Engine Rankings

Uniquely built web sites can create unique issues when being... Read More

A Naive Mistake Cost Me My Google Rankings

Little do you know but you too could be making... Read More

All about SEO or SFO?

First let's start with definitions:SEO: Search Engine Optimization, SFO: Search... Read More

Tread Towards A Successful ?Internet Research?

Internet is a terrific resource containing billions of web pages... Read More

How To Get Listed In Google For Free

Google does not accept payment for inclusion in their main... Read More

Search Engine Saturation Tool ? A Must Have SEO Tool

Search Engines have become the soul of the Internet. They... Read More

An SEO Checklist

Would you like a checklist of the important steps to... Read More

How To Improve Your Search Engine Ranking

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

Ranked #1 at Google for Invisible Entrepreneurs But No Traffic?

I am ranked #1 for that silly phrase at Google.... Read More

Increase Your Link Popularity for Free

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

Google Website and Web Page Indexing for Dummies

You may have heard how important it is to have... Read More

SEO Expert Guide - Sitewide Optimization (part 4/10)

In parts 1 and 2 you learnt how to develop... Read More

Recommended Tools When You Put On The SEO Cap For Your Web Site

The name of the game is search engine optimization and... Read More

How Do I Submit My Site To Search Engines?

You've built up a good site, put in a lot... Read More

How to Choose Keywords to Theme Your Pages and Boost Your Traffic

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is... Read More

Google Sitemaps Just Got Better

Having a Google Sitemap just got better! Not only does... Read More

Dont Focus Too Much on Your Internet Business Website Ranking

No doubt, having a high search engine ranking is very... Read More

Google Love - Five Top Tips To Make Google Love Your Site

1. Google love ...Google and all its programming is not... Read More

New Free Online Tool for Keyword Research

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

Can Google Really Deliver Country Specific Searching?

This is a serious matter, can Google really deliver top... Read More

Use Keyword Articles for Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization is very important for your online business... Read More

Search Engine Optimization With Sitemaps

I just wanted to share a little Search Engine Optimization... Read More

The Importance of Search Engine Optimization

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

Build Link Popularity The Smart Way

A Brief Introduction To Link PopularityAs webmasters research various ways... Read More

New MSN Search Engine: How Good is it?

If you have an online business or you just use... Read More

Owning Your Category Online - Is Our Website Broken?

"Owning your business category online is more than just a... Read More

Link Swapping - How to Win the Website Marketing Game in 3 Easy Steps

If you are a webmaster, chances are one of your... Read More

SEO, the Simplified Version

Lets get things straight. SEO is a very competitive market.... Read More

Creating A Search Engine Copywriting Plan

Search engine copywriting has become an extremely important part of... Read More