Over the past few days I’ve come across a few sites in which they express their concern (and rightly so) with the issue regarding Google’s new methods for personalized search results & how this inevitably affects any and everyone working in Search Engine Optimization and marketing.
One major factor is the issue regarding privacy and how Google will be able to record all your surfing habits and data and then in turn giving you the user more personalized results according to your likes, dislikes and favourite websites to visit etc… the list can go on and on. It’s obvious where most people’s concerns are focused but then again I think it’s important to mention that Google can only record that data when you are logged in to your Google user account.
All of this does have a kind of Big Brother feel to it but this won’t be the first time that Google has introduced changes in the way it conducts its research. On a more positive note it’s potentially a very good update whereas it opens up new avenues for SEO’s to venture towards with regards to manipulating the search engines to rank high and obviously convert and make sales using internet marketing methods. I bet I could find many Search Engine Marketers who’ll agree with me that in many aspects the world of Online Marketing and SEO is hugely saturated, and also insanely competitive, hence why these new changes will open new doors of exploration.
It is inevitable that Google would personalize their search techniques and there are obvious arguments as to why it’s good or bad including the real world challenges for SEO’s. One way of staying ahead of the curve is to influence how users use their search engines. I’m sorry I didn’t get that, can you repeat it again?
Well at least consider that the only obvious solution to optimize for SERP’s, which we know by the way is customized by the individual search engine user’s habits is to influence the very way in which they “use” the search engines or should I say influence their pre-clicking behavior. Remember when a user clicks on your links in the SERP’s it basically tells the search engines that the user refers to your site as an authority site which means good news for you.
Some suggestions and considerations of how to do that is:
- Placing SERP links into your blog posts
- While on the phone to clients mention: search for this & click on it
- Sending emails with links of unpersonalised SERP’s instructing the clients/customer to click on those
- Write articles with reference to your desired SERP links & distribute them on article directories
- Use & create different Social Networking profiles and subtly include those links where relevant without spamming or any unethical intentions
- Take advantage of directing clients, customers and partners to content by way of SERP’s
Basically this list could go on and on but I think the main theme or idea here is to place emphasis on creating interesting ways to influence your traffic’s pre-click behavior and doing it tastefully. Just take note that these are only ideas and suggestions but when you lay it all out on the table they do make sense from an SEO perspective. I trust you have found this post helpful.
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