
Google algorithm is a set of rules that determine what appears on a search engine results page. In September of 2012, Google released an update to their algorithm that changed the way exact match domains (EMDs) are ranked. Prior to this google algorithm update mistakes rankbrain update, EMDs were given a higher ranking than other websites because they contained the exact keyword that was being searched for. This gave EMDs an unfair advantage over other websites, and the Google algorithm update sought to level the playing field.
- The first benefit of this update is that it allowed for longer-tailed keywords to be used more effectively. Previously, EMDs could rank highly for very short, specific keywords, even if they didn’t have much relevant content. With the update, longer-tailed keywords are given more weight, so EMDs can no longer get away with ranking for keywords they’re not relevant for. This benefits both users and businesses; users are now more likely to find what they’re looking for, and businesses have to put in more effort to rank for the keywords they want to target.
- Another benefit of the update is that it reduced the number of low-quality websites that were ranking highly in search results. Prior to the update, it was very easy for low-quality websites to create a lot of exact match domains and rank highly for popular keywords, even if their content wasn’t particularly good.
- This led to a lot of frustration from users who were constantly being directed to websites that didn’t have the information they were looking for. With the update, these low-quality websites no longer have the same advantage as they did before, and users are now more likely to find websites with high-quality content.
- Third, the update also helped to reduce the amount of keyword stuffing that was happening on websites. Keyword stuffing is the act of cramming as many keywords into your content as possible in order to rank highly for those keywords. This often results in low-quality, difficult-to-read content, and it’s something that Google has been working to penalize for a long time.
- The EMD update helped to reduce keyword stuffing because it meant that businesses could no longer rank highly just by including the exact keyword they wanted to target over and over again. This benefits both users and businesses; businesses now have to create higher-quality content in order to rank, and users are no longer bombarded with low-quality, keyword-stuffed articles.
- Finally, the update benefits businesses that have been playing by the rules all along. Before the update, businesses with high-quality websites could still be outranked by low-quality EMDs; now, they are more likely to appear higher in search results. This gives them a better chance of being seen by potential customers and drives more traffic to their website.
Conclusion
All in all, the Google algorithm update has had a positive impact on both users and businesses alike. Users are now more likely to find what they’re looking for when they perform a search, and businesses have to work harder to rank for competitive keywords. If you haven’t updated your SEO strategy since 2012, now is the time!