Keeping up with Google’s algorithm updates can feel a bit like trying to hit a moving target. Just when you think you’ve got everything in place, boom! Another update rolls in and shakes things up.
While these updates can be unpredictable, there are ways to stay ahead of the game. Whether you’ve been hit before or just want to be prepared for whatever Google throws your way, at Volume Marketing, we’ve got some solid strategies to help your business stay visible and thriving.
Keep Your Content Top-Notch
Google is all about giving people the best possible answers to their searches, so if your content is dull, outdated (or just plain unhelpful), you’re asking for trouble. Keep things fresh by updating old pages, answering common questions and making sure your content is actually useful to real humans (not just stuffed with keywords in the hope of winning Google over!). Also, check out our guide on how to write content that ranks well.
Show Google You Know Your Stuff (E-E-A-T)
Google isn’t just looking for content, it wants proof that you actually know what you’re talking about. This means showing Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (yes, Google loves a good acronym). The easiest way to do this? Share your knowledge, back it up with reliable sources and make it clear why people should listen to you. If you’re a business, shout about your credentials, add author bios and show off those glowing customer reviews. Ultimately, Google wants to rank websites it trusts, so give it every reason to trust yours.
Make Your Website a Joy to Use
If your website is slow, clunky or feels like it was built in the early 2000s, Google isn’t going to be impressed, and neither are your visitors! A site that loads quickly, looks great on mobile and is easy to scroll through is far more likely to keep people sticking around (which is exactly what Google wants to see). Nobody has the patience to wait for a page that takes forever to load, so compress images, fix broken links and get rid of anything that slows things down.
Keep an Eye on Google’s Latest Moves
Google doesn’t exactly send out personal warnings before shaking up search rankings, so staying in the loop is a must. Follow trusted SEO blogs, keep an eye on Google’s official announcements and check forums where marketers share what they’re seeing. If an update does hit, don’t fret and start changing everything straight away. Sometimes, rankings wobble before they settle. Take a step back, see what’s actually happening and adjust your strategy based on facts, not knee-jerk reactions.
Maintain Your Website
Think of your website like a car. If you never service it, things will start falling apart. Regular site audits help you spot issues before they cause problems, like broken links, duplicate content or pages that take an age to load. Google loves a well-maintained site, so check in on things like your meta descriptions, headings and internal links to make sure everything’s running smoothly. A bit of maintenance here and there can save you from bigger headaches down the line.
Build a Strong Backlink Profile (The Right Way)
Backlinks are like personal recommendations. If trustworthy websites link to yours, Google sees that as a good sign. However, be aware of dodgy shortcuts! Spammy backlinks from low-quality sites will do more harm than good. You need to focus on earning links the right way. Create useful content people actually want to share, collaborate with industry experts and aim to get featured on reputable sites. A few high-quality backlinks are worth far more than a hundred shady ones. Google isn’t fooled by shortcuts and neither are your customers.
Monitor Performance
If you aren’t tracking how your website is performing, you’re basically flying blind. Google Analytics and Search Console are your best friends here. They show you where your traffic is coming from, which pages are performing well and where things might need a tweak. If you notice a sudden drop after an update you can check your data, see what’s changed and adjust your strategy bit by bit. Keeping an eye on the numbers means you can react quickly and stop things getting out of hand.
Google’s algorithm updates might be unpredictable, but they don’t have to be a disaster. By keeping your content slick, maintaining a smooth-running website and concentrating on what actually helps users, you’ll be in a much better position to ride out any changes.
If you need help keeping your site at the top, we’re here to help. Get in touch and let’s make sure your business gets through Google’s algorithm updates unscathed.