Category: Google

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How to Opt Out of Google’s Shared Endorsements

I am not sure why we have to go down this path again, but we do. However this time it is not Facebook or Twitter that is using your name and face to sell services, but Google!

Plastered all over the home page of Google.com is a blue bar letting you know that in November Google will be starting to use any Google+ user’s information on +1’s, reviews, and comments in advertising around the Web to other people in your circle. Google calls this new brand of advertising Shared Endorsements.

For now, this really only impacts users who are on Google+, but I would not be surprised if eventually this will impact all users of Google. If you don’t want to share what you do and like in this way with others, you can opt out of this new program, and here’s how:

1. Visit this Google Page: https://plus.google.com/settings/endorsements?hl=en&partnerid=gplp0 you will need to login to your Google account.

2. Go to the bottom of the page where it says “Based upon my activity, Google may show my name and profile photo in shared endorsements that appear in ads.” and remove the check mark from the box. If there was no check mark you are fine.

3. Make sure to click save. Google will pull up a comment asking you “are you sure you want to do this?” click “yes” and you are good to go.

Facebook took a huge black eye months ago when it rolled out it’s own version of Endorsement Ads when it revealed what people had bought in ads embarrassing users who maybe did not want others to know that they had bought certain items. Why Google has decided to go down this same path, one can only guess.

I for one have already removed my name and I encourage you to do so too. We already share so much online I don’t want my name and image to hawk products to others I may know.

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Google’s Hummingbird Algorithm Explained

Affecting over 92% of all searches the new Google algorithm called Hummingbird was released about two weeks ago. Some website saw no change in placement and the placement of other websites was significantly impacted.

What does the Hummingbird update really impact?

First, this is a large change to how Google ranks websites. No longer is there a focus on the keywords on the page or keyword density but rather a refocus on “understanding” what a search query means and delivering the best page that addresses the intention of the searcher.

This is a huge technology shift in how Google delivers search results. With many of the technology changes Google has made this last year, Google now is able to measure user intent in each search query. By checking device, location, and search query history, Google now understands better what a user wants to see in the search results.

How does this impact website owners?

First and foremost website owners need to understand that Google is not looking for keyword density or to be spoon-fed keyword phrases. Google now understand a concept on your website page based on the phrases used and the meaning. Additionally by reviewing signals of co-citation and social media sharing Google understands which website pages and websites have the best content for the user’s unique query based on their intent and location.

The bottom line is that the ability to control Google to show your website or page in the search results in a higher position has become nearly impossible. The focus for website owners instead should be to create the most relevant website for their own audience with a strong focus on location specificity.

For national selling firms this means that location should be mentioned and not masked, but that this new geo-location bias will continue to have a negative impact on their performance; driving new advertisers into Google AdWords.

For additional information on how unique the Google Hummingbird algorithm is for Google, I recommend a careful review of this very interesting article called “Google’s Hummingbird Takes Flight: SEOs Give Insight On Google’s New Algorithm” from Search Engine Land.

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Not Provided – Masks Search Terms from Website Owners

Just this last week, Google announced that it was moving all web searches at Google.com to https settings which would mean that all keyword data would be encrypted and no longer flowed into Google Analytics.

Although this may sound like business as usual and a great improvement for the typical web searcher – “great, increased privacy”, it is turning the world of search and SEO upside down. This means that the small number of “not provided” notations in Google Analytics will now cover all searches. The only keyword activity you will see in your Google Analytics account will be from Google AdWords activity. No longer will you be able to identify the search terms that are bringing in your traffic organically or for that matter harvest keywords for SEO use from Analytics.

There’s lots of chatter on the web as to why Google would make this change without warning, some say it is a direct reaction to the Edward Snowden revelation and others say that it is to drive more advertisers into Google AdWords. Whichever option you’d like to embrace, at this time Google is not saying why they have taken this action, just that it is.

For many website owners this will create the need to purchase website analytics software so that they will know what is happening on their own website. If I find a good statistical package, I’ll make sure to let you know.

To learn more about this topic, I have found two excellent resources to express the real impact for website owners. I invite you to read them and then come back to my post and let me know your comments.

http://searchengineland.com/post-prism-google-secure-searches-172487

http://www.6smarketing.com/blog/keyword-data-is-dead-long-live-keyword-data-2/

 

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Is There Real SEO Value in Using Google+?

The unequivocal answer is yes, there is SEO value in using Google+ for your business. 

How so?

Your Google+ activity, both profile and your own +1’s are shown in Google search results that others, who have circled you see. If you circle others, you see their +1 updates and Google+ profiles in your search results. This activity expands your reach but only if you are using Google+ in a maximized way. Plus your Google+ personal profile page actually has organic PageRank. 

What do you mean by maximized way?

To just post Google+ updates is simply not enough to get the SEO and Social Juice that Google+ can bring. It is more about connection and interaction than it is about just spewing out content. I recommend participation in Google+ Communities and for power users creation of Google+ Communities with themselves as moderators as one of the best ways to maximize Google+ exposure. 

Google+ Communities Give You Extra Exposure

When you participate in or own and moderate a Google+ Community, you reach a wider circle of individuals interested in knowing more about and in sharing information on your key topics. I’ve found just due to the nature of interaction, strong follower/followed connections occur with Communities. It is not unusual for a Community to grow quickly with many (but not all) of the Community participants choosing to follow your personal profile. 

Each time you post to your own Community, Google posts your update to your own Google+ personal page as well. In a short period of time using a Google+ Community on a topic that is closely aligned to your business you can build a nice follower base. Remember each of these new followers will then in turn see your Google +1’s in their search results as well as your personal profile and articles linked to your author profile. 

Use Your Google+ Personal Profile

Although I have Google+ Business Pages, the real action and exchange right now as well as the SEO and social value is all tied to your personal profile. This may change over time, but for now a Business page profile cannot moderate a Community. Equally it is hard to circle others using a business profile. Additionally Google is really focused on the individual profile when it comes to the information shared using the personal profile using rel=author. Possibly over time Google may change this strategy, but for now, understand that you need to leverage your personal profile to get the real “juice”.

We invite you to learn more about our services and Google+ by visiting our website today.