Google’s algorithm was leaked – this is not a drill

Google’s search algorithm was leaked!

It sounds like clickbait, but it’s not… this actually happened.

There are a few thousand tidbits (14,014 to be exact) this leak revealed, but I’ll focus on the top 3 actionable insights that SEO experts are taking away from this:

1) Google spokespeople have been lying to us! Part 1…

For a long time, Google reps have been saying that it doesn’t matter who you are… that anyone can rank in Google Search if they work hard enough! 👷

This doesn’t appear to be completely true. Google’s algorithm seems to give preference to websites with already established authority.

Ex: The apple pie recipe on your personal blog likely won’t be able to compete with the one on Recipes.com, no matter how good your SEO might be.

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2) Google spokespeople have been lying to us! Part 2…

Google reps have been saying publicly that clicks and engagement are not factors in their algorithm – even going so far as to say, “using clicks directly in rankings would be a mistake.”

On the contrary…

Google seems to be actively counting clicks – then – measuring the subsequent actions that users take on your site.

Ex: Imagine two websites – both for churches in your local community. The written content on both sites is identical, but…

😖 One site has poor graphics, broken links, 404 errors, and a clunky navigation. Most users get frustrated and exit this site right away.

😍 The other is visually engaging with a clear navigation. Most users stick around to explore.

Even though the content on both sites is the same, site #2 will receive preference based on the engagement of the end user.

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3) At the end of the day, Google Search success still boils down to…

…creating a website with the end user in mind. Make high-quality content, keep your site updated, make it easy to navigate, build it according to best practices, and create an enjoyable experience.

Many of the factors revealed by this leak seem to be in place to cut down on spammers. So, in that way, you don’t have much to worry about.

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Bonus: Good news for my readers! 🥳 Most of you use SEO with a very narrow purpose… you’re trying to rank on Google for searches like, “church in St Cloud, MN” or “private elementary school in Lafayette, IN.”

You’re not trying to sell “best wireless keyboard” or “whitening toothpaste” to the entirety of the United States.

The search terms you care about are low competition keywords. With a little SEO savvy, you’ll still be able to rank pretty easily.

If you are not ranking, shoot me an email! 📧 Let’s see what’s up – and if this new insight from Google can shed some light on the issue.

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If you really want to know more and are in need of some light bedtime reading, check out this article.