How Has SEO Changed Over the Years?


The world of SEO has changed dramatically over the years, with search engines like Google altering what it would see as keyword stuffing and alter the back-end code. Since 2000, Google has continually updated its algorithm to change what is now accepted and what is not.

For the past 17 years, they have constantly evolved their search algorithm to the point that it has reached today. Today, an SEO company such as DanMatt Media can help people create great content and use natural ways to improve ranking. Just how has SEO changed over the years and what influence does it have now?

It is all About Content

In the past, a successful SEO strategy meant lots of spammy content that was rich in keywords to the point that it was almost unreadable. Far from this being good content, it was just a way to get your website higher up the search rankings.

Thankfully, those days are gone thanks to the Panda update in 2011. From then onwards, that type of content was ignored instead of ranked higher, forcing people to create content that was useful.

Link Schemes

If you read the official definition of what a link scheme is from Google, you would be forgiven for thinking it was a little vague. In essence, any attempt to use links to influence your ranking is penalized. It was bad news for link building schemes that used spam links to try and gain more searches.

Now, only natural links that seek to inform and enrich the content will be allowed. It has led to a much better experience for readers.

Local Searches

With mobile phones becoming so popular over the years, more people have taken to doing local searches to find things they want near them. As a result, the way search engines work has also changed. Google has changed the high-authority directory websites so that they become boosted.

These changes mean that when people search, they are more likely to find something closer to where they are then they would in the past.

Mobile Optimization

Another way that Google has moved towards mobile searching is the use of mobile optimized websites. These days, it is vital that your website is optimized for mobile devices. Many of the website building applications out there, now automatically optimize for mobiles.

It has now become an almost essential part of your website. If it isn’t mobile optimized, then it won’t be ranked highly by Google.

Keywords

One of the biggest changes to searching has been the use of keywords. Although they still have an important part to play in SEO, they are no longer considered highly important by the search engines. Now, Google uses its algorithm to look at the content rather than just search for keywords. It means that good content is matched more accurately than ever before.

The evolution of SEO and the way it is used has made the internet a better place for those searching for good content.