Google Rolls Out New Algorithm Update, Makes Changes to Local Search Results, and Continues to Focus on Mobile-First Indexing
- Google is rolling out a new algorithm update called “MUM” (Multitask Unified Model). MUM is a large language model that can understand and respond to complex questions and requests. This update is expected to have a significant impact on SEO, as it will reward websites that provide high-quality, informative content.
- Google is also making changes to its local search results. The new “local 3-pack” will only show the top three local businesses for a given search query. This is likely to make it more difficult for businesses to rank in local search results, so it’s important to make sure your website is optimized for local SEO.
- Google is continuing to focus on mobile-first indexing. This means that Google is now crawling and indexing websites primarily for mobile devices. If your website is not optimized for mobile, you may see a drop in your search rankings.
- Google is also rolling out a new feature called “Top Stories.” Top Stories highlights the most relevant and interesting news stories from around the web. This is a great opportunity for news websites to get their content in front of a wider audience.
In addition to these headline-grabbing updates, there are a number of other SEO trends to keep an eye on in 2023. These include:
- The continued importance of long-form content
- The rise of voice search
- The increasing importance of social media signals
- The need to create high-quality, user-friendly websites
By staying up-to-date on the latest SEO news and trends, you can ensure that your website is well-positioned for success in the years to come. Here are some additional details about each of the SEO news stories mentioned above:
- Google’s MUM update is still in the early stages of development, but it has the potential to be a major shake-up for the SEO landscape. MUM is able to understand and respond to complex questions and requests, which means that websites that provide high-quality, informative content will be rewarded with higher rankings. This could make it more difficult for websites that rely on thin content or keyword stuffing to rank well in search results.
- Google’s new local 3-pack is another change that could have a significant impact on SEO. The new 3-pack only shows the top three local businesses for a given search query, which means that businesses that are not in the top three will be less likely to be seen by potential customers. This is likely to make it more important for businesses to focus on local SEO in order to improve their visibility in search results.
- Google’s continued focus on mobile-first indexing is another trend that businesses need to be aware of. Mobile-first indexing means that Google is now crawling and indexing websites primarily for mobile devices. This means that businesses need to make sure their websites are optimized for mobile in order to avoid losing traffic from mobile users.
- Google’s new Top Stories feature is a great opportunity for news websites to get their content in front of a wider audience. Top Stories highlights the most relevant and interesting news stories from around the web, and it’s displayed prominently in Google Search results. If you have a news website, be sure to optimize your content for Top Stories in order to get more exposure for your content.
These are just a few of the latest SEO news stories that businesses should be aware of. By staying up-to-date on the latest SEO news and trends, you can ensure that your website is well-positioned for success in the years to come.