SEO Test Results: how the Google algorithm has changed

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I thought many people here might benefit from this, so I decided to share this info. If you are smart, you worry about these things.

At my SEO company, we were certain (because we monitor LOTS of rankings) that the Google algorithm had changed greatly. And indeed it has; and, given all the chitchat regarding over-optimization penalties etc, we went ahead and ran several large-scale link-building tests over the past 5 weeks, and confirmed what we already thought to be the case. We took pains to do this right. I won't reveal all the nitty-gritty, but the results as as follows:

Identical anchor text = no/few results
Diverse anchor text = great fast results

So there you have it. Of course, the tests were performed over a short time, so am not sure that the results will stick, but we'll keep an eye on them. We purchased (gasp) lots of links just for this test, and the ourcome seems compelling.

Rejoice!
#algorithm #changed #google #results #seo
  • Profile picture of the author Ludovico
    Originally Posted by PhilipSEO View Post

    I thought many people here might benefit from this, so I decided to share this info. If you are smart, you worry about these things.

    At my SEO company, we were certain (because we monitor LOTS of rankings) that the Google algorithm had changed greatly. And indeed it has; and, given all the chitchat regarding over-optimization penalties etc, we went ahead and ran several large-scale link-building tests over the past 5 weeks, and confirmed what we already thought to be the case. We took pains to do this right. I won't reveal all the nitty-gritty, but the results as as follows:

    Identical anchor text = no/few results
    Diverse anchor text = great fast results

    So there you have it. Of course, the tests were performed over a short time, so am not sure that the results will stick, but we'll keep an eye on them. We purchased (gasp) lots of links just for this test, and the ourcome seems compelling.

    Rejoice!
    Thanks for the info.

    Diverse anchor text is so much more "natural" than using a keyword anchor. I suggest to start using anchors like "more here...", "helpful information can be found at this blog", "this site", "KEYWORD + information", and things of that nature. I'm making diverse anchor text my #1 focus, followed by my targeted keyword.
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  • Profile picture of the author sovereignn
    Originally Posted by PhilipSEO View Post

    I thought many people here might benefit from this, so I decided to share this info. If you are smart, you worry about these things.

    At my SEO company, we were certain (because we monitor LOTS of rankings) that the Google algorithm had changed greatly. And indeed it has; and, given all the chitchat regarding over-optimization penalties etc, we went ahead and ran several large-scale link-building tests over the past 5 weeks, and confirmed what we already thought to be the case. We took pains to do this right. I won't reveal all the nitty-gritty, but the results as as follows:

    Identical anchor text = no/few results
    Diverse anchor text = great fast results

    So there you have it. Of course, the tests were performed over a short time, so am not sure that the results will stick, but we'll keep an eye on them. We purchased (gasp) lots of links just for this test, and the ourcome seems compelling.

    Rejoice!
    It's always been this way! Any imer who only used one anchor text would never get very far :p
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  • Profile picture of the author Jordan Kovats
    What's considered diverse by your test? 2 or more...3 or more, 5 or more?
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    • Profile picture of the author sovereignn
      Originally Posted by theseoguys View Post

      What's considered diverse by your test? 2 or more...3 or more, 5 or more?
      I try to do 6-9 per page mainly

      then about 4-6 long tails
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      • Profile picture of the author PhilipSEO
        P.S. It is true that "it has always been the case," but I believe it has never been the case to the same extent. The main principles are STILL the same. BUT! I mean, take my word for it, I look at LOTS of rankings every day, and things HAVE changed a GREAT deal. Diversify to the max now! Using "click here" and "this" etc. as achor texts is a good idea I believe, but don't forget the simple domain name either. example . com. Remember that Google tends to associate your domain with your brand (the same reason exact match domain rank so well).
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      • Profile picture of the author PhilipSEO
        P.S. It is true that "it has always been the case," but I believe it has never been the case to the same extent. The main principles are STILL the same. BUT! I mean, take my word for it, I look at LOTS of rankings every day, and things HAVE changed a GREAT deal. Diversify to the max now! Using "click here" and "this" etc. as achor texts is a good idea I believe, but don't forget the simple domain name either. example . com. Remember that Google tends to associate your domain with your brand (the reason exact match domain rank so well).
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    • Profile picture of the author PhilipSEO
      Originally Posted by theseoguys View Post

      What's considered diverse by your test? 2 or more...3 or more, 5 or more?
      We used 5+.

      For example, suppose your keyword is "gold processing equipment" (I am hist making that example up). So you may try these anchor texts:

      equipment
      gold equipment
      processing eqiupment
      gold processing equipment
      gold processing
      equipment for gold processing
      this
      click here
      example.com

      But of course you also need a lot of deep linking, and you can build links with the same anchor texts to different pages of the site.
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      • Profile picture of the author manifestseo
        Thanks man, this is fantastic! I felt that my low diversity of URL target could be the culprit. i got complacent because things were working. I had really good key term diversity (50-75) terms, but was only targeting 3-4 pages total. I was also not doing good natural random anchor text like domain name, "click here" "read more" "find out more" etc... and needed to build more links to my original quality content posts that we write all the time

        Your testing and proven facts have helped me reaffirm what to focus on for my reconsideration request to Google and climb back to the first page from my weekend ranking slash..

        Thanks for the quality testing and review

        I posted my action plan to set up for the reconsideration request in the " Re: Reply to: Notice of unnatural links detected" thread at bottom of page 1, tell me what you think if you feel like it, thanks again PhilipSEO!
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      • Profile picture of the author Legit SEO
        Can you go into more detail about what type of linking you were using for these tests?
        Signature

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        • Profile picture of the author PhilipSEO
          You are very welcome! (But hey, that's what the Thanks button is for! ).

          About the type of links: we used blog post links only. We tested this on one site only, but on multiple pages and with multiple anchor texts. A bit more info can be found here: SEO test results: diversify your anchor text - SEO Chat We will now be retesting on more sites, and I will post the results in a month or so.

          Oh, I forgot to mention, if you overoptimize your keyword text, it seems your ranking CAN actually drop. I need more data to confirm this. We'll see if we can drop a competitor's ranking for some unimportant keyword by overoptimizing them for it!
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      • Profile picture of the author mrtrance
        Originally Posted by PhilipSEO View Post

        We used 5+.

        For example, suppose your keyword is "gold processing equipment" (I am hist making that example up). So you may try these anchor texts:

        equipment
        gold equipment
        processing eqiupment
        gold processing equipment
        gold processing
        equipment for gold processing
        this
        click here
        example.com

        But of course you also need a lot of deep linking, and you can build links with the same anchor texts to different pages of the site.
        So if you want that page to rank for "gold processing equipment" what percentage should the anchor texts be that keyword and what percentage a combination of the other keywords?

        So if get new 50 links what percentage should be the main keyword? I assume you still need a good amount of links for that keyword. Before I've read that 60-70% should be your main keyword and rest a combo of other keywords anchor text.

        Do you recommend that percentage or should it be more around 50% main keyword as anchor text and other 50% the other related keywords as anchor text?
        Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    An EMD will get you about as far as a single keyword. I have multiple keywords per site, so no use for an EMD. You'll do just fine with a branded domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author RyanLB
    Good info, thank you.

    I think the largest of the changes hit within the last 48 hours though, as that is when most of my sites danced the hardest, so it would be interesting to see some stats moving forward.

    From what I can tell sites with a lack of link/keyword diversity and sites with thin content got hit. Also age seems to have played a factor as most of my sites that got hit were newer, and older sites were less effected.

    Same stuff as usual, just maybe a little more bold.
    Signature

    I'm a Freelance Copywriter that helps Agencies, Startups and Businesses Educate Their Audience and Grow Sales
    Skype Me: r.boze
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